Getting Healthier- Starting with cutting out SODA!
One of the goals that David and I have had for quite some time is to cut out the drinking of soda/not drink as much soda. I actually went an entire summer not that long ago and didn’t have any AT ALL and lost about 10lbs. I generally do really well with NOT drinking it because I don’t really buy any that I like- I just get whatever David wants and then I know I won’t drink it! Oh and while we are on it I do NOT do diet soda – i think it is absolutely horrid!
Lately, I have not been doing so well on that front though! Really though the most soda I drink tends to be when we go out to eat somewhere or when I am at my mom and dads for the most part. I know that David does a lot worse on this level than I do -and he even gets really bad kidney infections and stuff because of drinking certain sodas more than he should.
Say Hello To Sparkling Ice! Available in Tea, Water & Lemonade!
I personally try to drink green tea for my main choice and then some sort of flavored water or something of the sorts (iced tea, etc) so when a PR gal that I had worked with in the past mentioned to me about doing some sort of partnership/review of Sparkling Ice and sharing recipes I was most interested! The recipes are cocktails that you can use the Sparkling Ice in!
I didn’t realize that Sparkling Ice not only comes in water varieties , but also has a line of sparkling teas and lemonades as well! The Sparkling Ice line is 0 calories, sweetened with sucralose (which is one of the few sweeteners other than sugar that I actually think is a pretty close resemblance of what sugar tastes like!)
I also didn’t realize the amount of flavors that these are available in- believe me you could drink one flavor a day for a good while and not be bored, which I like. Also like I mentioned before the sucralose helps give it a close enough resemblance to the taste of sugar it isn’t a nasty aftertaste (which I absolutely can’t stand most sugar substitutes) so it wouldn’t bother me to drink these exclusively at all. Oh and the best thing? it is FIZZY like soda, so you aren’t missing that aspect which sometimes to me can be what you miss the most (after you get over those sugar withdrawal headaches!)
And Now For Some Inspired Recipes!
There are 3 flavors of the Sparkling Ice line that are featured in these recipes – one from each line! I know that I have made a lot of mixed drinks before and yes, admittedly mostly with Soda- but even some with juice and. .. yes even koolaide but I never would have thought to use these as mixers and I am totally smitten with the idea and can’t wait to try some of these when we get our tax refund and I can buy alcohol to try them with!
Bourbon Street Black Raspberry Brut
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz. Silver Tequila
- 2 oz. brut Champagne
- 7 large black raspberries
- 2 oz. Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry
- ¼ oz. lemon juice
Instructions
1.Muddle black raspberries, Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry and lemon juice in a glass.
2.Pour ingredients into a glass filled with ice.
3.Add tequila, stir, and strain into a large rocks glass filled with ice.
4.Top with brut Champagne and garnish with a skewered black raspberries
Lemonade Hurricane
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Sparkling Ice Strawberry Lemonade
- 1 oz. light rum
- 1 oz. dark rum
- ½ oz. passion fruit juice
- 1 oz. orange juice
- Strawberry and Lime for garnish
Instructions:
- Stir all ingredients together with ice.
- Pour into a tall glass over ice.
Sparkling Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
- .5 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- 1.75 oz Sparkling Ice Lemon Tea
- 1.25 oz Bourbon
- .25 oz simple syrup*
*Low calorie option: Omit .25 oz simple syrup, add one packet of Splenda.
Instructions:
1.In mixing cup add ice, lemon, bourbon and Sparkling Ice.
2.Stir and strain over rocks.
3.Garnish with a cherry
