Diet coke has always been my drug of choice. It’s sweet, bubbly, caffeinated, and best of all—calorie free. So what if it has aspartame. What even is aspartame? Even if I looked it up, I probably still wouldn’t know. But it doesn’t matter—since it makes Diet Coke taste delicious without the added pounds.
My mom refers to Diet Coke as “liquid crack” and tells me to quit. I’ve never done crack, nor do I plan to, but I can’t imagine it tasting this good and available in 12 packs in gas stations everywhere. Crack doesn’t come in a sleek silver can that matches my jewelry perfectly. You can’t purchase crack in a variety of flavors; there is no “crack with lime” or “crack plus” with fortified vitamins and minerals. I’ve picked my poison, and it’s Diet Coke.
A die-hard Diet Coke fan knows that there is no substitute. You develop a certain snobbery for the silver can—the most elite of all sodas. You hate people that say it’s just the “same thing” as Coke Zero, or ask if you’re drinking a Diet Pepsi—or worse, a “Pepsi One” (I still don’t understand the appeal of being able to say you’re drinking a single calorie.)
I’m convinced that Diet Coke is addictive—once you’re familiar enough with the taste, you start to crave it. You’ll run around countless buildings just to find a vending machine that sells it, or pay 5 euros in a French restaurant just for a 12 ounce bottle of “Coca-Cola Light.” You’ll start to develop a hierarchy for Diet Coke and when it tastes best (cans are at the top and lowest denominator is fountain drinks.) You’ll roll out of bed and not look for coffee to wake up (which takes way too long to brew and walk to a coffee shop,) but pull out a trusty can of DC from under your bed.
Unfortunately, I can attest to all of the situations described above. My obsession with Diet Coke took off when I needed the caffeine to stay awake during long nights in high school, and never quite wore off. But in this past year, I’ve made avid strides to drink less coke, mostly for the following reasons:
1) It’s expensive. 12 cans is around $5 or $6, a bottle is normally around $2. If you drink 1-2 bottles a day, that can be $20 a week.
2) It’s really bad for your teeth. I can’t imagine what it’s doing to the stomach, but teeth show visible results. Apparently, the acid in Diet Coke is way worse for your teeth than actual sugary Coke and wears off the enamel, causing tooth decay and potential root canals. And if I’m not old enough to legally drink alcohol, I’m definitely too young to be having a root canal.
3) All the carbonation will upset your stomach. It may be zero calories, but too much soda of any kind can make you look and feel bloated.
I know it would be difficult to cut it out of my life entirely. When I say “quit” Diet Coke, I more mean the addiction to it. A Diet Coke here or there when you’re out to eat, or it’s late at night and you want something sweet, isn’t going to kill you. Moderation is the key: start by cutting out Diet Coke before or after a certain time, or limit yourself to one can when you would normally have two. Promise not to buy cans in those bulk 24 or even 48 packs—even if you think you’re saving money, all those cans encourage you to consume them at a faster rate.
A method that helped me cut down on Diet Coke (and save money) was telling myself I wouldn’t drink Diet Coke if I had to pay for it. That meant no going to the library vending machines or hauling a 12-pack from the grocery store. If I was over at a friend’s house or in a place with an accessible soda fountain, maybe I could have some. Another option is limiting yourself to DC only when you’re out to eat, making going to a restaurant even more of a treat.
Lastly, when you have an urge to chug one but know you shouldn’t—grab something else. Coffee, tea, an apple, or, if you’re really crazy, a glass of water.
I’m proud to say that I usually limit myself to a can a day—if I have any Diet Coke at all. Sure, I still find it enjoyable to drink, but I learned not to crave it in the way that I used to.