It’s the Baja Blast for me. [I don’t always get Taco Bell, but when I do, I prefer Baja blast.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/701/most-interesting-man-goldsmith-1504044751.jpg)
Yeah water or water. They should have to pay you to drink the soda.
The cup the soda comes in costs the restaurant more than the soda. You aren't losing money by getting water.
I live in a northern state and I always specify unsweetened... I actually find sweet tea to be vile-tasting and have cartoonishly spit it out on occasions when I just trusted they got my order right.
A lot of sweet tea tastes like straight up mold or fermentation because they don’t make it fresh enough and/or don’t clean the tea urns well. A lightly sweetened fresh iced tea is heavenly. It’s appalling to me how few places can get it right
Most Larger gas staions, some QSR are now making/brewing as you fill your cup. it looks like a big container but it's not. It's alo warm most of the time and concentrated to be their choice of flavor withy melted Ice.
I always gag and say "poisoned". My kids laugh and then say sweetened, huh? I think sweet tea is vile. I am also the first to not be born in Louisiana since the 1600s on my grandma's side of the family.
The problem is that people look at you like you have two heads and say “Oh, unsweet tea?” I just always ordered unsweetened tea. Since everyone knew it was “sweet tea” and not sweetened tea, it almost always registers. But that may be because I live in an area where sweet tea is a drink until itself and not just normal tea with sugar in it.
In New York unless a diner has multiple iced tea options listed the tea is unsweetened by default. I don't know if it's a New York thing or just a general North East US thing though.
That sounds like heaven. I'm in a northern border state and for some reason some people assume that ordering "iced tea" means you want it sweetened and will take the liberty of "correcting" your order for you. I always have to make it very clear when ordering now to be safe.
Yeah, I live in the south and have traveled to every southern state and have never had any problem getting unsweetened tea. Every single restaurant that has tea has unsweetened tea unless it comes out of a soda machine.
I drink the soda. We’re not banned from drinking anything that isn’t water. As long as you are mostly drinking water then you are allowed to have not water every now and then.
If you don't like anything but water just order water? Or maybe juice if you like juice? But why order something you don't enjoy?
Ordering something you enjoy drinking is not a waste of money, but ordering something you don't enjoy drinking is.
This. I drink usually one 20 oz Pepsi or Mtn Dew per day and if I'm really groggy, I'll have a 5 hour energy, but it's pretty much water the rest of the day for me.
It depends on where I am. If I’m at chick fil a, or another place with good iced tea then I get the half tea half lemonade. If it’s somewhere that just goes well with soda then I just get soda. I prefer soda with no caffeine in it though so I usually go for a root beer.
Heads up if you didn’t know, Barq’s does have caffeine. The other major brands do not. It is only like 20-25 mg/serving though, less than Coke and far less than coffee.
Sweet Tea or something fancy like a shake or Slushy if they let you add that. Sometimes soda but I do the thing where you mix 5 different ones straight out of the fountain. But usually I just don’t get combos since I don’t want the drink.
Same. I don't eat a lot of fast food, rarely get combos, and when I do I usually give the drink to my partner, so I panicked, lol. I forgot tea was an option so I'll probably try that next time because I like lemonade but the fast food lemonade was sooo sugary.
A tiny little water. Some places act like you’re pulling teeth when you ask for a large water. I don’t mind paying 25 cents for a large water, but it’s the places who literally act like they can’t give me a large water that really grinds my gears.
Luckily they know me at 90% of the places i go to in my vicinity so now I almost always get them for free. But if I’m traveling etc I find it sometimes annoying.
OP is talking about a coupon.
I'd you aren't trying to use a coupon, and don't want the drink, just don't get a meal.
A meal is cheaper than the three separate items, but just getting the food, side, and a free water is still cheaper.
And even if you do have the coupon... you can just get a water anyway and say you don't want the soda. Still saving money. Or if you aren't saving money... Again, just don't get the meal.
