10 Things to Drink When You’re Craving a Soda

Soda Swap

Before the World Health Organization announced that aspartame, an artificial sweetener, could cause cancer, diet soda was considered the lesser evil. And while some experts say the news isn’t as bad as it seems, there’s other evidence that diet soda might not be healthy.

Whatever your reason for quitting, we know it’s not easy, especially if you’ve been consuming diet drinks since their beginnings in the 1950s. That said, the transition will be easier if you can replace your habit with one of these low-sugar soda alternatives.

sparkling water

We are living in a golden age of sparkling water. Need proof? Visit any grocery store and you’ll notice that there are entire aisles dedicated to flavored and unflavored seltzer waters. There is something for everyone: Liquid Death for Zoomers, La Croix for Millennials and Polar for Gen Xers. The best part is that they are all sugar and aspartame free.

Kombucha

If, on the other hand, you’re a yoga-loving, Whole Foods-shopping yuppie, then you might be more open to kombucha. This fermented, lightly sweetened tea drink has exploded in popularity, in part because it contains probiotics and antioxidants. Although kombucha may contain added sugar, it is usually only a fraction of what is found in regular soda.

Tea

There’s a reason why cultures have enjoyed tea for thousands of years. It’s a tasty drink that can be prepared in just a few minutes. Green tea also has health benefits, with studies showing it may help with weight loss and cognitive function. It’s also completely sugar-free, meaning it’s suitable for people with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions requiring a low-sugar diet.

Coconut water

Although some fruit juices aren’t much better than artificially sweetened drinks, coconut water is generally low in calories, carbs, and sugars. It’s a favorite among athletes because it contains important electrolytes like potassium, sodium, and magnesium.

Fruit infused water

Grab your favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs and make an ice water infusion. It’s delicious, healthy and inexpensive. Popular combinations include cucumber and lemon; strawberry, lemon and mint; and orange and lime.

Fruit and Vegetable Juices

Fruit and vegetable juices aren’t necessarily healthy (juice blends can contain as much sugar as soda) but they contain more nutrients than sugary sodas. Some of the healthiest juices include cranberry, tomato, beet, pomegranate and apple.

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Coffee

If you need to maintain your caffeine intake while weaning yourself off diet soda, coffee is an obvious choice. Unless you add milk and sugar, it’s sugar-free and (virtually) calorie-free — plus, it’s packed with antioxidants.

Related: I’m a coffee snob. This cheap coffee is the best, IMHO

Healthier sodas

Although it seems contradictory, a few popular companies have produced healthy soft drinks. There’s Zevia, a sugar-free soda sweetened with stevia. Or, for the particularly health-conscious, there’s Olipop and Poppi, two low-sugar prebiotic sodas.

Related: I Tried 9 Flavors of Spindrift Sparkling Water, and These Were the Best (and Worst)

Water flavors

While some water flavors contain sugar or artificial sweeteners, many enhancers have a clear listing of just a few ingredients. For example, True Lemon Crystallized Lemon is a flavoring powder made from real lemons.

Related: The best Good & Gather sparkling water flavors – and which ones to leave on the shelf

Mineral water

It’s a bit boring, we admit, but you can’t go wrong with a glass of cold mineral water. And despite what you might think, flavors can vary greatly from one source to another. Best of all, you can drink as much as you want (if your wallet allows) without increasing your sugar intake.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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