Often one of the first things that promotes dis-ease, soda can be a hard habit to break! We look for alternatives that keep the fizzy refreshment but drop the chemicals and sugar load. Consider these “good, better, best” replacements to break this bad habit progressively. It typically takes around two months for our taste buds to withdraw from highly sweetened beverages and appreciate rich, natural flavors.
Healthier Soda Replacements
Zevia
A canned stevia-sweetened beverage that can be a great first step to wean off commercial soda. It comes in a variety of flavors, including cola. Over time, begin to dilute this with plain or sparkling mineral water to “reprogram” the taste buds to need less sweetness.
Flavored or unflavored stevia with mineral water
Use something like Pellegrino or Gerolsteiner as a base. Add some stevia drops and you get a fizzy soda-like drink!
“Hollywood” spritzer
Drop the stevia and flavor the sparkling mineral water with a splash (1-2 Tbsp) of fruit juice (especially citrus) or a couple of chunks of real fruit (common favorites: pineapple or watermelon) that you lightly macerate with a spoon in the bottom of the glass. Stir and enjoy.
Switchel or Kombucha
Probiotic-rich beverages which can be mixed with plain or sparkling water for a great soda replacement. Great for the microbiome too. Be careful if you have histamine-related symptoms or are eliminating yeast in your diet.