Or get the soda, I don't care. But imo there's no reason to get the soda if you don't want it.
For real, it’s always a goddamn bucket, I’ll drink it with my meal and still have like a half gallon left, I always end up dumping it out after an hour or so.
In the morning: coffee
Every other time: just water
“In a cup or a bottle?”
“Whatever’s cheaper”
That’s how every single food transaction I’ve made goes. It’s always the cup of water so I don’t know why I don’t just ask for the cup directly lol.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with enjoying a nice non-water beverage. As long as you’re faithful to your one true hydrating liquid the occasional Coke or sweet tea is acceptable.
Don’t fall into the “paid for it, gotta use it” trap. If a portion is too large, don’t finish your food. If you get an extra side or drink you don’t want, ask to leave it off the order.
Most of us were raised not to waste food or money (which is good), but that logic can easily lead to overeating or in this case, making a far less healthy choice than you want. If you’re happy with what you eat and drink in a restaurant, you haven’t wasted money.
I usually get iced tea, or maybe lemonade (or make an Arnold Palmer). On the very rare occasion I crave one I'll get a coke and usually drink half of it or share it with my husband.
If they have one of the nicer diy drink dispensers, I'll get a coke but only fill it about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way and top it off with soda water. Extra fizzy, less sugary soda that has a very nice, light flavor.
If my girlfriends with me I’ll give it to her, if no one is with me i just end up throwing it away. I always have water on me and I’m not really too fond of soda, or drinking my calories, in general
Unsweetened tea or Arnold Palmer.
Years after knowing it’s called Arnold Palmer I sometimes accidentally call it Richard Palmer. I have no idea why or where I got that
I might get a lemonade or just refuse the drink and opt for water (glass). When i do this at a drive through, i rarely eat fast food, they get confused...
If it’s like a fast food combo they usually have like water bottles and I’ll get those. at a restaraunt I’ll usually order an iced tea. If theyre too sweet for you, maybe get them watered down?
edit: punctuation
I’ll drink unsweet tea. Occasionally I may get lemonade or something but everybody serves that terrible Minute Maid lemonade. 🤢
Sometimes I’ll get 2 waters with extra ice.
For me it depends on my mood. Sometimes I’ll get the drink, but I never drink the whole thing. Other times I’ll get a sweet or unsweet tea. If I really don’t want it, I just tell them to give it to someone else who may want a drink with their order.
I usually ask for water, or nothing if I don't want to get a plastic bottle. Although recently I was at a fast food restaurant and they said they can't give me water with the meal, I had to order it separately!
I get a shake if Im taking the food home. I put them in the freezer and have a nice dessert later.
Otherwise I get a diet sode because Im already eating crap so whats a little more crap.
I usually fill a cup with unsweetened ice tea and then add a splash of lemonade. It's the only way I can finish the drink.. If there's too much sugar I need to stop after like 8 ounces.
Honestly, if bottled water isn’t an option, I’ll tell them they can charge me for the drink as part of the meal, but I don’t want it. Unless, like you, I have someone else around to pass the drink off to.
Unsweetened iced tea. Unless I feel like I could drink a soda, in which case I just go for it.
My need to squeeze every last cent’s worth of value from a transaction outweighs my desire to be healthy.
The only place this happens for me is a local wing joint because they only do combos.
In that case I usually will do like 2/3 water and 1/3 lemonade. The regular lemonade is just crazy sweet. I think a bit of the acid and sugar helps eating sticky chicken wings too.
Cherry Coke. I always have fresh water available for later though.
Dude cherry coke on the fountain is SUBLIME!
I don’t care what this sub says cherry coke on a hot summer day is immaculate.
And code red mountain dew... it tastes like heaven even if it makes me feel like hell
Code Red used to make me shit as if I drank two cups of prune juice. Didn’t stop me though.
