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How to Make Soda

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I used to drink soda A LOT. As in, several a day. Thankfully, I weaned myself off of that bad habit, and learned to drink a lot more water (ok, and iced coffee). But I still really enjoy having a nice cold soda a few times each week. I think because I don’t drink them constantly I enjoy the flavor so much more now whenever I have one!

Given the fact that I only imbibe in a carbonated beverage a few times each week, buying 2 liters of soda are ALWAYS a waste of money in my house. We only get about halfway through the bottle before it is F-L-A-T. I don’t like to crowd my pantry with 12 packs of soda, either. They take up a lot of room, and I find that if they are there, I’m more likely to reach for one often. Finally, paying the premium prices for those 20 ounce bottles is more than I can stomach. Given our soda habits and preferences, its actually a little bit tricky to get soda!

How to Make Soda

But, my friends, now we have such a cool and fun way to have just the right amount of soda whenever the mood strikes. Have you heard of SodaStream? It’s a company that creates products for making soda at home. I already know what you are thinking: There’s NO WAY that can be worth the pain in the rear that it must be to make your own, and there’s NO WAY that whatever you make will taste decent. I had my own suspicions, believe you me. But check out my video where you’ll see me make soda for the very first time ever and see for yourself!

Now that you’ve seen how to make soda, I’ll tell you more about why I really like SodaStream. It isn’t quite as sweet as the national soda brands you might be familiar with, but that’s for a very good (for you) reason. SodaStream sodas DO NOT contain high-fructose corn syrup! That stuff is SO TERRIBLE for you and is one of the reasons that I cut back on soda, overall. Furthermore, the diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda, not aspartame. It even contains smaller doses of caffeine than most brands, if caffeine consumption is something you are trying to watch.

Calories Carbs Sugar Sodium Caffeine
Pepsi® 100 27g 27g 25mg 25mg
Coca-Cola® 100 27g 27g 35mg 23mg
SodaStream Cola 34 9g 9g 2mg 15mg
7-UP® 100 26g 26g 50mg 0mg
Sprite® 100 26g 26g 45mg 0mg
SodaStream Lemon Lime 36 9g 9g 25mg 0mg


SodaStream bottles are 1 liter, and that is PERFECT! We can both enjoy a few nice tall glasses of soda before we have emptied it, and so far, we’ve made it to the end of each bottle while there was still plenty of fizz left. Since there’s less to drink, I don’t feel stressed out about making sure we drink it all before it goes flat (am I the only one who feels that way when they get a 2 liter?). As a result, I drink just the amount I want, and not a drop more! I also love that if we are having company over for dinner, we don’t need to make a special trip to the store to get some soda. We can just make whatever they want when they arrive. Finally, I love that using SodaStream as opposed to buying your own sodas in 2 liters or aluminum cans results in so much less waste. You simply reuse the 1 liter bottles you have again and again, and the only plastic that is getting recycled is your flavor bottles, and it takes a good long while to get through one flavor bottle! Compare that to all the cans and plastic bottles a family might throw out or recycle in a given week. There’s really no comparison, folks. SodaStream is better for your health, the environment and your wallet! I think it is absolutely fabulous.

Edit: This contest is closed.
Win it!: Now you have the chance to be in the know about how to make soda by winning your own  soda stream starter kit just like the one I received ($109.95 value!)! The contest will run until June 23rd at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me the #1 reason why you want SodaStream in your home.

Additional Entries:

1. Tell me the SodaStream flavor that sounds the best to you

2. “Like” SodaStream on Facebook

3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

4 Follow SodaStream on Twitter

5. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

6. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)

Disclosure: I was sent a complimentary product for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 


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Comments

  1. I think the best thing about the SodaStream is that it ends up being less expensive and more convenient. I can't ask for much more than that.
    kanderspina~at~yahoo~dot~com

    Reply

  5. I'd love to have the SodaStream since I dont have to lug soda home, I live in a small apt and this would give me lots of extra room!

    Reply

  8. My FIL *LOVES* root beer, but is diabetic, I would love to make him some diet root beer 🙂 (okay, & me too lol)

    leig hbra at gmail

    Reply

  23. I want it to help reduce our long term costs for buying the regular stuff at the grocer

    ardy22 at earthlink dot net

    Reply

  29. It would be cheaper and better for the environment. Plus I think my kids would think it was fun! Thanks so much! pamelashockley(AT)aol(DOT)com

    Reply

  34. I had homemade blackberry soda in Austria, and it was awesome. I would like the funky different flavors.

    Reply

  39. My husband drinks coke all the time. He needs to watch it too. We need this for him. He's got high blood pressure again, and only 28 (well in a couple weeks he'll be 28)

    Reply

  45. I'd love to have this to always have soda on hand, no more running to the store for more! tylerpants(at)gmail.com

    Reply

  49. I would love to try the Ginger Ale. Think it would be a flavor the whole family would like.

    Reply

  54. I would love to try the orange mango for something different but I'd most likely drink the cherry cola

    Reply

  55. I think the Soda Stream would save us a lot of money on our summertime drinks and it looks so good. Would love to own one.

