What are some healthy drink alternatives to soda for my child?

To remove soda from your home, take control of the situation by keeping a pitcher of whatever you choose for your children to drink available in the fridge. Vegetable juices are an option (just be sure they don't have added sugar). Make your own lemonade with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice plus 3 1/2 cups of water. For more sweetness, add stevia, which is a natural and healthy sweetener. Caffeine-free herbal iced teas, and even homemade root beer, can be made the same way. Your goal over time is to slowly shift your children to drinking predominantly water while saving these other stevia-sweetened drinks for once-a-day treats.

You could also substitute sodas with diluted fruit juices, aiming for a maximum of 4-8 ounces of whole juice per day. Over time, you should gradually water down the juice. Begin with a mix of six ounces of juice and two ounces of water. Every few weeks (as your children adjust and tolerate), substitute another ounce of water for an ounce of juice. Continue this until you reach a healthy, low-sugar mixture made with 1-2 parts juice per 8-9 parts water. You may not be aware, but most fruit drinks in your supermarket are similarly 90% added water with only 10% juice -- but they add massive amounts of sugar to compensate.