If you’re looking to reduce the artificial ingredients in your family’s diet, the Sparkling Naturals syrups are made from all-natural ingredients, and make great-tasting, “better for you” carbonated drinks. With no artificial flavors, artificial coloring or artificial sweeteners, and no preservatives, they’re a great natural alternative to store bought drinks. Kids can drink better too with Sparkling Naturals for Kids, which are naturally sweetened with fructose and have added vitamins, too.

For more sophisticated palates, the Clear line of syrups are a great choice – they are free of artificial colors, preservatives. They are sweetened just with fructose and come in interesting flavor combinations such as passionfruit-mango and cranberry-raspberry.

Finally, for those looking to kick sweet drinks completely to the curb, the all Natural Flavor Essences are perfect for making fresh flavored seltzers or sparkling waters including lemon-lime, orange, raspberry, mint. As with all syrups, the intensity of the flavor of your drink can be adjusted by adding more or less flavoring. With the wide array of choices available, everyone can drink well, the way they like.

To learn more visit our Nutrition Value Comparison to find out how healthy your favorite drinks really are!

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

Is there anything in this world as good as Nutella? How about Nutella Soufflé? Our friends at Big Girls Small Kitchen share their recipe for Nutella Soufflé – a perfect treat for you and your Valentine.

Looking for something a little simpler? How about a simple sugar cookie recipe – perfect for decorating with the kids. Two Peas & their Pod share their Lofthouse Style Soft Sugar Cookies! Delicious and soft these cookies are perfect for all crowds and incredibly simple!

Finally our friends at Picky Palate share their Kiss Pies, because what says Valentine’s Day more than a Hershey’s Kiss. These little packets of happiness are sure to brighten anyone’s Valentine’s Day!

Finally don’t forget your SodaStream cocktail to pair with these sweet treats. Try the Russian Crush with strawberries for something truly romantic! Or to ease that lonely heart how about a Shooting Star? Make a wish and enjoy your fizzy SodaStream cocktail and one or two of our delicious sweet treats.

Do you have a favorite Valentines Day Treat?? Maybe a new SodaStream recipe you think would go great with some of our sweet treats? Add your recipe to the comments section or post on Facebook and we’ll highlight the ones that look the most delicious!

This week in schools across America students are learning about reducing waste and working together to save our environment. Little steps like carrying a reusable water bottle or choosing waste-free snacks can really have a big impact!  National Green Week focuses on raising a new generation of children who are sensitive to the damage we are doing to our planet and want to make a change.

For some more grown-up tips on how to stay green here is our nutritionist Roni!

The health of our environment has a tremendous impact on our own health so for many, a healthier New Year includes a resolution to live a more eco-friendly  life. Though it can seem an overwhelming task at first, even the simplest steps towards reducing your carbon footprint can impact the health of the planet in very big ways. Here are some simple ways to start off 2012 with new eco-consciousness.

For starters, consider the impact of your water bottle. If you buy a bottle of water or carbonated drink at work each day, you may want to invest in a reusable, plastic bottle or even a glass bottle, which are better choices for reducing plastic waste. Investing in a BPA-free plastic bottle not only helps the environment, but keeps bisphenol A, a compound known to disturb our internal biochemistry, out of your body too.

Owning a home drink maker is another great way to reduce landfill waste; by using your SodaStream as an alternative for carbonated drinks, you reduce your environmental impact at home and eliminate the need for plastic bottles there too. SodaStream carbonating bottles are reusable for 3 years, and save up to 2000 plastic bottles and cans for an average family*.

Another easy way to reduce plastics waste is by bringing along a reusable shopping bag when you go shopping. Tuck one away into your purse or car to reduce reliance on plastic bags and keep your environment and natural surroundings cleaner and healthier.

Walking or biking wherever you can, instead of relying on vehicles which pollute the air and environment keeps both your body and mind healthy. Not only does cycling keep the air cleaner but it does the same thing for your heart health, as well. Also, consider buying locally. Buying local produce saves fuel on transport and encourages farmers to offer more organically grown produce that is fresher. Remember – whatever you choose to do, starting small can ultimately lead to big changes for the health of our bodies and our planet.

