I am a fiend for coke zeros, diet Dr. Peppers and the like. Whenever I get energy drinks I usually get the zero sugar versions as well. The calories in the full sugar drinks are honestly just not worth it for me and I would rather spend my daily energy allowance on things that are more nutritious and satiating.
That being said, I’ll still occasionally have a full sugar soda. Today I had a real Fanta and woahhh. The mouthfeel, the taste, I can feel it going down my throat and I swear I can feel the ecstacy in my brain. Like, I drink zero sugar sodas because I want to avoid sugar but I’m not going to pretend like they feel awesome. Even if the flavor is 100% replicated, the feeling just isn’t there. I’m not going to pretend to understand the biochemistry but my body can feel the difference between empty flavor and real energy. I feel the same way about oil and fat, things like mayonnaise or creamy sauces. Your body just knows.
For that reason, I think I am realizing (in real time, like as of a few minutes ago) that I would much rather have real sugar than fake stuff. A tablespoon of honey is only 60 calories. Not negligible but like bro, I’m so down to have actual sugar because the satisfaction is so real for me. A tsp of sugar is only 20 calories. I think the obsession with zero sugar sodas is strange when I think it would make way more sense to just make soda with less sugar, or use a blend of real sugar and artifical sweeteners. It’s the same reason I think the low calorie yogurt sauces taste terrible, but mix in a tiny bit of REAL mayonnaise into a yogurt/garlic sauce and it tastes heavenly. I am going to start making drinks at home, partly because these drinks are starting to cost $3 or $4 dollars at the store which is freaking ridiculous.
From some basic reading and some intuition of things that satisfy me, here are the notes that make drinks/foods satisfying:
1.Fat 2.Bitterness 3.Acidity 4.Tannins 5.Aromas 6.Salt 7.Temperature 8.Viscocity 9.Contrast
So here are drinks I will be making to satisfy myself with delicious beverages, all at about 50ish calories:
- Hot chocolate (60cal)
- 175mL cup skim mil (45cal)
- 1tbsp cocoa powder (10cal)
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch (5cal)
- salt
- cinnamon and maybe chili powder
- vanilla extract
Whisk the dry ingredients and milk together, heat gently, simmer, and add spice/vanilla at the end.
Real milk gives fat and sweetness, bitterness of cocoa, body from cornstarch and salt rounds it out.
- Citrus soda (~50cal)
The home soda machines are awesome.
- Sparkling water
- Juice of one orange and a lime
- citrus zest
- pinch salt
Acid + carbonation gives mouthfeel. Zest brings bitterness and salt sharpens it out.
- Tea in general
Tea is so freaking good and its only like 10 or so calories per teaspoon of sugar.