Allan Borushek, dietitian and author of The CalorieKing Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter, offers these helpful tips for managing soda consumption:

• Check labels carefully for high-fructose corn syrup levels and only drink fruit juices and other flavored drinks in moderate amounts.
  
  
• Treat soda as a “party food” to be drunk occasionally, not on an everyday basis in place of water.
  
  
• Soda fountains that allow unlimited quantities of soda to be consumed can contribute calories equivalent to eating a whole meal, particularly when cup sizes are extra large. Children need to be supervised by parents to prevent excessive consumption.
  
  
• Don't be tempted to “super size” or “up size” fast-food meals – the savings in dollars can mean double the calories!
  
  
• Buy small-sized cans, cups or bottles of soda or fruit juice, not large sizes. The larger the bottle size, the more that is drunk at one time.
  
  
• Choose diet soda or plain water as a drink.
  
  
• Encourage your school to review any existing policy that allows vending machines for soda (and high-fat snacks) to be installed.
  
  
• Promote good dental health by avoiding soda and sugary drinks where possible. When you do have one of these drinks, drink it through a straw to minimize the impact on your teeth.