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

Now whether you’re a Giants or Patriots fan we can agree that we all tune in to see what new over-the-top commercials advertisers will come up with this year.  For 2012 the 58 spots aired during the Super Bowl generated $75 million for NBC. The most expensive commercial sold for $5.84 million, yikes!

Now these SodaStream commercials aren’t quite up to the same caliber of the ones we all saw on Sunday. There are no dancing candies, racing puppies or 80’s movie icons. But… can we tempt you with Alakazam the SodaStream man? How about some original music all about your favorite brand SodaStream?

Check out these vintage SodaStream commercials:

Alakazam the SodaStream Man

Get Busy with the Fizzy

SodaStream Rap

For starters, balanced meals should be based upon whole, unprocessed foods. This means that the foods you buy and prepare should resemble the way in which they were grown and harvested as much as possible. Well-balanced, whole food based meals include whole grains, good sources of proteins such as those from legumes, fish, meat and dairy, and a “rainbow” of colorful vegetables and fruits, which are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, as well as adequate fluids, such as still or sparkling water or flavored sparkling drinks to keep you hydrated between meals.

But meals are not just about eating—preparing meals can be a great experience for parents and kids, too. Children can get involved with food preparation and cooking, making them active participants in the meals the family will eat, while exposing them to whole foods in various stages of preparation – a great way to get them more excited about eating healthy. Parents’ can play an authoritative role in the process, selecting the healthy foods which will appear on the table so kids can enjoy the freedom to choose what they like from the healthy selections. Older babies can also enjoy many of the same foods at family meals if small portions of whole foods are set aside and pureed for them before meals.

Even desserts can be a healthy part of a balanced diet when prepared with moderate amounts of natural sweeteners such as fruits, maple syrup and honey and enjoyed in moderation. Remember we eat both for nourishment as well as pleasure – so enjoy!

Finally, one of the greatest benefits of eating as a family is the great opportunity for parents to model healthy eating as fun, a positive experience that kids will take with them for years to come.

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

Parents concerned about overweight should encourage children to stay physically active, and ensure they eat a sensible and varied balanced diet. While the majority of children’s hydration should come from still and sparkling water, carbonated drinks can be enjoyed in moderation as they also provide the body with fluids. For children at higher risk for obesity, reducing excess, empty calories from food or beverages and emphasizing more nutritious foods and drinks will help maintain a healthier weight.

Preparing carbonated drinks at home, such as freshly-made SodaStream drinks, is a great way for parents to have greater control over the drinks their children consume, including the type and amount of syrup added, thereby reducing sugar intake. The wide variety of flavors, available at different calorie levels allows parents to make the choice that best suits their family’s tastes and needs – whether it is reduced sugar, diet or all natural syrups, or plain sparkling water.

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

My family and I have been having so much fun experimenting with our new Soda Stream.  We have tried dozens of different concoctions but one of our favorites is what we call Orange Flavored Ginger Ale. It is sparkly and perfect according to my boys.

My boys love hopping on the counter and helping measure out the soda.  Their favorite part has to be watching the bubbles and hearing the funny noise the Soda Stream makes when the soda is ready.

Here’s a look at our family’s favorite drink.

Here is our Ginger Ale and Orange Flavor used to flavor water

Orange Flavored Ginger Ale

1 capful of Ginger Ale

1 teaspoon Orange Flavoring (my water)

Fill  your SodaStream bottle with water up to the line.  Attach bottle to Soda Steam and pull lever to fizz your water. Add a capful of Ginger Ale and a teaspoon of Orange Flavor.  Serve and enjoy!!

Here is our finished soda.  I love that it takes just minutes to prepare.  It’s so convenient to have in our kitchen!  We use it all the time.

Jenny Flake runs Picky Palate, a blog focusing on original family style recipes for even the pickiest eaters. Look for even more of her recipes in the Picky Palate Cookbook, out in September 2012!

1. Get moving: We all know how important exercise and now a lack of time is no excuse not to get yours – even several bursts of 10 minutes of activity can make a huge impact on your health just as one longer session does.

2. Increase your intake of greens and colored fruits and veggies: Leafy green vegetables are a particularly great way to get much needed vitamins, minerals, fiber, and consuming a full rainbow of colors when it comes to your other fruits and vegetables means you’re getting a full array of disease-fighting antioxidants, too.

