I Drank V8 Every Morning for a Week. Here’s What Happened

I’m always up for a food-related experiment, so when I had the opportunity to try drinking a can of V8 Original every morning for a week, it was a no-brainer. Each morning, I sipped on an itty-bitty, 5.5-ounce can of V8 (I like it super cold, over ice). Here are three things that I noticed during this little trial.

My Post-workout routine was way more enjoyable

After morning workouts, I’m typically famished (exercise does stimulate your appetite, after all), but the last thing I have time to do while rushing to get ready for work is cook a meal. V8 is an ideal post-workout snack that sets a positive tone for the rest of my day. With no added sugar and as much potassium as a small banana, a 5.5-ounce can leaves me feeling refreshed, satisfied and not wanting to eat a bagel slathered in cream cheese.

I Looked Forward to Drinking It

Before I started this experiment, I did some research on what to expect. It turns out, each 5.5-ounce can of V8 has only 30 calories and no added sugar. One can contains a full serving of vegetables and is a good source of vitamins A and C, as well as 11mg lycopene. Sounds good, right? I hadn’t tasted V8 since I was a kid (my grandparents always had it in their kitchen), and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Spoiler alert: It’s actually really delicious and surprisingly refreshing. The 5.5-ounce can is also the perfect size: It’s not too much in the morning, and it’s super easy to stash a can in your bag if you’re on the go. Ideal.

I Made Better Food Choices Throughout the Day

Aside from being tasty, starting my morning off with V8 impacted the food choices I made for the rest of the day. Because of all its benefits, drinking V8 inspired me to make better choices all day long. I was way less likely to reach for an afternoon cookie from the office kitchen, for example, knowing that I started my day on such a positive note. (I stuck to raw almonds instead, thank you very much.)