4 Healthy Alternatives to Diet Sodas

Swap out your soda for one of these fun drinks!

4 Healthy Alternatives to Diet Sodas

Did you know diet drinks may actually cause weight gain? Containing 5 calories or less per serving, many diet drinks lead us to believe we are choosing a healthy beverage. Wrong! Diet soda contains artificial ingredients including sweeteners that appear to increase cravings in the human body for other sweet things, so in the end you consume more calories, sweeter foods and desserts. So what should we choose when looking for healthy alternatives to diet sodas or artificially added drinks?

Artificial Ingredients and Your Metabolism

Not only do artificially added drinks make you crave more sweets, but artificial sweeteners also contribute to weight gain by slowing your metabolism. Cutting out diet soda may actually cut calories from your daily intake in the long run, but you’ll probably miss that calorie-free fizz. So to ease your pain, here are a few ideas to replace your diet soda faves with homemade alternatives that help you develop a taste for naturally sweet and healthy flavors.

4 Healthy Alternatives to Diet Sodas

All you need when breaking away from drinking diet soda is a little club soda, a few fruits and herbs to make your life a little sweeter. Try these delicious, and healthy alternatives to diet or artificially sweetened drinks. Combine the ingredients, blend if necessary, and serve.

Sparkling Pomegranate Juice

  • 1/2 cup pomegranate juice, no sugar added
  • 1/2 cup sparkling seltzer water
  • squeeze of one lemon wedge
  • ice

Citrusade

citrusade

Citrus fruits contain soluble and insoluble fiber that can help you feel full, like an appetite suppressant. They also nourish the body with vitamins and minerals while helping the body detoxify. Citrus is great for cleansing the body of unwanted materials, including toxins, chemicals and preservatives found in common foods and drinks like soda. They taste great, with a sweet & sour flavor. Try a little cilantro with this to spice things up!

  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 2 tbs organic honey
  • ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (3-4 lemons)
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice (2 oranges)
  • ¼ cup fresh lime juice (2-3 limes)
  • 1 qt chilled club soda or ionized water

Agua Fresca de Melon

agua fresca de melon

Want to get the party started? Frozen drinks make it cool to chill out.

  • 7 cups seeded watermelon chunks
  • 1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves
  • 12 oz sparkling water or ionized water
  • Natural sweetener (i.e organic honey) to taste
  • Sprig of mint

Melon Breeze Smoothie

Hello nutrients, and flavor! This delicious green smoothie is the perfect way to cool down on a hot Summer day. Combine all of the ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.

  • 1 cup kale leaves
  • 1 cup baby spinach
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1 cup diced honeydew melon
  • 1/2 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup ice

Which one of these 4 Healthy Alternatives to Diet Sodas do you want to try first? They all sound so good, don’t they?! If you like these recipes, you’re definitely going to want to follow us on Pinterest and subscribe to our daily eNewsletter.

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38 Comments

    1. There's no reason why you can't use water. The recipe calls for sparkling water because it's an alternative to soda.

  1. These drinks are all loaded with calories. The limeade concentrate is filled with high fructose corn syrup and all the fruit juice is empty calories. You're better off eating the fruit and drinking water.

    1. We worked on the recipes and they do not contain high fructose corn syrup.  Thanks for your feedback….

  2. There are also studies that have shown stevia can reduce fertility, cause hypoglycemia, which can lead to overeating, and could even cause cancer.   There are just as many or more dangers associated with stevia as artificial sweeteners.

  3. Fruits and honey contain far more than the 5 or less calories contained in diet soda. If you are dieting, fruit juice should be cut completely from your diet. Drink water.

    1. Drinking water is always best…but as we know most people prefer some flavor in their drink, especially with dinner. These drinks are alternatives for those who want a healthy drink. Thanks!

  4. Thank you so much for this post!  I am currently addicted to diet soda and am looking for better alternatives.  For me it's not about weight or calories but health.  The chemicals that I am consuming are ridiculous and I need to stop.  My husband recently returned from the store, handed me some diet soda and said ''here's some more cancer juice for you''.  It kinda hit me like a brick and I know he's right.  These look like some fantastic alternatives so thank you for that!  People say just drink water.  It's not that easy!  At least at first, I need some better alternatives to gradually get me there!  

    1. Sandi, So glad you're giving up diet soda. I'm was also addicted to diet soda several years ago…so totally understand. In the next 2-3 weeks we'll have an eBook available that you're going to love. It will have drink recipes that are excellent alternatives to soda and other sugary drinks. It will also have popsicles and ice cream (takes only 5 minutes to make). 🙂

  5.  I agree. I was addicted to diet soda forever! Simply because I wanted the carbonation and sweet flavor. I can monitor my calorie intake, but I am really trying to eliminate all artificial ingredients from my diet. So, I can always use a little less juice or honey but for me, these recipes are really helpful. And water can get really boring, and plain juice really is too high in calories and sugar plus it lacks the bubbles I love.

  6. How long will these stay good in the fridge? Maybe it would be possible to premake all ingredients except for your club soda and add that as you go? I have to premake meals on weekends and would love to have this ready as well. Yes water is lovely but one of these a day or for parties in place of higher calorie drinks sounds great, thank you for the alternative!

    1. I would make it in the morning or the day before or keep in the frig until ready for your party. Thanks!

  7. I think the juice in these recipes have more calories than the diet soda, not only more calories but also more impact on blood glucose. The honey and juices will temporarily raise blood sugar and then there is no protein to help ease the huunger as your blood sugar crashes….setting you up to be hungry and irritable in a short matter of time. 

    1. Seltzer water helped me beat my diet soda addiction. Check the nutrition label to make sure it is sodium free!   I like Trader Joe's, Deer Park and Vintage. 

    2. Lorithecook, From my husband, who's a former bartender, it's o.k.. It's just carbonated water and doesn't have all the junk sodas do.

  8. If you use seltzer water instead of club soda, you can eliminate the sodium! And if you keep it in the refrigerator, it stays really bubbly, satisfying the fizz fix! 🙂

  9. Thjis site is the pits can't print anything out–all the words overlap and it is the most ridiculous spam site I have ever run across.  Why do you have to be this way?

  10. Will the bottled 100% orange juice, lemon juice and lime juice work just as well in the Citrusade?

  11. I gave up sodas during my current pregnancy (week 29!) I've noticed an improvement in the way that I feel. I don't feel as gasy from the carbonation. I also don't feel as jittery. I have been drinking a lot of plain water as well as water with the single serving of crystal light in it. While I know this still has artificial sweetners, I feel it is a better choice than the 3-5 cans of diet soda I was drinking a day. I fully intent to keep this up after the baby arrives. Thank you for some good alternatives to consider!

  12. I use to drink regular sodas then wanted to lose weight and switched to diet. I found that I eat a lot more when I drink a soda whether its a regular soda or diet soda. So I finally gave them up cold turkey a few weeks ago. Best decision I ever made. I drink mostly water now. I have been eating less and craving less sugar, it got rid of the heartburn and the joint pain I was having in my knees and elbows is almost completely gone too. I can't believe how much better I feel. I will have to try these recipes sometime, maybe without the carbonation though, since I think that contributed to the heartburn. And yea some of these recipes may have some sugar, but like the saying goes, "all things in moderation." Like sodas these drinks and other soft drinks arent meant to be drunk all day long….thats what water is for. 🙂

  13. Thanks a bunch! I am currently a high diet soda drinker (pepsi max). It is my go-to when I’m stressed, tired and/or hungry. I need to eliminate it from my diet forever

  14. Do you have a group for people like me who need people to do things with them an order to be Successful at it

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