Once I accepted observation #3 — Skinny people drink water— I was left with the overwhelming task of finding a substitute for my beloved sugar sweetened beverage of choice, Kool-Aid. With a closed mind and tight purse strings, I braved the beverage aisle for something to quench my thrust without all the empty calories.
Diet soda — something that I viewed as a beverage for diabetics — was first at bat. The after-taste was too over powering, though. I could not force myself to get past the after-taste and eventually resorted to drinking water during the day and having Kool-Aid only with dinner.
My saving grace
A girl friend of mine introduced me to flavored water. She explained how she doesn’t drink Crystal Light because of its after taste. Instead, she purchased a generic brand of the low calorie powered drink mix and enjoyed it.
About a week later, I was completely floored when she brought me a pack and I saw that it was a Walmart brand product. Though I was reluctant, I was eager for a drink that didn’t leave me with the dreaded aspartame after-taste. After she gave me the rundown of the different flavors they had to offer, I decide to give it a try. From her research, the palette approved flavors are listed below for your reference.
- Grape
- Fruit punch
- Cherry Limeade
- Cherry
I was amazed! It was as sweet as my mommy’s Kool-Aid with no after taste and only five calories. An added bonus was my 7 year old daughter not tasting any difference!
Putting sugar-free to the test
Though I am sure you are ready to run out to Walmart to purchase “Great Value Drink Mix”, I have to give you the results of my Millie Vanilli tasting. This tasting took place during a girls-night-in with my friends and their daughters, ages 7-10.
As usual, the kids asked for a Capri Sun to quench their thirst, but this time we said no and that I would fix them some kool-aid. I had the kids leave the room so they couldn’t see the drink being prepared.
I made a gallon of fruit punch favored water and served it up to the girls. After a minute or so, I asked how it was and got a resounding, “Good!” About 10 minutes later the girls all came back for seconds! Success!
Have you gotten away from drinks with sugar in them? How did you do it?
I will give it a try.
Let me know what you think.
I started drinking more water while educating my Health Ministry about Diabetes last year. Alameda County has a program called Soda Free Summer (http://www.sodafreesummer.org/). If you realize how much sugar is in one 20 oz soda: 17 teaspoons, versus the ‘recommended’ daily value of added sugar (10 teaspoons), it really makes you think..
Did you know that 41% of children (ages 2–11 years) and 62% of adolescents (ages 12–17 years) in California drink at least one soda or other sugar-sweetened beverage every day!! (www.publichealthadvocacy.org/PDFs/Soda_Fact_Sheet.pdf ) ..a primary factor in why childhood obesity and diabetes is on the rise!
Okay let me stop preaching. Juice is my drug of choice and I need to reduce that. I try to only drink a small glass 2-3 times a week. I also need to drink more water. I have no problem drinking water. I will even drink tap water (Oakland tap is great!!). However, I don’t take in enough fluids period.
Pray for me!
Wow Tonya, thanks for the great info. I will have to check out the website. I just took my daughter off juice boxes completely! Good luck with your addiction..lol.
I started getting away from the sugar when I was pregnant due to being diagnosed with diabetes. Fortunately, the diabetes went away when Amiyah was born, but my nutritionist warned me that I was at higher risk of getting diabetes several years down the road. Ever since then, we have been a sugar free kool-aid only household. The kids don’t know the difference and it tastes just as sweet as regualr koolaid. Diet soda does have an after taste, but I normally go with Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Pepsi, since that taste is not so strong.
Even artificial sweeteners can have a negative effect on the body, so water is best. The first time I lost weight, was due to drinking water only without exercise or major diet changes.
Thanks for this Nicole.
There is another drink I would like to add to the mix: Wyler’s Pink Lemonade. It taste great!!
I’m not gonna lie, I’m getting older & I find that I have to think about doing better as far as my health. I’d drink water only cause I had to but it always felt like a chore. Soda can be refreshing but has absolutely NO nutritional value. Juice is a little better but can get expensive & is usually full of sugar. I’m too manly to drink Crystal Light (cause let’s face it , it sounds too feminine) so I decided to try The Walmart Brand. This is some awesome stuff. It’s cheap, plentiful, it’s as refreshing & tastes just like kool-aid, has no sugar, no after taste & is only 5 calories per serving. You really can’t get any better than that.
Very Disapointed! I’ve lost over 100lbs on Atkins by counting Carbs and forgetting calories. It is Impossible to get an answer as to exactly how many Carbs are in Great Value Drink Mixes. No under 1g does not count as drink several Gallons daily (Desert Heat).
I like the Great Value Naturally Sweetened drink mix with Stevia. It has 15 calories 1/2 packet which can make from 16.9 fl. oz. or more. The only problem is I can’t find it at Wal-Mart anymore. My favorite has pineapple in the title. I have not been able to find it and can’t remember the other flavor. Is any flavor with Stevia made anymore?