I don’t know about you, but I am ready to show up and show out 2015 – I know it is going to be a great year for us all! Every New Year brings on thoughts of change and the dreaded “resolutions.” My feeling on New Year’s resolutions is that every day is a new start, and an opportunity for change, so we do not have to wait until January 1st to do so! BUT with that said, I do make yearly resolutions, kind of just as a rough “road map” for the year! My “foodie” /health resolution for 2015 is to stop drinking diet soda. I know, I know, the WORST thing ever to drink, but I easily drink over a gallon of water a day (call me a camel! Ha-ha), and I always hit a point where I just need something bubbly to quench my thirst. My Mom has been telling me for years that if I were to pour a diet cola on the hood of my car that it would eat the paint right off….well guess what? Mom is always right, and I can only imagine what it is doing to the lining of my stomach! SO I have been researching some healthy alternatives to my addiction; I have decided to slowly try to swap my daily diet soda for a healthy replacement instead of going cold turkey – because Lord knows that rarely works for me! Take a peek of some of the suggestions I found and my honest feedback in italics! • Add slices of your favorite fruits and veggies — lemons, oranges, watermelon, cucumber, mint, or limes — to a pitcher of water and allow to “marinate” over night for a refreshing and flavorful drink. I like this one – not my favorite because there is no fizz, but I like cucumber, lemons and limes in my water.

• Sip Green Tea- zero calories and high in antioxidants and other health benefits; enjoy hot or chilled. I have tried this, I like other flavored teas better though, Wild Berry Zinger is my favorite!

• Stir in some natural Stevia! Stevia is an herb with a very sweet taste and is totally organic, non-GMO, calorie-free and has taken the health world by storm! I like to add a few packets (drops if using liquid form) to a bottle of sparkling water (not seltzer! Just as bad for your bones as diet sodas!) and add some fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, or a splash of cranberry juice for a bubbly, fruity drink. This one is my favorite tip!…..okay you caught me, I wrote this tip LOL, but this is the best alternative to the fizz I want when I reach for a diet soda, and it is calorie free! Try it out and let me know what you think!

Happy Sipping! What are some of your New Year’s resolutions? Chef Annie