Optavia Approved Drink List (What beverages can you have?)

As someone who was trying to lose weight on Optavia, I was always looking for ways to cut calories and watch what I eat. But what about drinks?

There are a lot of drinks that are loaded with sugar and calories, which often sabotage our diets. So what can we drink instead?

Here you can find the list of what drinks are allowed on Optavia that can help you reach your goals.

1. Plain water

I make a point of keeping myself hydrated throughout the day by drinking at least 8 glasses of water, which is in line with Optavia water intake recommendations.

If I don’t, my energy levels go down and I feel more hungry than usual.

But I’m very careful how I choose my water it.

I don’t buy any bottled water from a company that fails to reveal its nutritional value on the nutrition label on the bottle.

Here’s a photo of the Silver Spring water bottle.

The picture on the left shows the back of the bottle without any nutritional label. It only states that this water was processed by Micron filtration, Ozonation, and ultraviolet light.

There is no information about minerals like calcium, magnesium, or potassium.

I also made a habit of drinking at least 500 ml of water first thing in the morning, and before going to bed.

According to a randomized controlled trial published in the Nutrients Journal, “drinking extra water every day after waking up and before bedtime has the potential for lowering blood pressure, increasing body temperature, diluting blood waste materials, and protecting kidney function.”

“The recommended amount of fluid to drink each day is 3,000 ml for men and 2,200 ml for women,” states the journal.

2. Sparkling water

My second drink of choice on the Optavia diet is sparkling water. There’s just something about bobbles that gets me excited.

To begin, I think it’s important to know how I like to drink fizzy water. I choose Perrier, San Pellegrino, and VOSS. I like it with ice. (A lot of ice.)

After I fill up my glass with ice cubes, I like to drizzle the top with lemon (or cucumber) and sip via a straw. (I have sensitive teeth so I feel discomfort after cold drinks.)

And yes, carbonated water is one of the first things I do when I feel hungry on Optavia becasue it makes me feel fuller for longer (without any calories).

3. Fruit infused water

I love the fruit-infused water. It not only tastes good, but it also helps me remember about drinking water.

Staying hydrated throughout the day was always tricky, especially when I’m balancing work, family, and everything in between. 

To ensure it has little to no calories, I blend 500 ml of water with lemon, mint leaves, and crushed ice.

Then, I pour everything into my Iceshaker and put it in the fridge for 24 hours.

Here’s a photo of my Iceshaker I bought in GNC.

I like to drink water from this stainless steel shaker becasue it doesn’t leach any plastic or aluminum.

I don’t use Optavia water infusers anymore. (They’re too expensive.)

I don’t drink Zevia, Poland Spring, or (god forbid) Schweppes.

These fruit-infused water drinks are actually sweetened and taste horrible.

I try to prepare fruit-infused water myself. And while there are many Optavia approved water enhancers, I try not to buy them too often.

4. Black tea (Unsweetened)

Although drinking tea is allowed on Optavia, I don’t do it too often.

I’m not a tea person. (Coffee is my thing.)

However, I needed to find an alternative to my evening booze habit, ideally without caffeine. My favorite black tea is peppermint tea.

According to the article published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, “peppermint tea has potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.”

I also like Earl Gray from Twinings and one of these fancy seaweed teas from a company called Voya – Fennel Fusion.

It has a light citrusy flavor combined with orange peel and cassia cinnamon. It literally feels like drinking fruit water, but with zero calories.

5. Green tea (Unsweetened)

Another calorie-free beverage on the Optavia-approved drink list is green tea. Although I don’t drink green tea too often, my wife usually drinks 2 to 3 cups per day.

According to the article published in the International Journal of Obesity, “green tea may help people who are overweight or obese to lose a tiny amount of weight.”

“This is not a lot of weight, and it probably won’t make a difference to how you feel,” states the journal.

6. Black coffee (americano, espresso)

Here’s a photo of me holding my ice americano just before going to the gym.

Here’s how I like to drink my coffee when I have more time on my hands.

For me, it’s almost like a ritual.

I love black coffee for a number of reasons. First, I love the flavor and aroma of freshly grinded (and brewed) coffee beans.

