Being Mindful With Hidden SmartPoints

There are lots of hidden SmartPoints lurking in juice containers, coffee mugs, cocktail glasses and "pint" beer glasses.  One of the problems is that these SmartPoints go down so easily and are so forgettable.  Our challenge is to right size our beverages the same way we right size our food choices. Of course, that really means down size.

While plates and bowls have gotten so much bigger over the years, drinking glasses have gone the same route.  A can of coke at 12 ounces used to be the norm.  Now, that a 12 ounce can of coke is 9 SmartPoints, we have to reconsider the options and look at coke as a treat--not a beverage that slides down along with a meal.

The same is true with juice and sports drinks.  Juice is a pointy beverage that we need to choose--not just let happen.  As for sports drinks, they are not necessary.  Water will rehydrate just the way it is supposed to.

The coffee shop can be a minefield if we aren't savvy.   Small drinks are called "tall."  If there is anything like cream, whip, half and half and flavor shots, SmartPoints are running down the drain.

When it comes to alcoholic drinks, we need to be informed and make choices before the drinking happens.  Once we are drinking alcohol, our inhibitions may start to evaporate.  We might not make as many healthy choices that we would otherwise.  A big part of our success is to stay focused on what we really want, no matter where we are or what we are doing.  Furthermore, drinks are larger than they used to be.  Technically speaking, there might be two mixed cocktails in that martini glass. A "pint" in a brew pup is actually 20 ounces not 16.  That means more points.  Darker, thicker beers are even more points than lighter (as in color) beers.

So how can we down size our beverages without skipping them altogether?  Practice.  Practice. Practice.  The more we acquaint ourselves with right size portions and the more aware we are of our coffee shop/restaurant/bar behavior, the more likely we can approach these settings with the confidence that we can get what we want--and no more.  Enjoy it.  Be done.  Count SmartPoints wisely.

With summer weather here, be especially savvy.  Oftentimes, we are even more inclined to relax into the casual nature of the season.  Stick to your goals!  Drink lots more water and decide in advance when and where and how much any alcoholic beverages will be consumed.  Then, stick to the plan and enjoy.