If it were not for my husband, we would have no soda in our home. (I don’t like soda and I do the shopping!) I am dismayed to see the number of kids who drink a soda before school, who come home from school and reach into the refrigerator and grab a soda. Some of our children drink soda, maybe 1-2 times each month. It is a treat rather than a way of life.

From The Washington Post via www.tesh.com,
• Obesity. For every can of soda your child drinks each day, their chances of being obese DOUBLE. But the problem isn’t just extra calories. A Harvard University study shows that the calories in soda don’t register with the brain the same way other calories do. The brain doesn’t get the message to stop eating. On average, that means kids consume the calories in the drink PLUS an extra 200 calories from other foods every day.
• Tooth Decay. Sugar in any form is bad for your teeth. But if you think sugar-free soda’s the answer, think again. The acids in soft drinks start etching tooth enamel in just 20 minutes.
• Soft drinks make kids caffeine dependent. That may not seem like a big deal to parents who make a daily stop for a Mocha Latte, but caffeine’s been linked with negative effects on brain development and lower test scores.

Wow! Besides being unhealthy, soda is also costly. Instead, stock the refrigerator with water.

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