Great- your doctor recommended you kick your soda habit… what are you going to drink instead?
Soda pop and diet sodas were meant to be occasional treats, not everyday habits, though the manufacturers are happy to have your business. There is nothing nutritious about drinking sodas and excess consumption is toxic to your body. In fact, if you drink just one 12-ounce soft drink a day, you’re consuming 55,000 empty calories per year, roughly equivalent to 15 pounds of fat. Diet sodas come with their own set of problems. Here are some delicious easy alternatives to help you “kick” the habit.
TEA
choose a favorite flavor or flavor combination and brew it up, serve hot or chilled.
- 1 teabag for every 1½-2 cups water (fruit flavors will give the illusion of a sweetened beverage).
- If making iced tea, bring water to a boil in a pot, turn the burner off, put teabags into the water, and steep until you reach your desired flavor level. Anywhere between 5 minutes and several hours. Remove the tea bags, cool the tea before transferring it to a pitcher, then store tea in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Garnish a serving with a sprig of mint, berry, cucumber or lemon/lime slice, etc. Or float them in the pitcher to add more flavor to your tea.
- If you’re craving bubbles, add sparkling water to your cup of tea. Experiment with your perfect amount of bubbly factor.
WATER
Nature’s abundant treasure. Helps flush toxins out of your body and keeps your tissues hydrated. Your body needs between 6-8 cups of liquid per day.
- Garnish a serving with a sprig of mint, watermelon, berry (crush for more flavor), cucumber or lemon/lime slice, etc. Or float them in a pitcher of water and chill for several hours or overnight. Water will absorb the subtle flavors of fruits and vegetables. Good for 3-4 days.
- Another delicious option is to put chopped-up fruit in an ice cube tray, add water, and freeze. Place the fruit cubes in your beverage for instant flavor and color!
- A little Stevia added to water is a sweet alternative.
SPARKLING WATER (flavored)
Add a little bit of juice to sparkling water for added flavor. Be mindful that juice is high in sugar so add only enough to flavor the water. Try and stay below three parts water to 1 part juice. For example, ¾ cup sparkling to ¼ cup juice. Remember, if you’re using freshly squeezed juice, ½ cup counts as a daily fruit serving.
- Use a thick, tart, concentrated juice, such as acai, cranberry, pomegranate, or grape, for a stronger flavor.
- Citrus fruits can add sweet or pucker power, depending on your preference.
TONIC/SODA WATER
If you can find these without chemical additives, they make excellent alternatives to soda pop drinks if you’re looking for bubbles.
- Squeeze in a lemon or lime slice to add flavor.
FRESH VEGETABLE JUICE
Great for you, smells wonderful, and is filled with vitamins and minerals. You still need to eat “whole” veggies during the day to count as well-rounded daily servings. “Whole” or chopped vegetables supply the fiber you need, plus any additional nutrients that are lost to waste during the juicing process. Canned or bottled juices tend to be high in sodium and low in nutrients.
- Carrot juice can be an especially sweet treat. Taste test a batch of carrots ahead of time for flavor. Organic carrots tend to be especially sweet and flavorful.
- Carrots, cucumber, celery, and beets all work well together. Consider bell peppers and tomatoes.
- Experiment with juice blending. If you’re sensitive to color, then mixing darker vegetables with lighter/green may result in brown colors that might not look appetizing.
- Add apple slices to sweeten the juice if needed.
