Neither is it impossible to absolutely avoid drinking these things, but it is not necessary. It's important to note, though, that problems of weight gain or weight loss can just be as much down to what you drink as you eat. If you drink a glass of wine a day, or get through a family-sized soda bottle, you won't be at a healthy weight.

If you have to have a drink with food, then the best choice is always a glass of water. There are more explanations for that than just the problem of weight. A glass of water will prevent you from getting thirsty and will help you enjoy your meal, but not interfere with your taste. And if you're thirsty, a glass of water is the best thing you can drink – it replenishes the body's hydration levels and encourages you to indulge the occasional glass of wine or soda, so you can really taste it.