I used to think I neededsoda for a boost of caffeine or sugar. During the early days of the pandemic, however, I couldn’t purchase my favorite soda from the grocery store. I wasn’t drinking it in restaurants. And to my surprise, my energy levels didn’t drop.
Fast forward to today, and I can’t tolerate more than a mini can of soda, nor do I really miss it. That’s because I never had to kick my habit of sipping a tasty beverage. I just found alternatives to soda.
Whether you want to cut soda to consume more water, less caffeine, fewer additives, fewer sweeteners, or fewer calories, you’ll find many alternatives on the market. You can even make your own bubbly beverage at home with a SodaStream machine, which lets you choose your flavor and saves you money. As for convenient, grab-and-go options, thesesoda alternativescan help even the most serious soda connoisseurs find their new carbonated drink of choice.
Healthy “Soda” Drinks
If you love everything about soda but its sugar content, you can find some delicious dupes on the market that mimic the classic flavors of cola, root beer, cream soda, and ginger ale with Zevia Zero Calorie Soda and OLIPOP, a gut-healthy prebiotic drink. Health-Ade and Poppi, also popular prebiotic drinks, come in fun flavors that rival the fruit soda you’re used to.
- Health-Ade Pop ($29.95/12 pack; Amazon)
- OLIPOP Sparkling Tonic ($2.49; Target)
- Poppi Prebiotic Soda ($2.49; Target)
- Zevia Zero Calorie Soda ($6.99/8 pack; Target)
Fruit-Flavored Sparkling Water
Sparkling water made with natural flavors or real fruit juice (like Spindrift) can stand in as a great soda alternative. Pure fruit juice contains almost as much sugar as soda per cup, but these options bottle up plenty of fruity flavor with little to no sugar.
- AHA Sparkling Water ($3.89/8 pack; Target)
- Hint Sparkling Water ($22.99/12 pack; Hint)
- LaCroix ($4.19/8 pack; Target)
- Pepsi Bubly ($3.88/8 pack; Walmart)
- Spindrift Sparkling Water ($5.99/8 pack; Target)
- Waterloo Sparkling Water ($4.39/8 pack; Target)
Sparkling Tea
Sparkling tea as a soda alternative has multiple benefits, from antioxidants to a boost of caffeine. Whether you prefer your tea to taste herbal, citrusy, or fruity, there’s a brand for you.
- Amaz Sparkling Yerba Mate ($17.95/6 pack; Amaz)
- Hoplark Sparkling Hoptea ($39.99/12 pack; Hoplark)
- Minna Lightly Brewed Sparkling Tea ($34.99/12 pack; Amazon)
- Nixie Sparkling Water ($28.99/24 pack; Amazon)
Caffeinated Sparkling Water
Giving up soda doesn’t mean caffeine also has to be off the table. In fact, eliminating soda and caffeine all at once could set you up for giving in to your cravings. So, grab one of these caffeinated beverages with zero guilt. The following four brands have neither sugar nor calories.
- AHA Sparkling Water With Caffeine and Electrolytes ($4.18/8 pack; Walmart)
- Bubly Bounce Caffeinated Sparkling Water ($4.19/8 pack; Target)
- Phocus Caffeinated Sparkling Water ($24.69/12 pack; Amazon)
- Hiball Energy Seltzer ($22.52/8 pack; Amazon)
Kombucha
Fizzy, fermented tea, kombucha can easily stand in place of soda once you get used to its subtle tang. It’s relatively low in calories and boasts probiotics for gut health, but be mindful that it contains sugar (with Humm Zero Sugar Kombucha as an exception) and caffeine. If your goal is to sip less sugar, you can always dilute kombucha with sparkling water for a healthy hint of flavor.
- Health-Ade Kombucha ($3.28; Walmart)
- Humm Zero Sugar Kombucha ($47.84/16 Pack; Amazon)
- Synergy Raw Kombucha ($3.94; Walmart)
Herbal Sparkling Water
Herbal sparkling water isn’t as widely available as other carbonated H2O, and it has a steeper cost than the average bubbly beverage. Yet, if you’re trying to subdue cravings for sweet flavors or looking for a drink that’s fresh in every sense, a 12-pack could be well worth the cost.
- Aura Bora Herbal Sparkling Water ($32.95/12 pack; Amazon)
- DRAM Herbal Sparkling Water ($25.00/12 pack; Dram)
Water Enhancers
If you want to boost your water’s taste or health benefits, flavor drops like MiO and packets like Liquid I.V. do the job well whether you’re at home or on the go. Use them to add electrolytes, vitamins, or even caffeine to sparkling or still water.
- Bobelo Self-Carbonating Hydration ($15.29/14 pack; Amazon)
- Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier ($13.94/10 pack; Amazon)
- MiO Liquid Water Enhancer ($3.39; Target)
- Waterdrop ($44.00/72 drops; Waterdrop)
Sparkling Mineral Water
If you enjoy soda for the fact that its carbonation keeps you feeling full, unflavored sparkling mineral water can do the trick. You can sip a glass at mealtime without its taste clashing with your food, plus carbonated water can aid digestion and prevent constipation.
- Perrier Carbonated Mineral Water ($6.99/10 pack; Walmart)
- S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water ($7.49/8 pack; Target)
- Topo Chico Mineral Water ($11.98/12 pack; Walmart)
Related:
- Does Sparkling Water Really Hydrate You?
- Is It Bad to Drink Water While Eating?
- Club Soda vs. Seltzer: What’s the Difference?
