Plain water just doesn’t do it for me and I don’t carry a toothbrush and toothpaste around in my pocket so that I can brush every couple of hours (it’s not convenient and it feels gross to me to brush teeth in public bathrooms).

But constantly reaching for something tasty to drink or something to eat can wreck any diet and it’s not always possible to do (it wouldn’t look good to pull a snack out of your pocket and start chewing away during an important meeting at work).

So I always keep sugar free gum with me, in my desk drawer, in my purse, in my computer bag, and in my vehicle. It gives me a good taste in my mouth, and at 5 calories a stick for most sugar free gums it’s hard for me to wreck my healthy eating plan even if I have one of those days where I’m chewing a whole pack.

My current favorite is Wrigley’s 5 gum in the Solstice flavor (a minty flavor different than any I’ve had before) and Elixer (a yummy berry flavor). The Flaire flavor is good too but you really gotta love cinnamon to enjoy that one.

I also like Trident Xtra Care gum in cool mint (whether or not it strengthens teeth like the package says I like to think I’m doing something good for my teeth while chomping away on it) and Orbit’s sweetmint and positively pomegranate flavors.

On the other hand, I think Orbit’s Mist gum is yucky. It has micro burst beads in it that are supposed to be hydrating but it just makes me think I got food into my gum which grosses me out. The mango surf flavor is the worst of the three they currently have – tastes like minty mango with chunks in it – ick!

Try stocking up on your favorite sugar free gums (try some new ones for variety) and chew away instead of chewing away on boatloads of brownies and chips Your thighs will thank you (and maybe also the coworker or friend you’re talking to when your breath is fresh and clean rather than stinky).

Try having a Tootsie Roll Pop instead.

Unless you can only stand to take two or three licks before biting into it to get to the tootsie roll center, it lasts a long time, satisfies a craving for something sweet, and only has 60 calories (only 1 Weight Watcher point!).

Plus there’s yummy new Pomegranate flavor.