People exercising around the working day
If your lunch follows a run, gym session or active commute, check whether you want carbohydrate and electrolytes as well as a drink to replace fluids. Do not assume a sports drink will be sparkling.
Who is choosing a lunch drink?
People who want a fizzy drink at their desk
If carbonation matters more than an exercise-focused drink, distinguish sparkling Lucozade Energy from Lucozade Sport. Check sugar and caffeine on the drink you choose.
People packing a drink to mix at work
A sachet takes less packed-lunch space than a ready-to-drink bottle, provided you have water and something to mix it in. Gatorade UK directs users to mix one Hydration Booster sachet with 500ml of water.
What should you check?
Decide whether the drink is for exercise or a desk-day lunch, then compare its carbonation, ingredients and nutrition in the portion you will drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Activity | Check whether the drink contains carbohydrate and electrolytes, and whether your lunch accompanies exercise. The NHS advises drinking extra fluids after sweating through physical activity and identifies water as the way to replace lost fluids. | If I am exercising around lunch, I want to choose a drink for that activity. On a desk day, I may simply want water or another lunch drink. |
| Fizz and drink type | Read the specific product description: Coca-Cola GB describes standard Powerade as still and isotonic, while Sainsbury's labels Lucozade Energy Original a sparkling glucose drink. Carbonation alone does not identify a sports drink. | I want fizz with lunch, but I do not want to mistake an energy drink for the sports drink I meant to buy. |
| Sugar and carbohydrate | Compare per 100ml with the amount you will drink. Tesco Groceries lists 18g sugars per 500ml bottle of Lucozade Sport Orange and 0g sugars and carbohydrate per 100ml of Powerade Zero; Sainsbury's lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml of Lucozade Energy Original. | For a full lunch bottle, the total matters to me as well as the figure on the per-100ml label. If I choose a sugar-free sports-style drink, I also want to know that it does not provide carbohydrate. |
| Ingredients | Read the current pack for sweeteners, caffeine and any dietary warnings relevant to you. Sainsbury's lists caffeine in Lucozade Energy Original. | Before making a drink part of my regular packed lunch, I want to check its ingredients rather than rely on the range name. |
| Preparation | Check whether the drink is ready to drink or needs mixing. Gatorade UK instructs users to add one Hydration Booster sachet to 500ml of water. | A sachet suits my bag if I can get water and bring a bottle; otherwise I would rather pack a ready-to-drink container. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every fizzy drink is a sports drink
Sainsbury's describes Lucozade Energy Original as a sparkling glucose drink with caffeine, whereas Coca-Cola GB describes Powerade as a still isotonic sports drink. Fizz does not establish what type of drink you are buying.
Choose by the product label and your reason for drinking it. If you primarily want fizz, check sugar and caffeine rather than treating the word ‘Energy’ as an exercise-drink specification.
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Checking sugar only per 100ml
The amount in a bottle depends on its size. Tesco Groceries lists 18g sugars in a 500ml bottle of Lucozade Sport Orange.
Compare the per-100ml label and the portion you expect to drink, especially when choosing between different bottle and can sizes.
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Packing a sachet without a way to mix it
Gatorade Hydration Booster is a powder, not a ready-to-drink bottle. Gatorade UK directs users to mix one sachet with 500ml of water.
Check that you can get water at work and bring a suitable bottle before choosing sachets for your lunch.
A sachet also means carrying a bottle and taking time to prepare the drink.
Brand and range references
Lucozade
The range name matters: Lucozade Sport Orange is an isotonic sports drink, while Sainsbury's describes Lucozade Energy Original as a sparkling glucose drink.
- Tesco Groceries lists 18g sugars per 500ml bottle of Lucozade Sport Orange.
- Do not use the Energy range's sparkling description to determine whether a particular Sport pack is fizzy.
Powerade
Coca-Cola GB describes standard Powerade as a still isotonic sports drink; Tesco Groceries lists Powerade Zero as a still, sugar-free option.
- Coca-Cola GB lists 4.1g carbohydrate and 4.1g sugars per 100ml for standard Powerade Berry & Tropical Fruits.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0g carbohydrate per 100ml for Powerade Zero, so it does not offer the carbohydrate in the standard drink.
Gatorade
Gatorade UK presents Hydration Booster as a carbohydrate-and-electrolyte powder rather than a ready-to-drink sparkling option.
- Its directions specify one sachet mixed with 500ml of water.
- You need water and a container to prepare it at work.
Joybuy drink options
These options include a carbonated isotonic drink, other ready-to-drink beverages and a sparkling energy drink. Check each product's type and pack label against what you want for lunch; they are not interchangeable sports drinks.
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F&N 100 Plus Malaysian Carbonated Isotonic Drink 325ml, Halal
This 325ml can is an option when you want both fizz and a drink labelled isotonic. Compare the sugar information for the whole can when choosing it for a packed lunch.
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Lucozade Sport Orange 12 × 500ml
The individual bottles suit a packed lunch alongside exercise. If fizz matters to you, check this 12-bottle pack's label for carbonation rather than assuming its format from the Sport name.
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Pocari Sweat Drink 900ml
Consider how much of the 900ml bottle you want to take with your lunch. Check the current pack for carbonation if you are choosing specifically for fizz.
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DP Lemon Electrolyte Drink with Sweetener 555ml
This lemon-flavoured 555ml bottle is a ready-to-drink lunch option. Check its label for carbonation if you want fizz, and compare sugar for the amount you plan to drink.
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Lucozade Energy Orange 8 × 380ml
Choose this Energy variant for a fizzy lunch-drink preference, not on the assumption that it is Lucozade Sport. Check sugar, caffeine and any dietary warnings on the current pack of 380ml bottles.
Questions about lunch drinks
Is a sparkling Lucozade Energy drink the same as a sports drink?
No. Sainsbury's labels Lucozade Energy Original a sparkling glucose drink, whereas the Lucozade Sport and still Powerade examples are isotonic sports drinks. Check the particular product rather than choosing by the shared brand name.
Do I need a sports drink with an ordinary office lunch?
A sports drink is not necessary just because you are having lunch at work. NHS guidance identifies water as the way to replace lost fluids and advises extra fluids after sweating through physical activity; consider the drink's purpose if your lunch accompanies exercise.
What if I want sports-style flavour without sugar?
Powerade Zero Berry Tropical is a still option that Tesco Groceries lists with 0g sugars and 0g carbohydrate per 100ml. It therefore does not supply the carbohydrate listed for standard Powerade.
What should I check on a sparkling Lucozade Energy drink?
Check sugar and caffeine on the current pack. Sainsbury's lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml and caffeine in the ingredients of Lucozade Energy Original; it is labelled a sparkling glucose drink, not a sports drink.
Can I bring a powder drink to mix at the office?
Yes, if you have water and a suitable container. Gatorade UK instructs users to mix one Hydration Booster sachet with 500ml of water, so it takes preparation rather than being ready to drink from the pack.