Be careful there, Nancy, Teechino is made from barley.

On a warm day I really like cucumber water or mint water (or cucumber mint water). You just put cucumber slices (or sprigs of mint) in tap water and chill for a few hours. The cucumbers yield a surprising amount of flavor.

Right now it's too cold for that. I've been drinking an herbal version of chai based on rooibos with a splash of almond milk.

For a mock cocktail I've found the the brand Cascade Ice makes a wide variety of mixers sweetened with sucralose: tonic water, cosmopolitan, lemon drop, margarita, mojito, apple tini, pina colada. It's not paleo but it is zero calorie. Drinking a glass of mixer on ice makes me feel a little bit like I'm having a cocktail. I don't object to alcohol but it's no good for weight loss. If you're trying to lose weight you'll just derail your efforts by drinking the real thing.

You probably don't get Cascade Ice in the UK but I'll bet if you shop around a lot you'd find sugar-free tonic water at the very least.

we have lots of different sugar free 'mixers' like tonic/lemonaide/ginger beer (not beer), dandelion and burdock etc etc. Ginger beer is my fave, and tonic. Alcohol may put weight on...and I try to stick to tequila mostly now, but hey, sometimes life is too short, and a bit of alcohol makes the day a whole lot better!

Thought of another: a virgin bloody mary. Just mix tomato juice or V-8 with Worcestershire sauce and a squeeze of lemon. Optionally, add clam juice or Tabasco. Serve over ice garnished with a celery stick.

Mix in a little celery salt, garlic powder or onion salt.

I'll try that. Thanks.