How to Reduce Calorie Intake by Drinking Alternatives to Soda

You've finally come to the conclusion that, in order to save your waistline, you're going to have to kick the soda pop habit. Perhaps your metabolism is finally slowing down, or maybe the freshman 15 is rearing its ugly head. Whatever your reasoning is, you know that the pop addiction is wreaking havoc on your health and body image.

Face it, one 12-ounce can of soda contains around 40 grams of sugar and 150 calories. If you're drinking a couple of cans a day, that's really going to add up quickly. Your waistline is going to balloon when your body decides it can't burn those extra, empty calories any longer. Unfortunately, you're addicted! What in the world will you do to combat this terrible habit?!

Don't fret! There are many simple step an addict can take if they don't want to give up their sweet nectar completely. Here are just a few ways of cutting down (or completely eliminating!) the amount of empty calories that are entering the body.

1. Buy diet

OK, so this is the most obvious of them all. It is also one of the most effective ways of cutting down on soda calories, too. Almost every type of soda comes in an easy to find diet version nowadays. Whether your drink be cola, sprite, root beer, or even orange soda, there is a diet version available. Heck, there are even flavors that come only in the diet version. Take Pepsi for example. Pepsi's Jazz line-up only comes in diet, and personally, I think they taste great! Fresca, too. Granted, not all diet versions taste as good as the regular version, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to take in order to save my waist.

2. Look for carbonated alternatives

Mostly sold as generic brands by chain stores, these carbonated alternatives are basically carbonated water with flavorings added in. In fact, they are actually much better for you than soda. These carbonated waters don't have the caramel colorings or other artificial "who knows what" colorings inside. They're water and flavoring. My personal favorite is the Clear American brand sold by Wal-Mart. Coming in fruit flavors such as peach, blackberry, white grape, key lime, and strawberry, there's bound to be a flavor out there that will suit your fancy. Zero carbs, zero calories, and a great taste!

3. Aquafina Splash

Another flavored water. The only difference is, this stuff isn't carbonated. I don't think it tastes as great as the Clear Americans, either. One thing does remain for sure, though, Aquafina Splash flavored water is definitely one of the healthier alternatives to soda. At least it is if you want flavoring in your liquid.

4. Sports Drinks

Gatorade comes to mind. While Gatorade still contains sugars and calories, Gatorade will help an athlete in the middle of a workout replace fluid and electrolytes, something that the other alternatives to soda can't do. If you must choose between regular soda and Gatorade, I would definitely recommend Gatorade. However, the other soda alternatives are better when it comes to cutting out empty calories.

5. Crystal light and other sugar free drink mixes

This aspartame based drink mix is quite similar to the carbonated alternatives when it comes to flavors, but there is one distinct difference. Crystal light is not carbonated. Crystal light comes in fruit flavors, and must be mixed yourself. However, these drink mixes must be mixed in precise proportions, for a small amount of aspartame goes a long ways. Often, your only choices in drink sizes are 16.9 fluid oz or 2 quarts. It isn't that much of a pain to do, though. Crystal light is my personal favorite soda alternative. 1 carb and 5 calories per 8 fl oz serving. Not too shabby.

6. Fruit Juice

Not the best alternative, but still better than regular soda. Fruit Juices contain just as many calories and sugar grams as soda with one notable difference. More of the sugar in fruit juice is natural, and a bit of vitamin C is mixed in. Definitely healthier, but if you're watching your calorie intake, I wouldn't go for the fruit juice option.

7. Last but not least, Water!

Of course! Why not have the base ingredient to all of these alternatives be an alternative itself! Oh yeah, because water isn't flavored. In fact, water taste a little nasty right out of the tap in many cities in the U.S. Although water is not the most palatable alternative, it is definitely the cheapest and healthiest. We should all drink more water than anything else, but some of us, me included, find that hard to do. Water just doesn't taste that great, especially when you've spent years drinking nothing but soda and fruit juice. Maybe that's why I drink Crystal Light by the quart, it seems...