My Favorite Alternatives to Soda | Low Calorie Cooking Basics

[@joshfenn]

Anyone else have any tips or advice that's been useful for kicking a soda habit? Let everyone know! 👇👇

[@agrowthnerd]

Josh Fenn rite aid store brand lemon lime carb water taste just like serria mist other flavors too but that's my fav its next to the Jin and tonic mixes

[@Youneverknow222]

Try iced tea. Ice water with cucumber and chopped parsley

[@mylearnings910]

You can try Tulasi Water, Coconut water, sugarcane juice,

[@g77222]

Yup, try frozen fruits, add with some water, blend it and theres 1 option. Recently i've tried bai, its close to a softdrink, need some carbination to get the same effect. Theres soda stream but the added costs adds up. I'd say Infused waters are the way to go but you gotta find the balance.

[@insomb]

@@Youneverknow222 that sounds good

[@ChristianDurusTelamon]

Pop has been the hardest thing for me to find a replacement for. Artificial sweeteners give me a headache and have a gross after taste which limits the choices out there. I have cut way back, but still have one can or cup a day (down from around 4 liters).

[@joshfenn]

Sounds like you've made some amazing progress from your starting point still, that's great! As long as you make the room in your calorie goals for a treat like soda there's little harm in allowing it for yourself in reasonable quantities. Such a tough habit to break though, I thought I would never be where I'm at today with all of it. Keep up the good work!

[@ChristopherJohnsonIsAwesome]

4 oz of 100% Cranberry juice (actual juice, not Ocean Spray) + 12 oz of Seltzer.

[@joshfenn]

That probably tastes great, thanks for sharing it!

[@carlhammill5774]

I do POM pomegranate juice on rocks. Just small amount maybe 30 ml so I don't get too much sugar. But its ultra ultra healthy for you and it has kick to it which I need because thats what soda is all about. Then I just chase it water to satisfy any thirst issues.

[@kristymontgomery7436]

Learning that soda is basically acid with a lot of sugar has helped me stay away from them! I’ll have a sprite once in a while which is the least acidic.

[@joshfenn]

Glad you’ve been able to shift away but still enjoy it as a treat every once in a while!

[@westfield90]

I quit drinking soda too and I think that largely was responsible for my successful 33lb weight loss in 4 months. I haven’t missed it and can’t even now think I used to drink a bottle of coke or spring every single day

[@joshfenn]

I'm right there with you, I have no idea how I survived drinking so much soda and so little water for so many years. The longer time goes by I really just don't have any desire for it compared to my usual drink options and mainly just craving water. Thanks for sharing though and congrats on your weight loss!

[@silentry]

I have decided to stop drinking soda today. everyday I find my self buying a 20z soda can at work or getting refills every couple hours. I need to stop its getting out of hand so that's my story of how i ended up here xD

[@joshfenn]

Hopefully this helps you find some suitable replacements! It takes a lot of time but I can honestly say I rarely drink or miss soda these days after years of drinking so much of it. Good luck with everything!

[@silentry]

@@joshfenn found a drink that's helping me called Vita ice.

[@kishajohnson3307]

I add crystal light any flavor to seltzer water it taste great. Also mint leaves with lime with seltzer as well

[@joshfenn]

Glad you found some solutions that are working well, thanks for sharing!

[@larrykuehn1457]

I think homemade fruit smoothies,homemade coffee smoothies,homemade protein drinks are good alternatives to soft drinks.

[@joshfenn]

Great idea though! Always have to be careful though, it's easy for smoothies and protein drinks to be just as many or sometimes more calories than soda. Better calories, but something to keep in mind if you're focused on weight loss!

[@larrykuehn1457]

I add honey or maple syrup or stevia not table sugar to my own homemade smoothies.I have't bought any table sugar since the 1990's and I don't miss it at all.

[@joshfenn]

Honey and maple syrup have the same caloric impact though. Always good to get calories from natural sources but still extremely high in calories. Stevia is a great low calorie alternative though, thanks for sharing your insights!

