Avoid Soda

  • Sodas, both the empty calories of regular and some of the artificial sweeteners of diet, negatively affect your entire body.
  • Avoiding soda will help you cut back on your overall sugar intake.
  • Check IN whenever you a) consciously avoid soda by making a check mark on the check-in screen, or b) drink soda by using a slip (aka free pass) on the check-in screen. If you realize you’ve made it the entire day without any soda, check-in by making a check mark at the end of the day.

What’s Inside

What’s IN

  • Sparkling water and seltzer are great! Get creative!
  • 100% fruit juice is better than soda, but it’s still liquid sugar. It’s allowed, but try adding some water (either flat or sparkling) to dilute it.
  • Honey and maple syrup are added sugars, but adding a teaspoon to a cup of tea makes for a better beverage than a soda. Just make sure you don’t use too much sweetener. (Try adding ginger and lemon!)
  • If you slip, no biggie. Slipping means you’re trying, which is what counts! You can get back on track for the rest of the day.

What’s OUT

  • No soda or diet soda.
  • Sorry, organic and “all natural” sodas are still sodas.
  • No sweetened fruit drinks, iced teas, sports drinks, or energy drinks

Why This Is A Good Idea

Sodas, both the empty calories of regular and some of the artificial sweeteners of diet, negatively affect your entire body. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, cavities, heart disease, low bone-density…Yep, soda can be blamed for all of them. In fact, recent analysis revealed that sugar-sweetened beverages account for 184,000 deaths worldwide each year. Whoa! Plus, since most of the added sugar Americans consume is through sugary drinks, avoiding soda will help you cut back your overall sugar intake to meet the World Health Organization’s 2015 guidelines: less than 10% of the calories we consume should be from added sugars. Specifically, the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons (about 24 grams) of added sugar per day, and men no more than 9 teaspoons (about 36 grams). For reference, a regular can of soda has 8-10 teaspoons of sugar.

Over 70% of strokes and colon cancer can be avoided, as can at least 80% of heart disease and 90% of type 2 diabetes, and diet is a significant factor. Along with exercise and not smoking, developing good eating habits (less animal products, less processed food and more veggies and fruit) can help cut your risk of diabetes by 95%, your risk of heart attack by 80% and risk of a stroke by half.

Basic Tips

  • Check in whenever you a) consciously avoid soda by making a check mark on the check-in screen, or b) drink soda by using a slip (aka free pass) on the check-in screen. If you realize you’ve made it the entire day without any soda, check-in by making a check mark at the end of the day.
  • Hang tight, you’re probably going to crave soda for the first few days. But once you get through that first stretch, it will get easier.
  • Keep a water bottle with you at all times, and stay well hydrated. (Like an icy cold drink? Try keeping your water in a Yeti, RTIC, Thermos, or other insulated cooler.) You might think you need a sugar fix, when really you’re just thirsty.
  • Add chopped fruit and/or mint to sparkling water. A minty, cold, fizzy drink with pieces of cantaloupe and watermelon, fresh berries, grapes or orange slices at the bottom is sweet, hydrating and refreshing—without the sugar rush.
  • Clean out your fridge and stock it with sparkling water and unsweetened iced tea instead. If you’re craving a soda and one is staring you in the face, you’re much more likely to slip.
  • Make your own green juice, using mostly veggies and adding a few slices of apple for sweetness.
  • Stock up on fresh or frozen fruit and veggies. Simply putting something in your mouth will likely take your mind off of your soda craving.
  • Eat protein and healthy fats which help keep you full and regulate blood sugar levels; beans, nuts, organic soy products, eggs, hummus, lentils, yogurt, cheese, fish and avocado are all great sources.
  • Eat solid, nutritious meals to help regulate blood sugar levels, and keep cravings at bay.

Shopping List

  • Sparkling water (or a SodaStream!) to get your bubbly fix.
  • Hit the tea aisle (for loose or bagged tea) for a flavored drink alternative. Fruit teas are caffeine free and are great hot or iced.
  • The produce section is your new bff! Buy whole fruits to satisfy your sugar craving, and veggies to give you fiber.
  • Buy frozen fruit for easy storage and use. Frozen mango chunks double as ice cubes in your fizzy water.
  • Buy veggies that can be eaten raw as a snack—zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, celery, bell peppers, green beans.

Recipes

Green Juice Recipe

Fruit-Infused Sparkling Water Fruit-Infused Sparkling Water

Fun Water by JenniferEmilson Fun Water

Smart Things To Read And Watch

Note: Diet ID is not focused on the number on the scale. Weight loss can be a byproduct of developing healthier eating habits, but if you have questions about your weight, please contact your physician.

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