When craving soda, what do you reach for besides water?

EmilyOfTheSun

Soda.
Usually Diet Coke unless I have enough calories left for the real thing.

fishgutzy

Water with lemon.
I don't miss soda at all. Only have it when we go out now. Rarely buy it for home anymore.

K_Serz

Diet Soda, obviously..

QFT!

lp2ca

I also crave soda (mostly cola - perhaps it is the caffine) - options for that are tea or other things with caffine, but the sweet burst of a soda is still high on the list. I try to find the 'real sugar' sodas (vs. the high fructose corn syrup) when the urge is too much.
diet soda- generally tastes like chewing on aluminum foil to me.

some options: one of my favorites is doing a home-made italian soda (with or without the diet syrup - some of the fruity ones are ok), or add some fresh lime or lemon, or even lemonade to club soda is a good way to get the fizzy of soda without all the sugar. you can also add some fruit juice (but watch out these can easily have as many calories as soda),

acullen31

I still drink Diet root beer every so often, but now I drink Spark. Here's the product bio AdvoCare Spark® Energy Drink mix is a unique multi-nutrient system that's designed to provide nutritionally advanced, long-lasting energy and enhanced mental focus.* Its 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients work synergistically to give you healthy, balanced energy without making you jittery like other caffeinated beverages.*

Although, I never got jittery with soda lol

SusanL222

Well, I don't crave soda....gave them up a long time ago.....but, I do have a drink that I go to when I want something a bit fizzy, cold and satisfying. Not only that but it is healthy with B Vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes and only 30 calories per 8 ounces. Has anyone guessed it yet? No? Kombucha! :drinker: It took me awhile to get used to it, but now I love it! If you can get it, try GTs Gingerade Kombucha. It is pricier than soda, but you can also make your own which I now do. Google it! :happy:

erkme73

Coke Zero. To me, it has no diet taste at all. In fact, I drink it all the time. I can't drink regular coke anymore. It's too sweet. If you haven't tried it, grab a can or bottle (it's better than most fountain versions).

pensfan1

I couldn't handle soda in moderation, so I quit cold turkey. I didn't care so much for the caffeine, it was all about the sweetness for me. I drink 6 oz of pineapple juice on my way to work and that keeps me happy. Strange substitution, but its working for me. 30 days, no pepsi.

HotAshMess

Switch to the small cans. Or diet.

nini6900

Have a diet soda OR... what I do is I drink seltzer flavored water, its tastes really good, and with the bubbles I feel like im drinking soda
0 calories
0 sodium
0 sugar

GymPoet

Have you tried club soda? I find most of the time I just want the bubbles. You can jazz it up with cucumber, lime, or strawberries, etc. if you like. It's working for me.

That's what I do too. I also rub some ginger in it occasionally, which tastes better than it maybe sounds.

OtakuMusician

I drink tea.

But honestly, I had this same problem. I would drink four to five sodas a day. You don't have to cut back entirely, have a soda in moderation.

hironsd

Have you tried Dry Soda? http://www.drysoda.com/

totallydelirious

It could be the caffeine that you're getting withdrawals from and craving! If you like tea/coffee try drinking them instead (or learn to like them!)

jlapey

Have you ever heard of LeCroix? It's fruit flavored carbonated water, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no caffeine. Grapefruit and Lime are my favorites. It also comes in Lemon, Coconut, Peach-Pear, Orange and Berry.

ETA: also, zero calories

chels_bels13

My roommates and I drink flavored selzter water. Still get the bubbles and non of the calories

niki23poet

I go to flavored seltzer. That seems to always do the trick when I'm craving something bubbly with with flavor.

jeffd247

I like flavored "seltzers" like Poland Spring. Mostly I just like the bubbles.

17ChargerGirl17

If I want soda, I drink a Diet Coke.

Michelle_dirtracer

Thank you everyone for the advice. I am glad I didn't get negative and rude posts, which I see a lot of. Carbonated water with flavor may be good. Does it come in Cola flavor? haha

EvilFeevil

I was always against diet soda, too (and I only drank maybe a half a can of soda daily), but because a can of regular Dr. Pepper has 150 calories and Diet Dr. Pepper has zero, I finally made the switch to diet. (After a lifetime of chanting, "Ew, diet soda! I'll never drink that!")

I don't like regular diet "colas", but Dr. Pepper has that little extra bit of flavor (did you know that the Dr. Pepper flavor is from prunes?!?) that gives it the edge over other diet sodas for me. It gives me the little bit of what I crave without the calories.

A friend drinks flavored seltzer water but I tried it and it's just not sweet enough. But maybe try that w/ some Splenda, Truvia or Stevia thrown in?

jonisteenhoek

I love soda, nothing better than a can of Diet Pepsi. I'm trying to cut back though, so I bought some Advocare "Spark" (fruit punch flavor)....pretty tasty stuff.

ValerieMartini2Olives

Get the calorie free flavored sparkling waters or seltzer water. You get that sparkle like you are drinking pop.

laurenhugs23

I can't beieve so many of you are suggesting artificial sweeteners as the substitute. So many studies have determined that people who drink diet pop are more often overweight than those who don't.

Artificial Sweeteners INCREASE Your Risk of Obesity

"Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. In fact, diet sodas may actually double your risk of obesity!"
http://www.lewrockwell.com/2011/04/joseph-mercola/artificial-sweeteners-encourage-weight-gain/

SusanL222

While we are on the subject of what to drink, my daily go-to drink is Bengal Spice herbal tea (Celestial Seasonings). It has a very pleasant, mildly sweet and spicy flavor and zero calories. I put a teabag in each of five 16 ounce glass bottles, dump some boiling water in to cover, let it sit for a bit, then as I'm ready to drink it, I fill the bottle with cold water and it's grab and go. The flavor becomes smoother and more robust the longer it sits. :drinker:

caramelgyrlk

Since diet soda give me the worst headaches, I opt for unsweetened fruit ice tea or flavored seltzer waters.

MyM0wM0w

I buy 100% fruit juice (no sugar added) and I mix 1/2 C of that with 1 cup of seltzer water. It gives me a fizzy fruity drink that doesn't have as many chemicals as soda. (I don't get soda cravings anymore though, so I haven't done this in a LONG time).

Michelle_dirtracer

I can't beieve so many of you are suggesting artificial sweeteners as the substitute. So many studies have determined that people who drink diet pop are more often overweight than those who don't.

Artificial Sweeteners INCREASE Your Risk of Obesity

"Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. In fact, diet sodas may actually double your risk of obesity!"
http://www.lewrockwell.com/2011/04/joseph-mercola/artificial-sweeteners-encourage-weight-gain/

This is why I would rather have a regular soda. I stay away from anything is Aspartame in the ingredient list.

NBeehler

Have you tried club soda? I find most of the time I just want the bubbles. You can jazz it up with cucumber, lime, or strawberries, etc. if you like. It's working for me.

This has worked for me. I love club soda! They even have a low sodium version and this has completely replaced soda for me.

chefstew79

Flavored club soda (with no sodium or sweeteners) is a good substitute. You can also add your own flavoring such as strawberries, cherries, peaches, blackberries, cucumbers, mint, etc.