Guidelines To Kick Your Soda Habit.

Soda and other sugary drinks have replaced milk and water as the drinks of choice for teens and adults alike. Yet these drinks are actually more like desserts because they are high in added sugar and calories. In fact, soda and sugar-laden drinks may contribute to weight problems in kids and youths.


Be Healthy! Find Alternatives!


Healthy drink choices for you and your family, which your can also start at home to set a good example, might include:

1) Drink milk.

2) Limit juice to 100% fruit juice, which is usually going to have less sugar and more vitamins and nutrients than other fruit drinks. Keep in mind that even 100% fruit juice has a lot of sugar in it, there is just no extra sugar added, and they can have almost 100 calories per 6 ounce serving.

3) Drink water.


4) Avoid soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks and other sugary, high calorie drinks.



5) Remember that when you are choosing what to drink, you aren't simply looking at calories and sugar. Getting other vitamins and minerals from your drinks is important too, such as the calcium, vitamin D, and Vitamin A you get from milk and fortified orange juice. Or the Vitamin C you can get from 100% fruit juice.


6) Avoid caffeine.


Old habits are hard to break and new ones, especially those related to eating and physical activity, can take months to develop and stick with. Here are some tips to help you in the process:


Set a few realistic goals for yourself. First, try cutting back the number of sweetened sodas you drink by replacing a couple of them with unsweetened beverages. Once you have reduced your sweetened soda intake, try eliminating these drinks from your diet. Then set a few more goals, like drinking low-fat or fat-free milk, eating more fruits, or getting more physical activity each day.


Identify your barriers. Are there unhealthy snack foods at home that are too tempting? Is the food at your cafeteria too high in fat and added sugars? Do you find it hard to resist drinking several sweetened sodas a day because your friends do it? Use the tips above to identify changes you can make. Get a buddy at school or someone at home to support your new habits. Ask a friend, sibling, parent, or guardian to help you make changes and stick with your new habits.


Know that you can do it! Use these informations to help you. Stay positive and focused by remembering why you wanted to be healthier - to look, feel, move, and learn better. Accept relapses - if you fail at one of your nutrition or physical activity goals one day, do not give up. Just try again the next day. Also, share this information with your family. They can support you in adopting healthier behaviors.