3. Drink more: though not everyone requires 8 glasses a day, most of us suffer from slight dehydration and could use some more water, which helps eliminate mild headaches, spaciness and poor concentration.

4. And drink well: If your favorite store bought soda contains high fructose corn syrup and preservatives, you may want to consider going natural this year. Some options include SodaStream’s Natural line of syrups which comes in a variety of flavors, the Naturals Kids line which has added vitamins, too or better yet, choose simple and pure sparkling water.

5. Clean greenly: A healthier planet means a healthier you. If you rely on harsh chemicals to clean the house, you may want to consider shifting over to more eco-friendly household cleaners. In addition, make sure your plastic bottles are BPA-free or better yet, choose glass bottles.

6. Get back to nature: Studies have shown that just gazing at a picture of nature does wonders for your stress levels – so imagine what a real walk in the park can do!

7. Remember to breathe! Take a few minutes every hour to sit back and take in deep breathes which provides your brain and tissues with oxygen, de-stressing and reviving you.

8. Schedule your yearly check-up if you haven’t yet: Remember, prevention is the best medicine.

9. Have fun: There’s no better stress relief than fun and laughter, so make sure you don’t forget to have an occasional rolling belly laugh whenever possible.

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

According to a recent study, people who drink less than a few glasses daily of water may be more likely to develop high blood sugar. Check out the hydration calculator on the SodaStream website to assess your personal fluid needs and then drink up to stay hydrated and help keep blood sugar stable. http://www.sodastream.com/thenewyou/hydration/hydrationcalculator

Fun soda fact: Bubbly water first became popular as a cure-all for a variety of ailments since pharmacists used to mix “medicines” with soda water and flavorings to help them go down easier. Even today, in many parts of the world, sparkling water is infused with herbs and sipped as a healing tonic.

Falling asleep at your office desk? Poor hydration is a leading cause of daytime tiredness and can happen just by sitting in an air conditioned (or heated) office, which pulls the body’s water through the skin and lungs. Make sure you remember to drink enough throughout the day to keep your energy levels high.

Did you know that disposable plastic water and soda bottles can leach toxic bisphenol A and take hundreds of years to begin breaking down? Do your part to keep plastic and its byproducts out of the landfills and your body by sporting a BPA-free, refillable bottle you can take with you and reuse each day.

Make sure to visit Roni on Facebook for more of her great tips!

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.

Low- and no-calorie sweeteners are typically a few hundred times sweeter than table sugar, so very small portions of these need to be used to add sweetness to food and drinks. The sweet taste of such sweeteners provides few, if any, calories, making the foods and drinks that sweetened with them a good choice for those looking to reduce caloric or carbohydrates intake. Since they do not elevate blood sugar levels, Acesulfame K, Saccharin, Sucralose and Aspartame are some of the low calorie artificial sweeteners often included in “diet” foods and many foods marketed to diabetics. Such sweeteners are tested and recognized as safe by the European Food Safety Authority & the U.S. FDA.

SodaStream currently sweetens its flavors with Sucralose, Acesulfame- K, Aspartame and Cyclamate, in different combinations with each other, or combined with sugar, depending on the specific flavor range. For those who prefer natural alternatives to these sweeteners, SodaStream also offers all natural flavor essences and various syrup ranges sweetened with just cane sugar, fructose and Stevia.

One of the newest sweeteners on the market that is gaining much attention is Stevia, an all-natural sweetener derived from a plant that is native to South America and has a long history of use. Stevia is up to 200 times sweeter than sugar, but is calorie-free, so it’s a great option for those interested in no-calorie sweeteners that are also natural and it is currently in use in countries around the world. SodaStream’s new Naturals Light line of syrups will be sweetened with a combination of stevia and cane sugar.

When it comes to sweeteners, there’s a wide selection available to meet a variety of needs, whether they be natural, caloric, or low or no calorie sweeteners. Whichever sweetener you choose to satisfy your personal desire for sweet taste, remember to consume it within a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle in order to feel good about yourself.

This article is by Roni Enten, M.S.c, C.N.S., L.D.N., nutritionist. Find more at www.sodastream.com/thenewyou.