Drinks

Don’t forget that we take in energy (kilojoules) through drinks as well as food. You might be surprised how much energy some drinks can add to your daily intake. It is easy to drink kilojoules without noticing!

Draw the Line on gaining weight by:

• Choosing water instead
• If consuming regular soft drink or other high energy (kilojoule) drinks, reduce your portion size

Click here to find out how soft drinks may be affecting your weight.

For more information on other drinks explore the information below:

Water Plain tap water is the best drink choice. It is cheap, quenches your thirst and has no kilojoules. Invest in a water bottle that so you can take your own water every where you go and keep chilled water in the fridge for when you are thirsty.   Soft drinks Soft drinks are very high in sugar and energy (kilojoules) and provide no nutritional value other than fluid. In addition, high soft drink consumption is associated with lower intakes of a range of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Diet soft drinks are lower in kilojoules (energy) than regular soft drinks as they replace sugar with artificial sweeteners however water is a much better choice. Click here to find out how soft drinks may be affecting your weight. Click here to download the soft drink Frequently Asked Questions factsheet. Click here to view the Draw the Line Soft Drink campaign resources.   milk Reduced-fat milk is a good choice as it contributes to the three serves of dairy food you need each day, and is a good source of calcium and protein. Note that flavoured milk varieties contain added sugar.   tea and coffee Switching to reduced-fat milk and reducing added sugar will help to reduce your energy (kilojoule) intake. Green and black tea varieties and coffee are good sources of antioxidants.   fruit juice Fruit juice (100% fruit) is suitable if consumed in small quantities ( approximately half a cup). Although fruit juice still contains some vitamins, it is better to eat a whole piece of fruit, which contains more vitamins, fibre and will be more filling.

sports drinks

Sports drinks are high in sugar and can contribute excess kilojoules to your daily energy intake. For most people undertaking a moderate amount of physical activity sports drinks are not required, however they may be useful for endurance exercise (greater than 90 minutes) or when a quick recovery is necessary.

energy drinks

Energy drinks are very high in sugar, as well as caffeine and like soft drinks, should be limited. 

Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks like beer, wine and spirits are high in energy (kilojoules) and often consumed alongside soft drinks (e.g. mixed alcoholic drinks) and snack foods, such as potato chips, pastries and nuts; which add to your overall energy (kilojoule) intake.

'Low carb' beers and wines are now available, and although these are lower in carbohydrates, the alcohol and kilojoule content is often very similar to other types of beer and wine – so they are not necessarily a healthier option.

Click here to view the national guidelines on alcohol consumption.

Consider reducing the amount of high energy (kilojoule) drinks you consume to reduce your energy intake. Switch to water instead.