Trying to get off soda... anyone have any good suggestions for a substitute?

I'm trying to give up soda once and for all, and I love water, I just don't want to drink ONLY water.
What's some good suggestions to replace the soda?
I don't want to drink a lot of juice because I know a lot has a lot of sugar, which is one of the reasons I'm giving up soda.
So I just want something w/some flavor, just not all the sugar and empty cals.
Thanks!
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Replies

  • slbbw
    slbbw Posts: 329 Member
    Flavored sparkling water, iced tea. If you do iced herbal tea you can get some good flavor variety. Also if you do homemade and need some sweetness add it but measure how much you are adding. It is usually much less sweet than store bought. If you are ok with artificial sweetener there are a range of products to flavor water. Diluted juice can also be a good option. For a treat I will add juice to sparkling water for a soda like drink.
  • lalalacroix
    lalalacroix Posts: 834 Member
    I get bored with water sometimes. I like Powerade zero - fruit punch flavor, lemonade mio, diet Dr pepper, unsweetened iced tea, and sparkling water is lovely.
  • tarheelmatt
    tarheelmatt Posts: 2 Member
    slbbw wrote: »
    Flavored sparkling water, iced tea. If you do iced herbal tea you can get some good flavor variety. Also if you do homemade and need some sweetness add it but measure how much you are adding. It is usually much less sweet than store bought. If you are ok with artificial sweetener there are a range of products to flavor water. Diluted juice can also be a good option. For a treat I will add juice to sparkling water for a soda like drink.

    Great ideas! I feel like I've heard someone talking about sparkling water before; because the carbonation is one thing I love about soda.
    I will definitely try that!
  • zeejane4
    zeejane4 Posts: 230 Member
    Diet soda and LaCroix sparkling flavored waters (non-sweetened).
  • Beanly21
    Beanly21 Posts: 2 Member
    I was just wondering this also, so thanks for asking. I stopped soda after college and won't drink artificial sweeteners, but pure juice adds too many calories each day. I agree with diluting drinks with water. I have been squeezing lemons into water. I like the iced tea suggestion. I also have green tea. And coffee calories are low, so sometimes I have a small iced coffee. I like eating watermelon chunks to feel as if I'm getting water that way.
  • Carlos_421
    Carlos_421 Posts: 5,132 Member
    Coke Zero Sugar, Pepsi Zero Sugar and Diet A&W Root Beer
  • zeejane4
    zeejane4 Posts: 230 Member
    Beanly21 wrote: »
    I was just wondering this also, so thanks for asking. I stopped soda after college and won't drink artificial sweeteners, but pure juice adds too many calories each day. I agree with diluting drinks with water. I have been squeezing lemons into water. I like the iced tea suggestion. I also have green tea. And coffee calories are low, so sometimes I have a small iced coffee. I like eating watermelon chunks to feel as if I'm getting water that way.

    LaCroix doesn't have any added sweeteners, it's a bit pricey but my Aldi carries it now, for $3.50-12pk, so that's not bad (it's over $5 at the other grocery stores).
  • Spadesheart
    Spadesheart Posts: 479 Member
    Lemon juice and sucralose. Make pitchers of lemonade and keep it in the fridge. Delicious and basically 0 calorie.
  • nevergiveup812mfp
    nevergiveup812mfp Posts: 12 Member
    Zevia. 0 cal no fake sugar...stevia.
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    I love Spindrift sparkling water. It's sold at Kroger. It's sparkling water with real juice. Very few calories (it varies on juice, but under 20?). I used to like flavored sparkling water, but I like this more. If I'm home, I'll add my own lime juice, but on the go, it's yummy. Also something flavored to have with dinner or in front of the TV rather than a beer...
  • gregc50
    gregc50 Posts: 47 Member
    I'm trying to give up soda once and for all, and I love water, I just don't want to drink ONLY water.
    What's some good suggestions to replace the soda?
    I don't want to drink a lot of juice because I know a lot has a lot of sugar, which is one of the reasons I'm giving up soda.
    So I just want something w/some flavor, just not all the sugar and empty cals.
    Thanks!

    I drank beer, gave that up, drank pepsi, gave that up.

