Giving up artificial sweeteners--creative alternatives for drinks wanted
andielyn
Posts: 233 Member
I am giving up artificially sweetened drinks...my main consumption of artificial sweeteners is Splenda (sucralose) in tea (hot and cold) and Sparkling Ice (flavored sparkling water) and rarely, a diet soda. I drink lots of water--even before giving up sweeteners--and looking for alternatives for tea and water, primarily. I am a big fan of Hint and have a case of Hint Fizz on the way, and currently use lime juice or an ounce of cranberry juice to flavor water. Any other ideas and/or products you recommend? I'm not opposed to honey or real sugar in small amounts but am opposed to agave nectar. I'm a black coffee drinker so I'm good there.
I'm not looking for baking recipe alternatives, just drinks. Thanks.
I'm not looking for baking recipe alternatives, just drinks. Thanks.
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Have you ever heard of SodaStream? It is a home carbonator so you can make your own soda. You could add anything you want to it after that. I like to put fruit in mine and let it sit in the fridge for a while to let the taste out. I use raspberries, strawberries, cherries, mango, and peach mainly. I find frozen fruit works better because it tends to be a bit soggy and let the juice out more quickly than fresh. I know some people like to use cucumber and mint as well. 2 oz of orange juice to 6 ounces of carbonated water is delicious and only has 30 calories.
I suppose you could do the same thing with sparkling water/club soda if you don't want to buy the machine, but I like that there are no bottles of cans to recycle when I am done, because I drink a ton of carbonated water.
Oh, and of course iced herbal teas. I like most of the fruit flavours from Teavana, as well as liquorice flavour and bengal spice, iced.0 -
I gave up artificial sweeteners in July. I have become accustomed to drinking iced tea without any sweetener, but I've also gone from 4 glasses a day to maybe one per week.
I generally stick with 100% water. I do love it without anything added but I also love it with a squeeze of lemon or infused with fruit and/or vegetables. Lemon/lime/cucumber infused water is becoming a fast favorite. I mix up a pitcher before bed and it's ready by morning!0 -
I put tea bags in cold water at the start of the day. It steeps, just more slowly. I prefer the passion tea, orange, and ginger the most, but any tea bag would work.
I use 1 tea bag per day, with about 3 full water bottles full of water throughout the day.0 -
Great ideas--thanks! I've heard of SodaStream but never envisioned that one could use it with things like fruit. Mizzougal--I'll definitely have to try the lemon/lime/cucumber--sounds delish!
Welcoming more great ideas like these! 0 -
how about actual sugar?0
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TrueLemon, TrueLime, etc. are great for flavoring water. They are crystallized citrus fruit in a little packet that equals the juice of one wedge of fruit. I keep some in my purse to use when I'm out.
They also make powdered drink sticks in different flavors for 10 calories that have only natural ingredients and are sweetened with cane sugar and stevia. The cherry limeade is to die for but they have other flavors, too. Wal-Mart and other stores carry both types of products and the powdered drink sticks cost the same for a package of 10 as Crystal Light or any of the other brands ($1.97).0 -
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STEVIA is my favourite sweetener. It is natural, looks like sugar, and has no side effects. I can envision it being added to any of the great suggestions you have gotten.
As far as I am concerned, real sugar (even in moderation) can throw one's cravings off balance. When I have sugar, I then crave more sugar, and the vicious cycle continues.
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TrueLemon, TrueLime, etc. are great for flavoring water. They are crystallized citrus fruit in a little packet that equals the juice of one wedge of fruit. I keep some in my purse to use when I'm out.
They also make powdered drink sticks in different flavors for 10 calories that have only natural ingredients and are sweetened with cane sugar and stevia. The cherry limeade is to die for but they have other flavors, too. Wal-Mart and other stores carry both types of products and the powdered drink sticks cost the same for a package of 10 as Crystal Light or any of the other brands ($1.97).
I will have to check it out. I don't know much about stevia...will do more research on it. Cherry Limeade is my very favorite Sparkling Ice flavor! Thanks for the suggestion.
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STEVIA is my favourite sweetener. It is natural, looks like sugar, and has no side effects. I can envision it being added to any of the great suggestions you have gotten.
As far as I am concerned, real sugar (even in moderation) can throw one's cravings off balance. When I have sugar, I then crave more sugar, and the vicious cycle continues.
