Soft drinks without sweeteners

Bogof_Babe

I packed up drinking alcohol a fortnight ago, so have been buying lots of soft drinks instead. I always buy the non-diet ones, in the belief that they don't contain too many nasties, but on reading the labels I notice that most of them contain "sugar and sweeteners", including the dreaded aspartame.

I am annoyed about this, as it seems impossible to avoid the stuff. Can anyone suggest any soft drinks, either pop or squash, that are fairly "pure" and unadulterated?

Penelope_Penguin

Fruit juice?

JoeyEmma

I drink lots of sparkling water. I sometimes add a bit to some fruit juice, as I sometimes find juice on its own quite overpowering and sweet.

angelavdavis

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I packed up drinking alcohol a fortnight ago, so have been buying lots of soft drinks instead. I always buy the non-diet ones, in the belief that they don't contain too many nasties, but on reading the labels I notice that most of them contain "sugar and sweeteners", including the dreaded aspartame.

I am annoyed about this, as it seems impossible to avoid the stuff. Can anyone suggest any soft drinks, either pop or squash, that are fairly "pure" and unadulterated?

Duchy Originals do a lovely elderflower cordial, as do Belvoir and I have also bought a pomegranate cordial made by Belvoir. Of course you can make your own elderflower cordial, but I haven't tried myself.

thriftlady_2

These aren't cheap but they are only made from sugar and fruit and the labels are beautiful:) Waitrose stock them and they also stock similar upmarket soft drinks. Like Pen Penguin says what about fruit juice, maybe with fizzy water added ?

Bogof_Babe

Yum, some lovely suggestions there, thank you.

I used to drink a lot of fruit juice, but on my last visit to the dentist I was told to cut down or give it up, as apparently it is taking the enamel off my teeth :rolleyes: . Ever feel you can't win?

Steve-o

I love tomato juice, but don't buy it often because of the levels of salt in it (naturally present, plus added salt). I found that mixing tomato puree and water gives exactly the same thing, with a fraction of the salt content of ready-to-drink juice (0.7g salt vs 7.5g of salt _pale_). Two 17p Tesco/Asda tins of tomato puree makes a litre of juice (as I like mine quite thick), cheaper, healthier, and with less waste than the ready-to-drink stuff.

Try diluting the fruit juice too, and sticking it into the fridge ready made. I do the same with Ribena, diluting it so much that it really only just flavours the water. Initially it tasted extremely weak (because it was!), but after I got used to the taste it was actually more refreshing than at normal diluted strength. And I found that I couldn't go back to drinking it at normal strength after that, as it tasted awfully sweet and sticky.

LuciferTDark

I was given a juice extractor for Christmas last year, best present I'd had in years although the missus isn't too impressed with me always trying to get her to try "another bloomin juice concoction" sadly it broke recently & I miss my fruit juices. I'll get it fixed eventually.

hollydays

High juice squash has no artificial addives usually,just dont use too much of it.

Steve-o

I forgot to thank you Bogof_Babe. If I hadn't read your post I would never have thought of trying to mix the tomato juice myself. I took a little trip to Mr T's today, and bought 16 cans of puree. Should be enough to last me a while.

eviljim6

hollydays high juice squash and JoeyEmma's sparkling water (Tesco do a large value bottle for 19p I think) Mix it up and it is terribly refreshing and way cheaper than the ready made fizz pop.
Sparkling water with anything is great (except for milk, don't try that, you'll regreat that)