    What works for me is Dasani sparkling lemon flavoured water. From the fridge it feels like a beer/pepsi but has nothing bad in it.
  • nocgirl72
    nocgirl72 Posts: 139 Member
    I cannot totally give up diet pop. I just had a coke zero. That and Diet Dr Pepper and Sparkling Ice are my faves and yes I do know the artificial lab created sweeteners aren't supposed to be good for you.
  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,027 Member
    nocgirl72 wrote: »
    I cannot totally give up diet pop. I just had a coke zero. That and Diet Dr Pepper and Sparkling Ice are my faves and yes I do know the artificial lab created sweeteners aren't supposed to be good for you.

    According to who?
  • nocgirl72
    nocgirl72 Posts: 139 Member
    I agree very much I would rather eat my calories than drink them. I see people drink these propels or the light Gatorade that are dieting and I am like why? So many zero calorie drinks. Black coffee and Sparkling ice are 2 of my faves.

    Diet pop.
    Black coffee, water, and diet pop. Everything else has too many calories and I would rather chew my calories than drink them.

  • mike_rom
    mike_rom Posts: 680 Member
    SOOO difficult. I actually really like diet soda. I have gotten WAY better though. To start, I had to use Crystal Light. Water just seemed way too boring. Then I started doing half and half. Half my water was just ice water and the other half was Crystal Light. I am not to almost all water and drinking way more of it. I lost weight just from cutting out all soda and also feel WAY better. By back hurts less and I actually have had more energy
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    edited April 2019
    I love homemade iced tea, and never sweeten it. (I also will have a diet ginger ale or diet coke or sparkling flavored water.)

    Also a fan of cold brew coffee or even just coffee I make and chill.
  • nocgirl72
    nocgirl72 Posts: 139 Member
    I want 2 everyday..sometimes more. I drink 1 at work when I have my first meal at 11 and again with dinner around 6

    kimny72 wrote: »
    nocgirl72 wrote: »
    My cousin who is a trainer and nutritionist (not certified nutritionist but her guidance help me lose over 20 lbs).

    And all these media reports that the artificial sweeteners are bad for you.

    I love diet pop and I find it a good way to satisfy a sweet tooth and cravings but a the same time I cant help but think I am harming myself.
    nocgirl72 wrote: »
    I cannot totally give up diet pop. I just had a coke zero. That and Diet Dr Pepper and Sparkling Ice are my faves and yes I do know the artificial lab created sweeteners aren't supposed to be good for you.

    According to who?

    There is no proof that artificial sweeteners are bad for you, feel free to a have a diet soda every once and awhile and don't feel guilty about it :drinker:

  • MrsGreenstar76
    MrsGreenstar76 Posts: 9 Member
    edited April 2019
    I'm trying to give up soda once and for all, and I love water, I just don't want to drink ONLY water.
    What's some good suggestions to replace the soda?
    I don't want to drink a lot of juice because I know a lot has a lot of sugar, which is one of the reasons I'm giving up soda.
    So I just want something w/some flavor, just not all the sugar and empty cals.
    Thanks!

    I used to hate drinking water & drank mostly fizzy drinks. I started drinking no added sugar cordials, like Ribena, to wean myself off Coke. I drank mostly NAS cordial for the first few weeks, with water occasionally, but now I drink mostly water. I still drink NAS cordial when I feel like a change.
  • Safari_Gal
    Safari_Gal Posts: 888 Member
    Flavored sparkling water or infuse your own- cut up a few cucumbers and throw in some berries.
  • candylilacs
    candylilacs Posts: 614 Member
    Hint!
  • Makeyourdreamshappen
    Makeyourdreamshappen Posts: 48 Member
    I quit soda 4 months ago. One of the best decisions I have ever made. I used to drink 6 sodas a day! A couple of days ago I discovered Spindrift at Target! I get that carbination without all of that sugar and calories <3 ! My husband thinks that they are gross lol which is cool with me because I get them all to myself!
  • andimickey
    andimickey Posts: 25 Member
    I like the Arizona Green tea concentrate. Add to a giant Thermoflask of ice water - no calories and great tea taste. Add an artificial sweetener if you like. Just a squirt in the thermos.