Second, it helps me to eat less and control my appetite. In fact, drinking 2-3 cups of black coffee was one of the top things that helped me lose weight on Optavia.

And third, it gives me a burst of energy and helps me power through the day when I need a pick-me-up.

7. Pepsi black (zero sugar)

Although I try to stay away from all sodas, Pepsi black is high on my Optavia drink list. I drink it becasue it’s sweet and doesn’t have any calories.

(Yes, I know about artificial sweeteners, but I still drink them.)

In the photo below you can see two diet Pepsi drinks with glass full of ice (just as I like).

And to be clear, I don’t go over the board. I only drink it to satisfy any cravings for sweets. Instead of eating extra Optavia fuelings, I rather have a glass of iced Pepsi.

8. Diet Coke or Coca-Cola zero sugar

Yes, you can drink Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero on Optavia. They both have zero sugar and zero calories. Just like with diet Pepsi, I don’t drink it every day.

According to the article published in the Nutrition Reviews Journal, “the evidence currently suggests that obesity risk may be lower when artificially sweetened beverages replace sugar-sweetened beverages in the diet.”

A Randomized Controlled Trial published in the International Journal of Obesity states that “replacing calorie-free sodas with water may cause further weight reduction during a 12-month weight maintenance program.”

I also like to sip on Diet Coke when I’m out with friends on Saturday evenings, instead of drinking booze.

9. Oolong tea (Unsweetened)

According to the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, “Oolong tea could help people to lose weight by improving how the body breaks down fats. People who drink oolong tea regularly may be less likely to become obese.”

My wife is obsessed with Oolong tea.

She says she loved the taste, which may often vary from light and refreshing to full-bodied and creamy, depending on how long it was steeped.

I noticed she also likes to steep it hot or cold and add different ingredients like mint leaves or fruits to create new flavors.

All-in-all, oolong tea is undoubtedly one of my go-to beverages in any situation, especially if I’m looking for an energizing yet healthy way to start my day.

Whether enjoyed alone or with friends, oolong tea never fails to hit the spot!

10. Gatorade Zero

Although Gatorade sports drinks contain carbohydrates and electrolytes to help replenish fluids lost during intense physical activity, I would not recommend these on Optavia.

I’m talking about Gatorade Zero, a sugar-free version of the original Gatorade sports drink.

While it still helps to keep you hydrated with a balance of electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, it doesn’t have any calories.

So it’s more suitable if you’re trying to limit sugar intake.

11. Propel water

You can drink Propel water on Optavia becasue it’s calorie-free and doesn’t contain sugar. It is also sweetened with Acesulfame Potassium and sucralose, which are both safe to consume, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Proper states that “all products are fortified with vitamins B, C, and E, as well as electrolytes to help you stay hydrated.”

Honestly, I don’t use propel water too often.

Instead, I prefer their powder packs.

I usually mix half of the lemon powder pack together with any spring water.

(This way I don’t have to spend a fortune on water though.)

12. Powerade Zero

Yes, you can drink Powerade zero on Optavia.

Similarly to Gatorade, this sports isotonic drink has zero calories and is packed with electrolytes like sodium and potassium that helps to stay hydrated.

Unlike traditional energy drinks, Powerade Zero tends to have zero sugar, which is great for anyone looking to lose weight.

For me, there is not much difference between Powerade Zero and Gatorade Zero.

From what I’ve seen, Powerade has more flavors.

13. Energy drinks

While the Optavia 5 and 1 plan allows you to enjoy energy drinks, they suggest that you stick to calorie-free versions.

There are many approved energy drink options out there, but my advice as a friend is to always choose ones without artificial flavors or sweeteners.

They don’t offer any added nutritional benefits and can be bad for your overall health, according to experts.

And then there’s the caffeine.

Some of my favorite Optavia Fuelings do contain caffeine, so I try to limit my intake of energy drinks as much as possible

A little extra caffeine for sure helps to elevate my energy levels, but too much of it can have a negative effect on my mood and sleep.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your water routine, try adding some of the Optavia approved drinks listed above.

Most of them are low-calorie drinks like coffee and tea and can be enhanced with flavorings like mint or lemon to make them even more refreshing.

Consider adding one of these calorie-free beverages to your daily routine. Your body will thank you for it!