When I was young, I remember my mother during dinner time always forbidding us to drink water until after we've finished eating. My father and younger sister has no qualms with that notion, but I could never grow comfortable with that habit.

I never knew the reason why she insisted not drinking water while eating, but I was always thirsty in the middle of dinner needing something to drink, whether it was water, soda, or juice.

So, I never followed that rule and for all of my life--when I escaped the maternal tyrany during college--I would drink before, during, and after meals. It's never affected me adversely in any way what so ever.

In my view, it seems pretty irrational to refrain from drinking if one is thirsty.

Regards,

Frederick