But we like it
Tall and I recently watched an interesting documentary (King Corn) and we took the opportunity over dinner the other night to remind the boys that soda and other processed sugary beverages have been linked to an increase in the risk for diabetes, among other things. It's not the first time we've discussed the various health risks associated with the 'fast food' lifestyle. They're resistant to the idea, naturally. (They're teenagers, after all, i.e., resistant to whatever we say.)
I don't buy much of the stuff. When I do, I mainly purchase brands sweetened with sugar (lesser of two evils, IMHO...don't even get me started on diet drinks) rather than high fructose corn syrup. Nonetheless, the kids have plenty of options to buy their own or consume it elsewhere, and we want them to be informed so they can make good choices. We don't forbid them to drink it, but rather suggest that they avoid it, and, at the very least, limit their consumption to no more than one per day.
Anyway, let me get to the point. This morning, I noticed that my darling Antic had neatly penned "MORE DIABETES" on my grocery list.
Good to see I'm getting through. Ha.
Comments
I know some diet sodas contain aspartame which I guess can be really bad. I know there are debates about this issue but let me just say, if I drink something with aspartame in it (too much) - it actually effects my vision. So bad!
I did find a "soda" called Waist Watcher. It has Splenda in it but it's sugar, caffeine, sodium and aspartame free! They aren't that bad tasting either. Once you get over the first few sips. :)
I live in Philadelphia, and we have a lot of Mexicans. They come here to work in the restaurants, and also work in the mushroom caves in Kennett Square, and in the blueberry fields and cranberry bogs in New Jersey. So we have a lot of Mexican restaurants, and not a few local markets that cater to the Mexican consumer.
It's pretty easy to find Mexican Coke, which tastes like Coke used to taste when I was a kid. You would think that the brand Goya would make sodas which are made with cane sugar, but what is sold here is actually made with HFCS. The brand I look for is Jarritos. You should be able to find it anywhere there is a sizable Mexican population.
When I first came to the US I could not understand why the Ocean Spray cranberry tasted so different to the one they export to Australia. I called the company and was told that they use corn syrup to sweeten it here but real sugar for the Aussies as we were more discerning!
When I was growing up we only got soft drink (soda) when one of my 3 siblings or myself had a birthday. The same applied to ice cream!