“The Soda Free Challenge is an initiative of the Strategic Alliance for Health, a partnership of the Boston Public Health Commission and more than 75 Community partners.”
Soda and Sugar Facts
- The average American eats more than a half cup of sugar a day; resulting in 420 extra calories
- Soda is the number one source of this added sugar in our diets
- Teens consume twice as much soda as milk
- The calories from drinking just one 20-ounce bottle of soda each day can result in gaining more than 25 extra pounds in a year
- Weight gain puts people at risk for lifelong health problems such as diabetes and heart disease
Healthy Soda Alternatives
- Water (every day – all you want)
- Non-fat or low-fat milk
- 100% fruit juice (1/2 cup daily)
- Unsweetened ice tea
- Seltzer
- Add a slice of orange, lemon, lime, or even cucumber to your water for very few calories and lots of flavor
I can’t remember the last time I drank soda. I drink water all day, every day. It’s my beverage of choice when I go out to dinner, as well as a glass of wine. 
But this tracking log is a great way for soda drinkers to take part in this challenge and see how many days they can go without the sugary stuff throughout the course of the summer.
If you’re a Boston-area resident and you’d like to participate in the Soda Free Summer Challenge, make your pledge here!
As of this post, 928 people have pledged to take part in the challenge.
If you’re not from the Boston area, just leave a comment on this blog post with your own pledge to commit to a healthier you. 
COMMENTS
6 Comments
1. Handmade Chinese Furniture » Blog Archive » Guide to Healthy Dining Out
July 7th, 2010 02:26 AM
[...] Crunches for Cupcakes » Soda Free Summer Challenge [...]
2. Burn Excess Fat Green Tea Weight Loss
July 7th, 2010 03:24 AM
[...] Crunches for Cupcakes » Soda Free Summer Challenge [...]
3. debbie
July 7th, 2010 05:06 AM
i haven’t had a soda in over 20 years! a friend back in college said you could clean a car engine w/a can of coke…so then i thought, what is it doing to my insides and never looked back. i’ll occassionally have some seltzer to get the bubbles that i missed…but honesly, i don’t miss it at all!
4. BostonRunner
July 7th, 2010 06:39 AM
I gave soda up for lent a couple of years ago (I didn’t drink it THAT much before that) and after the 40 days I couldn’t even stomach it! Now I try to have it only on a special occasion or something
5. janetha
July 7th, 2010 09:08 AM
my new year’s resolution was no more soda. i don’t even miss it!
also, i loved your dress in the last post and the blue dress in the one before that. you are dang cute.
6. Melinda
July 7th, 2010 10:40 AM
Great challenge. Lucky for me, I hate how I feel with carbonation, so I rarely drink soda. I can usually get through 1/2 a diet soda before having to stop because I am so full.