Making healthier soda at home!

[bandgeek]

Anyone do this? We used to drink just regular soda. Then we switched to diet dr. pepper (the only kind that doesn't taste awful to me). But now all the stuff about fake sweeteners has me freaked out and diet didn't help either of us lose weight anyway. So we need to make a change. Obviously we aren't trying to replicate pepsi. We just want something healthier than what we're drinking, but will also satisfy our sweet tooth.

I went to the store today and bought sparkling water, club soda (is there a difference between the two?), fruit juice, and some liquid vanilla stevia I found on sale. We tried fruit juice and sparkling water. DBF tried cream, sparkling water, and the stevia.

I like the taste of just fruit juice and the water, but it went flat as soon as I put it in my glass. Is that normal? I want bubbles!

DBF is disappointed because none of it is very sweet.

Anyone have any good recipes?

[LeahBoo]

Yes! Get frozen apple or grape juice (concentrated) reconstitute it with club soda instead of water. It makes sparkly apple or grape juice.

[PaulaJoAnne]

Originally Posted by bandgeek

Anyone have any good recipes?

Oh, let me introduce you to the wonderful world of old fashioned soda's that are actually good for you
http://www.learningherbs.com/soda_recipe.html
If you can get a copy of Nourishing Traditions, there is a section on making soda's, and how to make the bugs to start them.
There are of course the options of making Kombucha and water kefir as well.
All very good for you, and very yummy!

ETA: THe reason they are so good, is the sugar is changed in the fermenting processed, so you will no longer get the sugar rush.
And no worries about alcohol either, as testing has shown that none have a percentage over .65%.

[velochic]

We make "schorle" at home. This is really the popular way to drink anything carbonated in Germany (where we used to live). Equal parts fizzy water and juice. No sweetener. We drink Apfelschorle occasionally, but really dd mostly prefers just fizzy water by itself. We don't drink soda at home, otherwise.

[Magelet]

egg creams as a treat (your cream, soda water and stevia reminded me of this). make chocolate syrup with cocoa powder, water and a little sugar or palm sugar over heat until syrupy (or buy one with only good sweeteners). when cooled, mix with seltzer water and milk (look online for proportions). super yummy.

I might also suggust that there is a difference between sparkling water (a la crystal gyser or pellegrino etc) and seltzer. seltzer has smaller bubbles and stays carbonated longer. at least, the kind my cousins had growing up, it came in clear and blue containers with a little lever to pour/spout it, and I think you bought the containers and got them refilled, no clue where though.