    Reply

  62. It's economical, helps decarese waste in the environment and has great flavor choices.
    fatmeatloaf1@gmail dot com

    Reply

  77. i want the soda stream in my home to save money and it's better for our mother earth

    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

    Reply

  86. I'd like to have one because we are huge soda fans, and it would save a ton of money!
    Thanks!

    fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

    Reply

  88. Creme Soda and Root beer are the two flavors I have and would love to try out on the actual machine.

    Reply

  89. I purchased the soda syrup from SodaStreamer a couple of months ago. I thought I could make smoothies in the blender with it. It didn't work very well. I'd love to be able to use it with the actual system.

    Reply

  106. I want to try SodaStream in my home because we drink a ton (not kidding!) of soda and if I can save money with this system and help out the earth a lot then it only makes sense to use it…

    justine417@comcast.net

    Reply

  110. This is a groovy unit and I like the idea of making your own pop to save money and the flavors aren't bad either that's why I want it!
    skyxsky27(at)gmail.com

    Reply

  114. We drink quite a lot of soda in our house, and being able to save bottles, and have fun making it would be great.
    xbeautifulcoma at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  122. Kristieslist is following soda stream on twitter.

    kristieslist at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  124. I want this for my boyfriend. He has suggested multiple times that we get a regular soda fountain but this sounds much simpler!

    kristieslist at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  125. I would like to have this because it looks fun to try with the kids. I can see us popping popcorn and making soda on movie night. Thanks!

    Reply

  127. just thinking about all the bottles and cans I can keep out of the landfills
    singermagic1(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  135. Because it would be less expensive than purchasing soda's and it would be more green and reduce our carbon footprint
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  138. I want one so I can make fresh soda anytime I want. I also think it would be great to not have to store cans of soda and I would be able to save money.

    luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  152. my main reason for wanting the SodaStream is that I am tired of lugging tons of bottles of soda from the store each week

    Reply

  154. The best things about SodaStream, in no particular order, are:
    1. Better ingredients – no preservatives, corn syrup, aspartame, etc.
    2. Less waste – you're not buying new bottles all the time and can ever refill the CO2 cannister.
    3. Convenience – I don't need to store a case of 10 different flavors because I don't know what I'll want to drink next week.
    4. Variety and cost – cheaper, lots of flavors, cheaper, less storage space, cheaper.
    There are lots more great things about SodaStream, but this comment is long enough already 🙂

    Reply

  156. I would love to have one mainly because of cost. We do drink alot (to much) soda and if I could make my own it would cut down on the purchasing of it. Plus, we get the 2 liter bottles which are always flat 1/2 way through them.

    Thanks.

    Reply

  157. I love making chocolate egg creams at home, but whenever I buy a bottle of seltzer at the store, it goes flat after I've only made a few drinks. Having a sodastream at home would make fresh seltzer available to me any time, which would be awesome.

    The flavor that looks best to me is grape.

    Reply

  162. I want this in my home because we waste so much money on soda and other drinks each week.
    kirbycolby at gamil dot com

    Reply

  167. We don't have a lot of storage space in our small home to stock up on soft drinks. This would be a great alternative to 2 liters!

    Reply

  174. would like it because it cuts down on the waste of the soda&seems better for you!

    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  179. I want a SodaStream in my house because I think it would be fun to use and it would put less plastic into landfills.

    Reply

  186. I'd like to have this because I don't like buying coke bottles and cans all the time. I'm trying to be more eco-friendly and this could def. help! Thanks!

    katyjv1988(@)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  187. I could stop hauling the soda bottles back and forth from the grocery store and stop storing them in the garage. This would so save some plastic.

    Reply

  194. We go through quite a bit of soda in our home. So the Soda Strem would definitely save us on cost and recycling.
    Thank you so much for the giveaway.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

    Reply

  200. I need this in my house because I do not have central air and love something cold and fizzy to drink but think soda costs to much

    Reply

  201. Because I know it'll taste 100% better than the stuff that's currently on shelves in stores.

    mystery250(at)comcast(dot)net

    Reply

  212. The #1 reason I would love to have a SodaStream is because this seems like it would save us alot of money on soda every week.

    tderosa142 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  225. I would like SodaStream in my house becasue its looks like not only a lot of fun to make with the kids, but also sounds delicious.

    Reply

  226. Since we are oounting calories we'd probably go for the Diet Lemonade and the Diet Lemon Iced Tea.

    jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  228. My husband would love this for what I call the three E reasons:

    Economical
    Environmentally Friendly and
    Entertaining (as in FUN!)

    I know that the Diet Lemonade would be a big favorite in our household this summer!

    jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  230. We drink sletzer all the time and there are weeks I lug cases from the grocery store than they have to be recycled- The SodaStream would cut down on all that waste.

    HB5573(at)aol(dot)come

    Reply

  234. I would love to have a soda stream in my house because of the waste control you have with it. I hate walking around the kitchen draining half cans of soda because no one finished them. The soda stream would eliminate this problem as well as reduce waste in the environment. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Kconklin1028@gmail.com

    Reply

  236. I'd like a SodaStream so I can save on the amount of cans and bottles that pile up around the house. We'd like to try the Cherry Cola flavor.