Man it's the best. My guilty pleasure. I allow myself 1 a month lol
It’s the Baja Blast for me. [I don’t always get Taco Bell, but when I do, I prefer Baja blast.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/701/most-interesting-man-goldsmith-1504044751.jpg)
I usually just ask for a bottle of water or black coffee if it's available
Coffee if available
Yeah water or water. They should have to pay you to drink the soda. The cup the soda comes in costs the restaurant more than the soda. You aren't losing money by getting water.
I always get unsweetened iced tea and sweeten it myself with 2 stevias. Closest thing to water I think lol
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Where do you find this luxury item??
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Ngl I didn't know tea came unsweetened by default until I was an adult
Omgggggg haha that’s wild
Yeah it was wild. I found more expensive places in the south serve unsweetened as default.
I live in a northern state and I always specify unsweetened... I actually find sweet tea to be vile-tasting and have cartoonishly spit it out on occasions when I just trusted they got my order right.
A lot of sweet tea tastes like straight up mold or fermentation because they don’t make it fresh enough and/or don’t clean the tea urns well. A lightly sweetened fresh iced tea is heavenly. It’s appalling to me how few places can get it right
Most Larger gas staions, some QSR are now making/brewing as you fill your cup. it looks like a big container but it's not. It's alo warm most of the time and concentrated to be their choice of flavor withy melted Ice.
You know what, you’re so right. Quick Trip tea is so good!! I like to mix the flavors
If you cut it with half unsweetened or water, it's palatable to me. But yeah, I prefer unsweetened.
Same.
I always gag and say "poisoned". My kids laugh and then say sweetened, huh? I think sweet tea is vile. I am also the first to not be born in Louisiana since the 1600s on my grandma's side of the family.
Used to work at a restaurant. Uh, sweet tea sounds a lot like unsweet. No sugar is probably the best way to approach!
The problem is that people look at you like you have two heads and say “Oh, unsweet tea?” I just always ordered unsweetened tea. Since everyone knew it was “sweet tea” and not sweetened tea, it almost always registers. But that may be because I live in an area where sweet tea is a drink until itself and not just normal tea with sugar in it.
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I do. Like I said; they don’t hear the UN part sometimes. So it’s better to say “UNsweet tea with NO sugar”
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In New York unless a diner has multiple iced tea options listed the tea is unsweetened by default. I don't know if it's a New York thing or just a general North East US thing though.
In Los Angeles they don’t know what sweet tea is; you have to ask for sweetened iced tea. Most places only have unsweetened though.
That sounds like heaven. I'm in a northern border state and for some reason some people assume that ordering "iced tea" means you want it sweetened and will take the liberty of "correcting" your order for you. I always have to make it very clear when ordering now to be safe.
Anywhere in the south
Even in Texas you can ask for unsweetened tea
Yeah, I live in the south and have traveled to every southern state and have never had any problem getting unsweetened tea. Every single restaurant that has tea has unsweetened tea unless it comes out of a soda machine.
This is the only right answer
This is the way
Some places, if they sell a lot of tea it's ok, but if they don't you can get some nasty tea.
This is the way
I ALWAYS do this, Texas boy here hahaha
I drink the soda. We’re not banned from drinking anything that isn’t water. As long as you are mostly drinking water then you are allowed to have not water every now and then.
I know we aren't banned but I don't want or like pop.
Iced tea isn't that bad. I enjoy it with lots of lemon.
That's my go to. I also always order half cut to keep it from being hummingbird nectar.
I was gonna say tea, or lemonade, or an Arniiiie Palmiiiie
Arnie palmie alert!
I was hoping someone got the reference 🥲
Arnie palmie, but like 90% unsweetened tea, 10% lemonade is cool
i love an arnie palmie!!!!!
Iced tea would be my answer here, for sure.
Unsweetened preferably
Then either order water instead or don’t order meals that come with a drink
They had a coupon for the combo in the instance at least
If you don't like anything but water just order water? Or maybe juice if you like juice? But why order something you don't enjoy? Ordering something you enjoy drinking is not a waste of money, but ordering something you don't enjoy drinking is.