[@larrykuehn1457]

What do you think are the health benefits for drinking homemade smoothies at home?

[@joshfenn]

I usually wouldn’t recommend smoothies due to the high calories from the majority, but there are some micronutrients depending on the fruit/veggie content. Plain fruits and vegetables are great for this too though and saves you quite a few calories.

[@adr4215]

something I can try, much appreciated

[@joshfenn]

Of course, happy to help and share any way I can!

[@simpleclonetrooper2740]

Ive stopped drinking soda 10 days ago i feel better and lost some weight.

[@joshfenn]

That’s great!

[@masonEXE]

just the video i needed. thanks :)

[@joshfenn]

Glad to hear that, happy to help!

[@leecaldwell1029]

Good Products I have used to eliminate sugar, calories, and still get my 120oz of water in. Scivation and Gfuel are great substitutes. I dont drink coffee or tea, so these products are great for caffeine, but no carbonation.

[@joshfenn]

Gfuel is so tasty! I used to drink it all the time, definitely a good replacement. I haven't heard of scivation but I'll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing your tips!

[@leecaldwell1029]

Josh Fenn scivation is a bcaa 0sugar and 0carb caffeine drink. It is fantastic, gfuel had too many carbs for my caloric and carb daily intake.

[@barryanders]

Good video. I love the idea of Kombucha, but I haven't found any that I like. A lot of the low calorie Stevia flavored drinks lack the intensely satisfying flavor and maybe even taste bitter to people used to soda. That said, IMO there are any number of replacements out there if people decide they want to do it. Just supply yourself with something new and stop buying soda. I've been on and off soda over the years. You can just simply stop drinking soda with no replacement, but it's much easier if you have that go to beverage. The first thing that I succeeded with was AdvoCare Spark. It's one of those shaker ball drinks. I'm not necessarily recommending it, just sharing it as a true story. I would often combine it with sparkling water. I found success experimenting with smoothies also. Although, obviously, depending on what kind of smoothie you have, if the goal is to be healthy, you have to choose the right smoothies. If you have a commercial blender, it makes it very easy to have them multiple times a day. Stevia flavored drinks, for me, have led to dizziness and headaches. Where I had previously relied on soda calories, the zero calorie drinks didn't have any so I'm sure that didn't help. It really seemed like when I would have those drinks that there was a direct correlation between how I feel normally to what happened after. If you go cold turkey on soda, headaches in the first few days are easily overcome with medicine. If you just mentally prepare yourself and know that it won't last more than a few days, then you can do it. Also, one of the times I quit soda, I didn't even get headaches. Sometimes, I've had no desire for soda, especially when thinking about the brain fog and acid reflux. Other times, after months and months, the idea of having a soda still sounds nice. It's not as strong but the desire isn't necessarily just gone. I've quit for years at a time. In the times that I've been away from it for a long time, when I've had a soda, it doesn't even taste good anymore. All it takes is having it a few times, though, to snowball back into having a lot of it every day. I'm on the verge of quitting soda for the 3rd or 4th time. Can't remember (lol). Looking for that replacement again. My main health concerns are the fact that it may lead to diabetes in the future and also I think it's causing my belly to bloat which I never noticed when I was younger. I'm a thin person, so maybe this stands out more than it would for others. Also, the more I have it, the more my kids want it and I don't really want to doom them with this life long struggle.

[@joshfenn]

So great to hear/see someone experimenting around so much, you sound a lot like me early on! Hopefully your current cycle sticks and works well for you, it sounds like you’re doing a great job of setting yourself up for success. Since making this video, I can barely even have soda when I want to these days! I probably have a small amount maybe 2-3 times a year and have to keep it to 8-10oz or I get a severe headache from the sugar. The sugar substitutes have been problematic for my digestive health too so I’ve been avoiding them completely. Plain seltzer water is still a favorite for me these days! Thanks for sharing and best of luck with everything!

[@GaryScott-pdx]

Have you tried Hint Water? It comes in both gas and non-gas versions. I'm particularly partial to the watermelon flavor. It's a zero calorie drink and with a little effort you can find a limited selection locally for $1/bottle.

