I wouldn’t call myself a big soda drinker. Ever since childhood I’ve enjoyed the occasional soda, especially while at a restaurant or on holidays, but since turning 21 and moving into alcohol I’ve had less and less soda. I suppose that’s a good thing, since soda isn’t exactly the healthiest choice (neither is alcohol be fair, but I’m talking more so in comparison to water), but lately I’ve gotten more into expanding my beverage menu items and making overall better health choices.
The Afternoon Pick-Me-Up You Need
In the morning I love a good cup of coffee, but in the afternoon I don’t want to go all the way back down the stairs to my little kitchen to make another latte or black coffee with frothy creamer foam. But sometimes I still want to have a beverage for my workday afternoons to help me get through the slump 9 to 5 workers inevitably feel around 2 p.m.. While I do try to drink a lot of water each day, when I’m feeling a little spicy I reach for one of the sodas I’ve found and are really enjoying. With this, I’d love to introduce you to Olipop and Poppi.
Better-For-You-Soda In Unique Flavors
Soda is known for having a lot of sugar, right? Let me introduce you to Olipop and my runner-up favorite, Poppi. These are both modern versions of soda that are designed to have less sugar and integrate healthier ingredients into their respective formulas. Olipop — which I first heard about online and finally decided to try sometime late last year — is a sweet carbonated drink (soda, essentially), but with prebiotics for better digestion, botanicals, lots of fiber, and only about five grams of sugar. For reference, a can of Pepsi has 41 grams of sugar and Coca Cola products still have a lot of sugar in them.
Yes sugar is not the end-all-be-all of health (or non-health for that matter), but a lot of sugar I’m willing to bet is not super good for you. Soda in general is not super good for you anyway, that is true, but if you’re going to have a drink like that why not choose something that’s a little better? Poppi, even though it’s my second-favorite after Oilpop, still has the same ingredients: five grams of sugar with apple cider vinegar and prebiotics. The sweetness comes from Organic Agave Inulin and both brands are free of GMOs, gluten, and animal products (their vegan).
Ollipop v. Poppi: Which Is Better?
If you’re looking for a drink that is more similar to classic soda, I’d go with Olipop. Their Vintage Cola is what you’re looking for if you want a Coke or Pepsi equivalent, while their Doctor Goodwin is a healthier answer to Dr. Pepper. My personal favorites are the Ginger Lemon and Watermelon Lime; both of these are quite refreshing and have amazing flavor combinations — I would drink these several times a day if I could. If you’re looking for a drink that does have a soda feel and taste to it, but is more of a sparkling beverage than straight soda, choose Poppi; for these my favorite flavors are the Cherry Limeade and Raspberry Rose.
Regardless of which one you give a try first, I highly recommend drinking them chilled on a hot summer day either from the can or over ice.