Thanks! Do you know of any studies on stevia? Right now I'm avoiding that too but may change my mind.
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No studies on Stevia that I am aware of. It is all natural though. It is a plant that has been used as a sweetener for generations. I use this as my sweetener of choice.
I however do not have an issue with other sweeteners either. Love me some artificial sweetened Coke Cherry Zero. Yummeeee!!!! Especially with some Bacardi Gold
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I like a TINY bit of pure maple syrup (it's runnier than normal maple syrup, and frankly tastes better) in my black tea.0
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I quit the artificial sweeteners cold turkey. No more soda and no more sweet tea. If I need the caffeine I do an unsweet tea. Other than that I stick to water. That's the only way I could kick the sugar and sweetener habit.0
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feathernaut wrote: »I like a TINY bit of pure maple syrup (it's runnier than normal maple syrup, and frankly tastes better) in my black tea.
I drink my coffee black but actually that sounds good--for tea, too! Thanks! (I only buy the pure maple syrup and couldn't agree more about the taste).
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I simply weaned myself off sweet taste. Decreased the amount more and more until I could drink it unsweetened. I also recommend trying the natural flavored herbal teas, they have nothing but possibly stevia which is largely regarded as safe.0
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i avoid chemical sweeteners like the plague. some of them give me seizures and some just taste bad. i use a little bit of sugar or molasses in my oatmeal, i use a touch of honey or Xylitol in my tea. xylitol's nice because it has a low glycemic index but can be fart-producing if you have too much.
some people like stevia. i can't stand it. it's all natural, and sweet, and has a long-lasting bitter aftertaste.0 -
Trader Joe's sells sparkling mineral water that's infused with fruit flavors like raspberry lime, mandarin orange, and lemon lime. No sugar, calories, or anything, but it's super refreshing and only 99 cents for a quart!0
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Mmm, hint water. That's good stuff.
My husband's office does a lot of "spa water". It's really good - not usually as strongly flavored as the hint water, but a nice variation from plain water when I have lunch with him. Some sample flavors: apple/ginger, cucumber/kaffir lime leaf, celery, grapefruit, tomato, rosemary, apple, parsley, green bell pepper, lemon, cilantro/jalapeno, ginger/lime, orange/star-anise, baby ginger/lemongrass, apple/cinnamon.
It's easy to make at home - muddle your add-in a little, add ice and water, let sit a bit.
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Wine0
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A little late getting back to the latest suggestions...thanks a bunch! No Trader Joe's near me but I'll be checking it next time I'm near one. I like some of the spa water combos--thanks! And of course, wine!
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Trader Joe's sells sparkling mineral water that's infused with fruit flavors like raspberry lime, mandarin orange, and lemon lime. No sugar, calories, or anything, but it's super refreshing and only 99 cents for a quart!
I am so addicted to that stuff! I cannot seem to get enough of it.
If you don't have trader joes try any sparkling water. I also like club soda with lime (and during happy hour vodka)
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I don't know if anyone suggested this but I recommend quitting sweeteners altogether. This will help you adjust your tastebuds for desserts and things too! Soon you will find many things are too sweet, and even almonds have a naturally sweet taste to them.0
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Took me 2 weeks to adjust to unsweetened tea and now I can't stand sweet tea.0
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TopazCutie wrote: »I don't know if anyone suggested this but I recommend quitting sweeteners altogether. This will help you adjust your tastebuds for desserts and things too! Soon you will find many things are too sweet, and even almonds have a naturally sweet taste to them.
Yes, that's pretty much what I'm doing. Tried a couple new brands/flavors of sparkling waters this weekend and liked them. Hot tea will be the challenge.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Anyone who has other ideas I'm open to more ideas!
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you can make your own flavoured water with fruit! They have water bottles or drink jugs with infusers that you just add chopped up fruit (any kind you like, I really like strawberries and blackberries - or mint and cucumber) in the infuser and add water to the bottle/jug. Put in fridge overnight. The longer the better
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Beer.0
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samantha1242 wrote: »you can make your own flavoured water with fruit! They have water bottles or drink jugs with infusers that you just add chopped up fruit (any kind you like, I really like strawberries and blackberries - or mint and cucumber) in the infuser and add water to the bottle/jug. Put in fridge overnight. The longer the better
Thanks! I just saw those at Kohl's...I might have to splurge!
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