To use Hot Chocolate as my main drink instead of coffee?

[DayInTheLifeOfaMum]

For background I don’t like coffee, I can’t stand the taste of it unfortunately, I wish I liked coffee but I just don’t. Since being a mum I’ve ended up drinking Hot Chocolate in the same way that some people drink Coffee, multiple times a day, at both home and work. I feel like my hot chocolates make me more awake and more alert in the same way that coffee does that for some people, I just can’t stand the taste of coffee though. DH reckons I should stop drinking hot chocolate like this, but he drinks multiple coffees a day which is not much different as I’m using hot chocolate to feel more alert and more awake which is the same thing that he uses coffees for! AIBU to use hot chocolates as my main drink instead of coffees?

You don’t sound so mature yourself, flower.

You might as well have a chocolate bar, it's the sugar that's waking you up.

So, i'm with your husband as it's not v good for you. I don't think it's a good idea to rely on caffeine but relying on sugar is worse.

What I tend to have is a cappuccino or a latte - I'd recommend trying a mocha when you're in a coffee shop

You say you don't like tea but there are lots - have you tried chai, green tea, jasmine tea? I'd get a tea advent calendar if I were you and try and find something you like. You can always stick a teaspoon of honey in for a bit of a sugar kick too!

And stick to 1 coffee shop hot chocolate a day. Have as many options hot chocolates at home as you like, they're not so bad for you.

What about no sugar Red Bull, Op? @DayInTheLifeOfaMum

all the caffeine but none of the calories

It'll be terrible for your health.

One hot chocolate a day is enough. If you're having 4 a day it's like eating 4 large chocolate bars a day. All that sugar is extremely bad for your health.
Drink some cold water -that will wake you up.

Several coffees a day isn't healthy either. 2 coffees or 4 teas is plenty of caffeine.

As others have said it’s a huge whack of sugar- which yes will perk you up but then you will crash and need another! Over the day a lot of calories

I have cocoa. I gradually reduced the sugar in it and now have it without. I do stick to only one or two a day though because it's a lot of dairy obviously.

I don't like tea or coffee, I love a good quality hot chocolate, I would not be having multiple a day though! Maybe once or twice a week as I'm conscious how full of sugar it is. I drink water the rest of the time. You have made me fancy a hot chocolate now though.

I think you’ve asked on the wrong forum because no matter what you drink, someone will feel the need to put you down.

Just drink what you like.

I have a child who is prescribed milkshakes as an exclusive diet. She is peg fed the rest of the time if she doesn’t comply. I’m not ludicrous.

It's a huge amount of calories: and through mostly fat & sugar

It's like eating a chocolate bar multiple times a day. Not a good idea.

I voted YABU, not because it's unreasonable to choose to drink whatever you'd like, but because I'm assuming the spirit of the question is more "isn't this just the same as having a couple/a few coffees or teas per day?" The answer to that is no, it isn't. You're likely to make yourself quite poorly or at least run down and crap-feeling drinking multiple hot chocolates a day, of the type you go for.

Try loads of different flavours of tea? You can even get ones with a vanilla or chocolate hint to them. I actually drink hot water and really enjoy it. It’s warming and cheap! I don’t think you should have 3 hot chocolates a day, sounds very unhealthy!

Op, I absolutely do this - but with 75% dark hot chcolate (from gails).

However, I realised i was using milk as my main protein source and about 2 months ago apparently became lactose intolerant. So now on oat milk ones.

Taking a cup of chcoclate is very common in Portugal and Spain- dark, strong and energising

An option would be to have it made with water and sweetener. With a little milk added.

If you are having these types of hot chocolates several times a day… You’re likely getting half of your daily recommended calories from hot chocolate! It’s a huge amount of calories and sugar.

It doesn’t matter about the alertness, it may give it or not, but it’s a huge health hazard. Similar to other sugary creamy hot drinks.

Black sugar free coffees are different, as is sugar free tea, other drinks should only be had as treats every now and then.

If you like hot chocolate then drink it. He thinks you shouldn't drink hot chocolate because he doesn't believe it has the same effect as coffee.

That is one of the most ridiculous things I've read. You're not asking him to drink it.

You aren't using hot chocolate as a way to stay alert, you are using sugar, in the same way as eating a chocolate bar every couple of hours will perk you up temporarily. You may also have got yourself into a bit of a sugar addiction type situation, where you are actually craving it now, I find the more chocolate/sweet stuff you have the more your body wants it! Every now and again I have to go cold turkey on sweet stuff and chocolate to stop me wanting it, after about two one to two weeks you won't crave it anymore.

I hate coffee, so anyone saying try this coffee, try that coffee etc.. it doesn't take away from the base coffee taste, which if you don't like it you don't like it, I drink tea as an alternative with the odd hot chocolate, but if someone even stirs my tea with a spoon that has stirred coffee I can taste it and have to grimace to drink it.

So unless you like things like fruit tea, or something like that, I'd just try and cut down on how many hot chocolates you have.

I don’t think it’s any more unreasonable than all sorts of things people do.

is it good for you…? Probably not

I know a lot of people claim not to be able to function without coffee - but really one can! Are getting enough quality sleep? Is your blood sugar ok? My concern would be that drinking high sugar drinks would spike your energy and then slump - and you could get into quite a negative cycle.

good sleep and a bit of brisk outdoor activity probably a better option.

but if it works for you the crack on. You don’t need permission.

If it works for you who cares what anyone else thinks ! Small amounts of caffeine in chocolate and sugar will be what's working but if you're not worried about that then go for it

I'd check the sugar content as I'd worry that it is probably a lot of sugar so I'd stick to one a day. But I have hot chocolate in place of coffee too for similar reasons and agree it does perk me up - cocoa has caffeine content so it does have a stimulant effect other than the sugar. But I do think multiple a day is probably not great due to sugar content.

Try a low fat mocha coffee ?
I am not overly keen on hot chocolate I drink 2 cups of coffee a day , I make or buy a flat white with skim milk and I don’t get any syrups added or sugars.
Or Try different teas 🤔