5 Ways to Reduce Your Intake of Diet Soda

Don't Quit Caffeine Cold Turkey

Cut back slowly to avoid caffeine withdrawal. For 2-3 weeks....each time you consider having a soda during the day, consider alternating the diet soda with a naturally flavored sparkling water. It is going to take time.

Try a Different Drink

Whether it is the fizz, sweet flavor, caffeine buzz, or refreshing sensation that draws you to a cold diet soda, you can trick your mind and taste buds. Consider an alternative such as sparkling water or naturally carbonated, sugar-free fruit beverages, seltzer with a splash of juice.

Flavor Old-Fashioned Water

Try to keep a refillable water bottle or glass full of ice cold water handy at all times. Add a slice of lemon, lime, orange, cucumber, or watermelon to boost flavor in a healthy way. If you don’t like the taste of your tap water consider purchasing an inexpensive water filter and drink filtered water.

Make Diet Soda Less Accessible

Stop buying by the case. If you walk to the vending machine every afternoon for a pick me up, take a different route. Consider a short walk for the sake of a walk to re-energize your mind, body, and spirit. Take only enough pocket change to work for one soda. Consider drinking this only on special occasions.

Rethink Your Reason For Drinking Diet Soda

Most people believe that drinking diet soda, will cut calories from their daily intake. A nutrition scientist at Purdue University, Richard Mattes, says that most diet-soda drinkers assume they're allowed to indulge in more calories because they are drinking something 'diet'. Don’t get caught up in this mentality. Excess calorie intake from foods and beverages can put persons at risk for weight gain as well as associated health problems.

Read more blog posts from the CHI Health Nutritionists.

Original post date: Feb. 2015. Revised: July 2022.