Having decided on a healthier lifestyle for 2008 I'm trying to cut down on the relaxing glass of wine or beer while cooking dinner after a hard day's work.

The problem is I just don't find soft drinks very tasty. Does anyone have any good alternatives which are not calorie-laden or too gassy?

Ame - spring water and fruit juice drink - about 40 calories for 100ml.

This is something I drink with meals as a teetotaler rather than fizzy, sweet drinks or dull fruit juice. It isn't too sweet and is slightly sparkling, rather than gassy. Also much cheaper than wine!

Ella, you can't beat a nice cup of Earl Grey tea! Make sure it's Twining though.

Regards, Grudfuttle.

Hi Ella,
Tesco no added sugar cranberry drink is very good - quite a grown up 'dry' flavour to it, no sparkle and if served in a tall glass over lots of ice, you can fool yourself that it's almost as good as a glass of wine! Watch out for the Ocean Spray light - still loads of sugar and, of course, calories.
Vivien

no sorry, i can't agree - what could possibly be better than a nice glass of red wine??
anyway it's good for you as well, it's supposed to be good for the memory (i remember reading this a few months ago, so it must work), good for the heart and anti-ageing as well they say (you can't tell that i am really 103 can you so it must work!)

there you go you see i have talked myself into one!! cheers

Ah red bush tea , there is one flavoured with vanilla which tastes alittle sweet but has no sugar.I add skimmed milk

I found mulled cranberry juice almost as nice as mulled wine. And a little splash of elderflower cordial or lime makes fruit juice (mango & passion-fruit? grape? apple?) and sparkling water 'spritzers' taste more grown up. But it's not just the drink taste. From the sound of it, you're also using wine as a post work de-stressor, so you may need to get that de-stress effect from a walk round the block before you get home from work? For foul-weather days you could add in a little meditation, or full body relaxation (start with toes and work up clenching then relaxing muscles) or get a chair shiatsu massager. A jacuzzi bath or a steam shower cabinet or sauna are lovely for relaxing if you're lucky enough to have access to these. Or teach yourself head and shoulder self-massage from a book?

I find that slimline tonic, in a tall crystal glass with lots of ice and slice of lime or lemon works for me. I can imagine the gin.

I am drinking diet ginger beer with lime. It is tasty and spicy, however you can't really drink much of it and it is quite fizzy. If in doubt a nice cup of peppermint tea - good for the digestion.

Hi Valerie,

I like the sound of that imaginary gin and tonic. I think I'll have one when I get back home from work tonight.

Angus

Thanks for all the suggestions. The imaginary G&T is already a favourite but now I've got some ideas to add a bit of variety.

Still missing my wine but the 6lbs I have lost since the New Year are good compensation!

The best G&T substitute is chilled tonic water (can be the slimline version if you want) with a splash of agnostura bitters (pink gin fame). Now that really tastes like a serious drink!