[@joshfenn]

I tried it years ago and never really cared for it, but my tastes have changed quite a bit and it might be worth a second shot. I'll have to pick up a watermelon next time I'm at the store!

[@chrism364]

Good info. Drinks were hard to see. Please bring them closer. Thanks.

[@joshfenn]

Glad the info helped! I’ve gotten a lot better at making videos since this one came out luckily, haha.

[@briandrumgold642]

Water and Green Tea are my friends. Honest Tea to be exact. If I want to get drunk and get wasted, I drink Cranberry Ginger Ale 🍺 😄

[@joshfenn]

Definitely two of my favorites as well! My drinks these days are usually about 80% water, but. always nice for some variety from time to time. Just saw the cranberry ginger ale in the grocery store for the holidays, that was always a Christmas tradition to get when I was young!

[@neweyesable]

Eh, I still just drink the diet drinks and I enjoy them. I try to stick to the caffiene free versions after 2:00/3:00pm, and only have them on the weekends/or if eating out. I used to have the diet drinks pretty much every day, but now I pretty much only drink water during the week (I also still drink plenty of water at the weekend too). I don't drink coffee or tea, so those are the other two low calorie beverages out. I feel reluctant to pay for bottled water and it's a bit weird socially if you go our for coffee etc. whatever and then you just ask for a tap water and nothing else. I do sometimes just drink tap waters at dinners out, it's not so weird if you're also buying a meal.

[@joshfenn]

All good tips, thank you for sharing! Sounds really similar to how I handled things for a long time. Took some getting used to ordering water out but you're right, if you're getting any food it's totally normal. Cutting caffeine at 2/3 is also something I do, very important to make sure and get proper sleep. Appreciate the support as usual!

[@Nobody95008]

I have a strong craving for TANG orange flavored juices. I should try this

[@joshfenn]

Forgot about this video! Years later I’ve definitely beat my soda cravings, glad it gave you some good ideas

[@WHATTTTTTTTTTISGOINGON]

Great video!

[@joshfenn]

Thanks!

[@peterridge9676]

Coconut water is a natural way to rehydrate and less then half the sugar of regular caned soft drinks

[@joshfenn]

For sure! I was more focused on fizzy/carbonated replacements in the video but coconut water is delicious!

[@markcottierkw950]

That's great. I got told by a dentist that the carbonation is also very bad for your teeth

[@joshfenn]

Yeah it’s not the best but in moderation still better than soda

[@PPCSI133]

Hi ball is my fav energy drink on the market Healthiest also

[@joshfenn]

Been a while since I’ve had one but they’re great!

[@DallySkyeAnims]

Unfortunately, most carbonated water, whether falvored or unflavored, always gives me a static after taste that completely turns me off of it. Soda seems to have no true alternative for me. :(

[@joshfenn]

No carbonation would be tough, but plenty of good non carbonated drinks to try still! I love getting into quality coffee and loose leaf tea as well.

[@herdthatandrew6255]

I know you’ve pivoted from weight loss videos. But they were fantastic!

[@joshfenn]

Thanks so much! I definitely enjoyed making them but felt it was time to make a change. I felt like I taught everything I know already on the subject and wanted to keep things interesting and genuine. :)

[@RickMartinYouTube]

never drank regular soda, but drank a ton of diet coke -----and quit it a year or more ago and it responsible for my small transformation.....but light beer is now a culprit......seems to be my afternoon reward for hard exercise (200-300 cals total, not terribly bad)....but probably has the same result as soda, right?