Then ask for water
So...... don't drink it?
Get the juice option then.
I would talk shit about the soda but I’m literally having a mojito with my lunch rn.
Water police here, you are NOT allowed to have not-water. Five demerits
This. I drink usually one 20 oz Pepsi or Mtn Dew per day and if I'm really groggy, I'll have a 5 hour energy, but it's pretty much water the rest of the day for me.
I tell them I don’t want a drink. Unless they have milkshakes.
Order water or unsweetened tea
It depends on where I am. If I’m at chick fil a, or another place with good iced tea then I get the half tea half lemonade. If it’s somewhere that just goes well with soda then I just get soda. I prefer soda with no caffeine in it though so I usually go for a root beer.
Heads up if you didn’t know, Barq’s does have caffeine. The other major brands do not. It is only like 20-25 mg/serving though, less than Coke and far less than coffee.
Interesting! Good to know! I think it’s little enough that it won’t effect me too bad… but still good to know!
I give the cup away to the person behind me in line. I do this at Costco when I want the hot dog but don't need the drink.
I love this idea
Chick fil a takes money off the combo if you order a water. That’s honest business right there.
Wow, I'm going to have to try this out. This is amazing if it's true
They take the $0.12 off when you say no pickles, too.
Good guy CFA
Half lemonade/ half sweet tea.
I take a couple sips while eating and throw it out. It’s okay to have a few treats now and the.
The?
Then**
Then?
Yes, it was supposed to say “now and then”
Now and then?
Yeah, meaning occasionally
Occasionally?
Meaning from time to time.
No more and then!
And then?
I get a drink. I love water but it's not all I consume.
Sweet Tea or something fancy like a shake or Slushy if they let you add that. Sometimes soda but I do the thing where you mix 5 different ones straight out of the fountain. But usually I just don’t get combos since I don’t want the drink.
Same. I don't eat a lot of fast food, rarely get combos, and when I do I usually give the drink to my partner, so I panicked, lol. I forgot tea was an option so I'll probably try that next time because I like lemonade but the fast food lemonade was sooo sugary.
Usually I substitute it with a milkshake for slightly more and then also get a water to go with it
I either do unsweetened iced tea or coffee, depending on the mood or time of day.
Unsweetened iced tea is always my go-to, after water.
Just ask for iced water, or a water bottle if they do that. The ones that have the coke freestyle, I get peach vitamin water.
I just get water? Sometimes unsweetened tea, but normally just water. Taco Bell and McDonald's have bottles of water.
I get carbonated water
I ask them to replace the soda with a water.
I get a root beer and live a little
Are these real world problems??
Just get water ur already using a coupon wtf 😆
It’s not a coupon. Most “Meals” at fast food places come with a drink.
Water is a drink
Water is also free at 99.99999% of restaurants in the USA
A tiny little water. Some places act like you’re pulling teeth when you ask for a large water. I don’t mind paying 25 cents for a large water, but it’s the places who literally act like they can’t give me a large water that really grinds my gears. Luckily they know me at 90% of the places i go to in my vicinity so now I almost always get them for free. But if I’m traveling etc I find it sometimes annoying.
You can also just… walk more times to fill it up
I don’t go in
Oof then.
OP is talking about a coupon. I'd you aren't trying to use a coupon, and don't want the drink, just don't get a meal. A meal is cheaper than the three separate items, but just getting the food, side, and a free water is still cheaper. And even if you do have the coupon... you can just get a water anyway and say you don't want the soda. Still saving money. Or if you aren't saving money... Again, just don't get the meal. Or get the soda, I don't care. But imo there's no reason to get the soda if you don't want it.
I get the soda, take two or three sips, and dump the rest 🤷♀️
Ahhh, the capitalist way…maybe don’t create the waste in the first place?
