As someone with an arguably unhealthy addiction to diet soda, I’ve made it my mission this year to find better beverages to take the place of the can of Diet Dr. Pepper that can normally be found in my hand. It’s not easy — I drank soda as much for the taste as for the caffeinated pick-me-up, and as willing as I am to try to drink less soda, I’m not yet prepared to swear off caffeine altogether. So I’ve done my best to fill my fridge with various other beverages that I can go to when I need my soda fix. Try out these substitutes next time you’re hankering for a cold, sugary drink:
Iced tea, my personal favorite, is a calming beverage perfect for warm afternoons. I make mine myself, normally two batches — one caffeinated and one decaffeinated, so I can enjoy it late at night. This drink requires many batches before you can find the right combination of tea bags and sugar that fit your palette, but it’s worth the effort.
Juice fills my sugary need in a much healthier fashion. Make it from concentrate, fresh-squeezed or just buy it in the carton. In the early morning, you will be grateful.
I love water, but sometimes the lack of taste puts me off — this is where Vitaminwater comes in. Just getting yourself some subtly-flavored water makes all the difference. Get the water premixed, or get your own powder mixes to add.