    Reply

  241. I'm not sure about the financial savings but I'm very pleased about the environmental savings. I'd love to save the plastic bottle load.

    Reply

  242. I want a Sodastream to reduce the number of cans and bottles I go through.
    Susan
    mama2rob at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  248. I want a SodaStream so we can quit drinking so much Soda, and spending so much money on it! I think this might help us cut back a little if we made our own.
    reynoldsmommy at gmail dot com

    Reply

  250. i'd like it because i hate having to recycle all the cans and bottles we currently use

    chromiumman (at) mail (dot) com

    Reply

  254. My husband is a soda addict. We go through so many 2 liters this would be great as a cost savings but also to cut down on the number of plastic bottles we go through.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

    Reply

  262. I love flavored carbonated water and diet soda, but it just seems so wasteful – for my wallet and in terms of the plastic and cans. This really cuts down on both of those concerns. And it's so cool! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply

  276. Just like you we will drink the pop if it's there in the 12 packs/cans, and it goes flat in the 2 liter bottles – this sounds PERFECT!!

    Reply

  290. The #1 reason why I want SodaStream is because it is a healthier alternative to sodas on the market. Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂

    Reply

  305. I want to get my husband off of HFCS- he loves soda. I do too, but I've been HFCS free since September.

    Reply

  311. I would love to have a soda stream in my home because we go through a ton of soda… and it would be so nice and more convinent to just be able to make our own at home…

    sreed at hotmail dot com

    Reply

  325. Hello, the main reason I want a SodaStream is for the convenience. No lugging large bottles home from the market, the room of recycling the empties, always having Soda at the ready, even in a power outage and I could go on. Thanks for a great giveaway!

    trishden948(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  326. The main reason I want Sodastream in my home is that it offers the best overall package: lower calories, lower carbs, lower sodium, lower price. asthenight at gmail dot com

    Reply

  364. I'd love to have the Soda stream because I love to have soda sometimes, but I hate buying it. And the flavors look delicious!

    szogediek at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  372. I like the low calorie aspect of the sodastream, so I don't have to feel so guilty indulging.

    Reply

  373. I like the low calorie aspect of the sodastream, so I don't have to feel so guilty indulging.

    Reply

  380. I would love to have a sodastream because I LOVE carbonated beverages but they add up so quickly and aren't as good for you as water. I would love to be able to carbonate water and just add some lemon or lime! Yum!
    erica dot jmail at mac dot com

    Reply

  390. There will be more room in my pantry! I won't have to have case after case of cans! Plus this soda does not contain high-fructose corn syrup!
    rebeccaw2005(at)hotmail.com

    Reply

  391. First off, I'm from Texas and yes Hillbilly HW is rite, its all coke! Even strawberry soda is called coke! Lol I moved to Alabama and would order "coke" and confuse the waitress! So then I called it "soda" lol! I would like it cause even tho it know its horrible for us, we can go thru a 12 pk of Coke a Cola in only a few days. I can't stop! I have tried! I'd like anything other than diet. (Hey I have 2 kids! 28 and a size 4, I don't do diet! Lol) you should pick me to save us from soda death!

    Reply

  392. I think DP would like Cola and i would like Pink Grapefruit… so based on consumption alone, she would need the DIET COLA Soda Stream to reduce the metric ton of aluminum she goes through in Diet Cokes per year teehee!
    Thanks!

    Reply

  400. I'd love a SodaStream in my home to help us reduce bottles being tossed for the enviroment. We also go through alot of soda, so I'd also love this to help us save money. Plus it looks like lots of fun.
    Thanks so much.
    rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

    Reply

  406. I need this in my house because I live in the hottest town I have ever lived in and the only way to beat the heat is by drinking tons of water only we get so bored of it! This would bring a little pizazz to the sweltering heat!

    Reply

  412. I have never heard of such a thing, but it looks amazing! I'd love to try it simply because it seems much better for you than regular sodas.

    Reply

  418. #1–splenda diet! And we love the thought of making it ourselves.
    I don't drink much 'pop'. Okay. 'soda'. (I'm from Kansas city, where you call it pop, we lived in southern Missouri for a while where they call it 'soda', and in Texas where he is from all of it is called 'coke').

    thehillbillyhousewife@yahoo.com

    Reply

  419. I would like to try the My Water Flavor Essence flavors, because I love fizzy water with just a hint of lemon or lime!

    Reply

  424. YOU ARE THE CUTEST I LOVE YOU!!!!! Livy and I enjoyed your video and now she is pestering me for "mo' Tee?" <3<3<3 I love your face when it makes the three loud buzzes.

    Anyway, right now I am like the lady in Napoleon Dynamite — "I want that."

    I really like fizzy water but I hate buying plastic bottles of it at the grocery store — so not eco-friendly! Being able to carbonate my own water at home and keep it in small glass bottles would be awesome!

    Reply

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