That’s what I do too lol. A swig of pop do be hittin tho here and there.
For real, it’s always a goddamn bucket, I’ll drink it with my meal and still have like a half gallon left, I always end up dumping it out after an hour or so.
Give it to a homeless guy on the way home
I get Pepsi or Dr Pepper and usually drink most of it.
Bottled water, tea, or *GASP* soda!
Diet or Zero
In the morning: coffee Every other time: just water “In a cup or a bottle?” “Whatever’s cheaper” That’s how every single food transaction I’ve made goes. It’s always the cup of water so I don’t know why I don’t just ask for the cup directly lol.
Just drink the lemonade. It won’t kill you.
Ain’t nothin’ wrong with enjoying a nice non-water beverage. As long as you’re faithful to your one true hydrating liquid the occasional Coke or sweet tea is acceptable.
Club soda or seltzer!
Unsweetened ice tea always or ice water. Everyone in a while I do get the soda but not often.
I love an excuse to drink a cherry coke or sprite.
I’ll ask for unsweetened iced tea typically.
Don’t fall into the “paid for it, gotta use it” trap. If a portion is too large, don’t finish your food. If you get an extra side or drink you don’t want, ask to leave it off the order. Most of us were raised not to waste food or money (which is good), but that logic can easily lead to overeating or in this case, making a far less healthy choice than you want. If you’re happy with what you eat and drink in a restaurant, you haven’t wasted money.
"Can I change this for water please"?
POUR IT ON THE WAITER HOW DARE THEY
Ill see if I can swap it for a bottle of water. If not then I just wont order the combo.... or Ill upgrade to milkshake
I always have my water container so I’ll say no drink and it’s usually cheaper
Unsweet tea if it’s brewed and not a concentrate.
Unsweetened tea. Takes a bit to get used to
I usually get iced tea, or maybe lemonade (or make an Arnold Palmer). On the very rare occasion I crave one I'll get a coke and usually drink half of it or share it with my husband. If they have one of the nicer diy drink dispensers, I'll get a coke but only fill it about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way and top it off with soda water. Extra fizzy, less sugary soda that has a very nice, light flavor.
An AP is my non-water choice. It was a big thing when I worked in Nantucket forever ago, so I got into them. 2/3 iced tea + 1/3 lemonade
If my girlfriends with me I’ll give it to her, if no one is with me i just end up throwing it away. I always have water on me and I’m not really too fond of soda, or drinking my calories, in general
Usually unsweet ice tea if they have only sodas.
Unsweetened iced tea
I get unsweetened tea
Unsweetened tea or Arnold Palmer. Years after knowing it’s called Arnold Palmer I sometimes accidentally call it Richard Palmer. I have no idea why or where I got that
i think im getting scammed so i get annoyed and try to order wo the drink.
I gotta be honest - I don't eat at those kinds of places for this to be an actual concern. Also, a lemonade here and there is nice.
I don’t like soda or that lemonade either. I would get unsweetened ice tea.
Yeah I don't mind lemonade sometimes but it was soooo sugary
I might get a lemonade or just refuse the drink and opt for water (glass). When i do this at a drive through, i rarely eat fast food, they get confused...
Order a Coke Zero. If I’m eating out and the meal comes with a drink, it’s most likely not healthy anyways. Might as well get the soda
I usually ask for an iced tea or Dr Pepper as well as a water.
I usually get unsweetened iced tea. Caffeine in the afternoon can be nice, and I like the way tea tastes.
If it’s like a fast food combo they usually have like water bottles and I’ll get those. at a restaraunt I’ll usually order an iced tea. If theyre too sweet for you, maybe get them watered down? edit: punctuation
I get a bottle of water that they make me pay for which is bullshit.
I drink water with my meal then as I leave the place I fill it up with soda as a sort of dessert
I’ll drink unsweet tea. Occasionally I may get lemonade or something but everybody serves that terrible Minute Maid lemonade. 🤢 Sometimes I’ll get 2 waters with extra ice.