[@joshfenn]

Yeah, as long as you're tracking the calories for it it's totally okay to work in a treat for yourself. I'm sure this would be debatable but I would argue beer would be better than a sugary drink with the same calories just because the glycemic impact would be so much less. There was a good chunk of time during my weight loss where I was having a nice glass of bourbon in the evening, I accounted for it so it was totally okay. 👍 If you find yourself stalling out with your progress though that would definitely be one of the first things I would cut. Thanks for sharing and supporting as usual! :)

[@bonkersmcgee4356]

I've been trying to cold turkey the sodas. It's like crack. After a day I start to get physically ill and get the worst taste in my mouth. I don't know what's causing the craving, if it's the sugar, the caffeine, or the carbonation. The only step I've been able to take is switching from the 12 oz cans to the small ones and convinced myself they taste better. I can see transitioning to diet sodas, but the ones I have tried make me gag. What diet sodas do not taste terrible?

[@joshfenn]

Diet Dr Pepper is a good one for folks not used to diet!

[@bonkersmcgee4356]

@@joshfenn I heard diet Mt Dew was close the original. Whoever said that was wrong.

[@GamingWorldCA]

Once in a while......means how frequently????

[@joshfenn]

Not sure exactly what you mean, but if you’re asking about how often I drink soda it’s only 2-3 times a year now since this video came out.

[@GamingWorldCA]

@@joshfenn Thank you for the reply, Could you please discriminate between Pepsi and Sprite? Which one do you think is more harmful to our health? I ask this because generally I prefer Sprite over caffenaited drinks

[@joshfenn]

I don’t think there are any sodas that’d be considered healthier when comparing. In general I just treat sugary drinks in the same way as a treat or dessert, occasional and in moderation is okay but probably shouldn’t be a staple or regular item in someone’s diet. Hope this helps!

[@razorbackpulp]

I would substitute calorie drinks with water and those Walmart Great Value or Crystal Light packets. I also would use Mio. If your ditching artificial sweaters, that may not be the route. For carbonated drinks, I occasionally would get Sprite Zero and mix in my favorite calorie free sweetener substitute like I mentioned above. I’m not sure that this helps, but it can help to curb those cravings without adding any calories. I honestly don’t miss soda. Gatorade is what I like. I just allow myself one a week. Typically, I drink it over an entire weekend though.

[@joshfenn]

All good tips for transitioning out of regular soda, very similar to how Ii handled things too! Used to love those water flavorings, they can really help a ton. Gatorade and powerade are both great too. I'm not even permanently getting rid of soda or artificial sweeteners on purpose, but I just realized the other day that I don't really have much of an urge anymore to buy any. Thanks for sharing all the tips and for supporting as usual!

[@itisnow448]

Have you tried non alcoholic beer? It my alternative to soda.

[@joshfenn]

Never have, but beer is great so I’m sure it’d be good!

[@tiffanykilby7560]

Is it calorie free. I'm an alcoholic and a 2 liter a day soda drinker and I need to cut both out

[@firrzananadem]

I’m obsessed with Diet Coke. I need to get off this.

[@joshfenn]

Just take some small steps, aim for smaller amounts week after week. It’ll take some time but you’ll get there! These have all been great swaps for me 👍

[@EDITMODE]

i dont like any of those drinks *sigh* i wish i could find a soda alternative that actually tastes good!

[@EDITMODE]

kombucha tastes like stomach acid lol

[@joshfenn]

Taste is subjective of course, just keep trying different things and see what you like. Also, there’s a wild difference between different kombucha flavors and brands, don’t be too quick to write it off if you’ve only tried one or two

[@J23486]

Kombucha is as bad for your teeth as coca cola is, something to consider.

[@joshfenn]

Definitely don’t want to overdo it, carbonated beverages in general aren’t the best for our dental health

[@J23486]

@@joshfenn I just quit drinking coke a week ago, and I've replaced it with plain seltzer mixed with just a bit of pomegranate juice. I'm having my teeth professionally whitened, so that was another reason to quit coke besides the calories.

[@adrianquinto1757]

So I'm not the only one who can drink 1.5L of mountain dew 24/7 😭

[@joshfenn]

Hope the video helps! So glad I got past my soda habit.

[@stevenspilly]

Kombuca tastes like fermented urine

[@joshfenn]

You sure it was kombucha?

[@lindazhang8004]

sounds a little bit drunk lol

[@joshfenn]

Haha, I just mumble too much for my own good.