An unusual love affair

This is a story of growing up - a story about what I consider to be a defining moment of my childhood years; yes, this is a story about my relationship with...pop (A.K.A. "soda," but not if you're from Canada). :) I have fond memories of my first pop. I was around 6 years old at the time, and it was one of the few times I had pop as a kid. My mom didn't allow any of us much junk food, especially pop, as it is laden with sugar and other suspect chemicals. Regardless, I enjoyed the sweet taste, sure, but it was the fizz...oh, how the fizz stole my heart.

By the time I reached high school, I started to flirt with diet pop. My mom would enjoy the occasional Diet Pepsi, but a friend of mine seemed addicted to the magical elixir. Indeed, at the time it seemed like a girl's best friend; it had no calories and that same fizz that I loved so much. After a while, it even started to taste delicious. Once again, I was hooked.

This fervent love affair went on through high school, college, and even a year or two after, all the while twisting itself into an ugly addiction. This was a very real addiction, as I craved that sweet elixir 24/7. "Even while you were asleep?" Probably. I had to have at least one every day. I knew it wasn't the best thing for me, but I justified it by telling myself that I was just having "one." Ha! Over time I did manage to tame the addiction, but I'd still have one every once in a while and that would start the roller coaster all over again. 

I never found anything that could replace it...until now. I found Zevia in my local health food store two years ago; I wasn't looking for anything serious, but from that first sip I knew Zevia was the one. The nice thing is, I don't mind this new addiction since there are no artificial sweeteners or phosphorus. Also, it's  sweetened with an all natural sweetener, Stevia, which is an extract from the stevia leaf that is 300 times sweeter than sugar, but has zero calories and does not effect blood sugar. 

Now I can enjoy that delicious fizz all I want without feeling guilty. Try a can and I'm sure you'll be hooked immediately. All the flavors are amazing, but my favorites are root beer, cream soda, and of course, cola! :) I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but I enjoy a cold can every time I come home from a run, bike or swim.