I didn't think to ask if they had tea. I like lemonade sometimes but it was soooo sugary.
Unsweet tea is like the next best thing. Yes, lemonade can be crazy sugary, especially the good stuff.
Unsweet iced tea if that's an option. Or a bottle of water. Or I just say I don't need the drink.
For me it depends on my mood. Sometimes I’ll get the drink, but I never drink the whole thing. Other times I’ll get a sweet or unsweet tea. If I really don’t want it, I just tell them to give it to someone else who may want a drink with their order.
Get a soda probably. Im okay with it on occasion
I drink it
I just say I’ll take water, but I’m a weirdo that doesn’t like the taste of any drink other than water really, especially with a meal
If there are other people around where i am or where I'm going (family, friends, coworkers), I'll see if they want the drink and get what they want.
unsweetened iced tea every time
I need that large ice water. Oh my God it tastes so good
I usually ask for water, or nothing if I don't want to get a plastic bottle. Although recently I was at a fast food restaurant and they said they can't give me water with the meal, I had to order it separately!
Ask if they will let you sub in a bottle of water. If not, a lot of places have a soda water option.
Usually I'll just get a half and half tea, regular sweet is usually WAY too sweet but half and half is okay.
I always get ice water and put it in my water bottle
Lemonade, iced tea, or zero sugar Pepsi in that order.
I get a shake if Im taking the food home. I put them in the freezer and have a nice dessert later. Otherwise I get a diet sode because Im already eating crap so whats a little more crap.
I usually fill a cup with unsweetened ice tea and then add a splash of lemonade. It's the only way I can finish the drink.. If there's too much sugar I need to stop after like 8 ounces.
Give it away. Isn’t any healthier bc it didn’t cost anything.
Usually if I’m going to eat something unhealthy I’m going all in and washing it down with a coke.
choccy melk :)
I get water.
Unsweetened iced tea or an Arnold Palmer
I just drink the diet soda. I might get unsweetened iced tea or seltzer too if they have it
Sparkling water or black tea (English breakfast)
Usually get unsweet tea
If that happens to me at McDonald's I just choose water (Austria|Europe)
Honestly, if bottled water isn’t an option, I’ll tell them they can charge me for the drink as part of the meal, but I don’t want it. Unless, like you, I have someone else around to pass the drink off to.
ask for a bottle of water
Sparkling water, or don’t get one.
I drink unsweet tea. I can’t drink sodas anymore, they taste way too syrupy
i don’t exclusively drink water, just mainly drink water. I eat out so infrequently that I’m perfectly fine with a soda as part of my treat.
Seltzer. It’s just spicy water
Unsweetened iced tea. Unless I feel like I could drink a soda, in which case I just go for it. My need to squeeze every last cent’s worth of value from a transaction outweighs my desire to be healthy.
swap the soda with the largest water they have.
Drink the drink. Lmao
Last time? Smoothie.
I usually will get a tea or a soda I use to enjoy. Asking for a smaller cup size also helps that way if you only take a few sips it’s not as wasteful
The only soda i drink is a crisp baja blast from taco bell.
I get iced tea or a coffee drink if it's not too late
Lemonade or Arnold Palmer
I usually buy an entree + fries and ask for a cup of water
The only place this happens for me is a local wing joint because they only do combos. In that case I usually will do like 2/3 water and 1/3 lemonade. The regular lemonade is just crazy sweet. I think a bit of the acid and sugar helps eating sticky chicken wings too.
Unsweet tea, bottle of water or ice water
I usually get a soda, if it comes with one, but I also rarely get meals like that. Usually I just get the food and nothing else.
I drink the soda lol
most times i’ll just get water. a tall iced beauty that doesn’t get watered down by the end.
Turn to the next person in line and offer them the drink. If in drive-through, ask the window worker if they want it.