Wetting my Whistle in Winter

This week we’re asked to talk about our favorite winter drinks. Here in West Michigan the air gets mighty cold, so we do whatever we can to keep warm. We turn up the heat in our homes (but just a little, otherwise it gets mighty expensive), we bundle up even when we’re indoors, and our food and beverage choices, for the most part, are hot.

coffeeI’m always on a diet, so I try to keep zero-calorie liquids within reach. I read somewhere that if I keep my tummy full of liquids I’m less likely to fill up on stuff I have to chew. That works up to a point – I still manage to eat more than I should, but I like to tell myself that if I didn’t keep a beverage handy I’d eat even more! The specific drink in my mug depends on the time of day. In the morning I’ll drink black coffee to wake up. Hubby wakes up earlier and makes a pot of coffee when he gets up. By the time I get up there’s about one cup left in the pot, but it’s so strong that I water it down into two or more.

caffeineAround mid-morning, if I’m at home, I’ll switch to hot tea. Lately, my kids have been giving me all sorts of exotic blends. Seems they all got tea as gifts from someone who doesn’t know them that well, so they pass it on to me. I actually found two more canisters after I took this picture! Right now, I figure I have enough to last me through the winter. Sometimes, if I’ve been faithfully dieting for a specified period, I’ll treat myself to a cappuccino – I’ve got a big canister of instant, and hubby treated me to several pods of it to use in my single-service coffee maker.

decafI’ve always had trouble falling asleep at night, so I try to stop drinking caffeine by mid-afternoon. I usually keep decaf coffee and herbal tea on hand, but in a pinch I’ll drink plain hot water. Once in a while I’ll treat myself to hot mulled cider or hot chocolate. But those are only “once a week” treats. Any time I start putting sweets in my mouth I can’t stop. Hot cider and hot chocolate mixes tend to have a lot of sugar in it. I already have a hard time staying away from sweet munchies so I really limit the sweet drinks.

mugsI need to bring something to drink wherever I go. For some reason, I get thirsty whenever I drive. My doctor says that my blood sugar level is fine, so I think it may be psychological. Before I walk out the door, I fill a thermos or water bottle with something to drink. Most of the time I only need a few sips, but I always need it whether I’m going five miles or a hundred. When I get where I’m going, the thermos or water bottle usually come with me, especially if I’m going to a rehearsal. These are my current favorite travel mugs, but if I lose one I have several others. I rarely stop at coffee shops – guess I’m too thrifty.

When I’m teaching I’ll go through at least one full water bottle or thermos of coffee during the course of the afternoon (I teach two classes back-to-back and each one is an hour and fifteen minutes long). I guess all that lecturing makes me thirsty. The student center is right next to the music building, and I can get a coffee refill for a dollar, so if I’m particularly thirsty I can keep myself hydrated without breaking the bank.

So to answer the original question about our favorite drinks, I guess my answer is just about anything – but when the temps dip below freezing I prefer something hot and non-fattening.

What’s in your mug?

About Patricia Kiyono

During her first career, Patricia Kiyono taught elementary music, computer classes, elementary classrooms, and junior high social studies. She now teaches music education at the university level. She lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her five children, nine grandchildren (so far), and great-granddaughters. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures. Check out her sweet historical contemporary romances at her Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Kiyono/e/B0067PSM5C/
This entry was posted in favorites, Patricia Kiyono and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

10 Responses to Wetting my Whistle in Winter

  1. jeff7salter says:

    well, for one thing, I agree about NOT frequenting those expensive coffee shops where you pay nearly as much for ONE CUP as you would at the grocery for a container of grounds that will make some 120 servings of the size I use (6 oz).
    Drink hot water? never. Don’t know how you can do that.
    My wife has a full array of tea — both the old fashioned pouches and the new-fangled plastic cups she uses in her Keurig. The Keurig cups are far more expensive of course, but they have the advantage of convenience and speed.
    I don’t guess I should tell you my fav. drinks, because that will use up all my ink for Hound Day. Suffice it to say that my tastes are pretty predictable and they’ve changed over the years.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Patricia Kiyono says:

      My mom drinks a lot of hot water – but she’s ALWAYS cold. I got used to drinking plain water when I was broke and buying just what I needed, and I figured tea and coffee weren’t essential. I fought against using Keurig cups for a long time, but they are handy. We also have the reusable ones that I can fill on my own.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I also get thirsty when I am out, but much moreso when it is warmer outside.However, hot drinks do not quench my thirst.I had a friend who would stop and order a hot cup of coffee when we were sweltering in 90F temps, 90% humidity!

    Liked by 2 people

    • I remember when I was younger and my dad would drink hot coffee in the middle of summer, during the day after being in the field at the farm. I never understood how he could drink something that hot when he was clearly hot himself.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Patricia Kiyono says:

      I spent several summers working in a furniture factory, welding desk drawers together. It got really hot in there, but that didn’t stop most of the workers from drinking hot coffee all day! I don’t think of the hot liquids as quenching my thirst – it’s more of a tactic to keep my hands busy and away from food!

      Like

  3. What a variety of beverages to choose from. I suppose it keeps your tastebuds from getting bored.

    I’ve been meaning to try herbal tea do you have any recommendations?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Patricia Kiyono says:

      Frankly, I buy whatever is on sale! The grocery chains where we usually shop have their own brands, and when I see a special I’ll buy those. As for flavors, I mentioned that I try to stay away from sweet drinks, since they sort of encourage me to eat sweets. I like the minty ones. I keep the Gypsy Cold Cure handy for when I’m stuffed up, and I bought the Tulsi Sleep when I was having trouble getting more than three to four hours of sleep at night – otherwise, it’s all about whatever is cheapest!

      Like

  4. Joselyn says:

    I’ve started carrying water with me everywhere too. If I don’t have it, I get so dried out. I’ve even started taking a bottle with me to church, although that inspires my kids to be very “thirsty” during the service and they gulp it down.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment