Aspartame & Crystal Light... need an alternative

MommyToAshley wrote: I have been looking for an alternative to drinking Pepsi or Coke.... and I thought I would try the tea flavored Crystal Light. I really liked it and then I read the label and realized it has aspartame in it. (I should have read the label before I bought it!) I try to avoid apartame because no one really knows for sure if that stuff is bad for you or not. I don't like diet sodas because I hate the taste and most diet colas have aspartame in them. I like iced tea as long as it has lots of sugar in it, but then again that defeats the purpose of getting rid of the Pepsi. I do drink some water when I am excercising, and I know I should drink more but I admit I am addicted to the caffiene in colas. Anyone have a suggestion for an alternative?

booey2 replied: Hi, I have not been around much but have a sec right now.

You could try Kool-aid with Splenda, just as good as crystal light and no aspertame. I think down there you all may have the Crystal light already made in a bottle (like coke and other pops) and it has splenda instead of the other sweetener.

kit_kats_mom replied: have you tried the bubbly water? I like LaCroix brand. It's sugar free and calorie free and it comes in raspberry, lime, lemon and plain. It's not flavored (tastes just like regular perrier but the flavored ones have an aroma. I live on that stuff

ammommy replied: Try adding Splenda to your iced tea. No nasty aftertaste! There are also some diet sodas made with this (diet rite?). Flavored waters are also yummy.

coasterqueen replied: Just remember that we really don't know what Splenda does to us either. Just because it's made from real sugar, it's still been "messed" with. Just my two cents. What I do is try to just drink water and treat myself to one diet soda a day. Although I haven't been doing so well and end up drinking reg. soda.

MommyToAshley replied: Thank for the suggestions...

I really should *try* to drink more water, but I know I will have to have something else on hand. I just don't have the willpower to go cold turkey.

gr33n3y3z replied: Splenda I think thats how you spell it
Alot of soda is being made with it now
I think a few of your 7-Up brand is doing it

I'm drinking a lot less pepsi now and drinking green tea with honey
1\2 less surgar in it then pepsi

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I've tried a couple of drinks that have Splenda in them and they have that same icky taste as drinks with aspartame in them. My fav drink used to be Clearly Canadian and now it has Splenda in it and I can't stand it.
I don't really know what's out there that's low in sugar and doesn't have artificial sweeteners in it. Maybe you could try putting lemons in your water if you don't like drinking it plain. I do drink juice, lemonade and 7-up, (I used to drink a lot of dr. pepper and coke but I don't have it at home anymore because I'm trying to stay away from caffeine) but I mostly drink water during the day.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I know you said you don't like ice tea without a lot of sugar, but what about Peppermint tea?? I wish I remembered the brand, but I pickup a bottled ice tea (peppermint) at the health food store sometimes. It is SOOOO refreshing and somewhat sweet. It only has like 15 calories in it because it's just plain brewed peppermint tea and water. That's it. You can also make your own by buying Celestial Seasons peppermint tea and just brewing it and put in the refrigerator. Or add ice. Hope that helps! I try to avoid sodas. When I do buy them, I get those mini cans and I'm starting to have a hard time even finishing one of those. My DH drinks a ton of seltzer water. It doesn't have any calories and at least you get the bubbles. I've heard bubbles aren't that great for you in excess, but I wouldn't worry about it all that much. Better than all those sugar subs. My friend loves Splenda and says it's not a chemical. I disagree.

My DH also adds a little lemon juice to the seltzer water or sometimes to just plain water for taste. Still barely any calories.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: In terms of getting some caffeine...Try green tea, iced. Just make sure you don't get brands like Sobe that have artificial sweeteners.

Boys r us replied: Pepsi one has splenda in it!

Mylilprincesses replied: I know what you mean, I have yet to find an alternative myself. I am actually allergic to aspartame and so was excited to see Splenda come out (even though I'm leery of all that fake stuff anyway), however upon trying it, I had the same reactions I do to aspartame products. Just an FYI to all of you, since we don't know the effects of any of that stuff fully. I think its all linked anyhow IMO.

I've always been a big water drinker personally but a good alternative to spice that up a bit is flavored waters like someone suggested. LaCroix is really good and so is that Clearly Canadian stuff. How about Gatorade Propel or something? Not exactly the caffeine fix but a good flavored non-boring drink choice.

Hope that helps

paradisemommy replied: i was gonna suggest sugar free kool-aide but i don't know what that is sweetened with????