Diet Soda Cake

FINALLY! Spring is forcing it's way into Atlanta. I know temperatures will be up and down and the sun will continue to fight the rain for the next month or so, but the days are finally getting a little longer and most importantly - I am wearing open-toed shoes to work today! Last night I was so excited about the warm weather, I decided I HAD to go for a run around 7pm. Well, the days aren't THAT long just yet, and I literally "ran" out of sunlight. Running alone in the dark is not one of my favorite pastimes. In fact, it scares the poo out of me. The thanks I get for trying to be healthy.

Moving along... I found this recipe on a recipe sharing site called ROP Recipe Bag and had to share my excitement. To give credit where credit is due, it was submitted to the site by a woman named Robin [in the middle of the night]. Do people not have better things to do than think about recipes at 3:13am? Regardless, I'm testing this recipe out tonight, because it intrigues me greatly. And because I don't want to run in the dark again.

Diet Soda Cake
1 box cake mix any flavor
1 can diet soda any flavor

Mix the dry cake mix with 10-12 oz of diet soda (do not use the egg or oil listed on the box).
Spray a 9x12 cake pan (or cupcake tin) with non-stick spray.
Bake according to the package directions.

* Notes from Robin: I usually tend to use Diet Sprite with white or light cake mixes and Diet Coke with the chocolate cake mixes. Diet sprite and spice cake is the bomb! 12 ounces of soda tends to make the cake very moist and 10 ounces is a little dryer. I like to use lowfat cool whip as a topping with fresh fruit. This is a Weight Watcher's recipe. It makes 12 servings @ 1 point each.
Posted by Robin at December 31, 2004 03:13 AM

Diet Drinks for a Modern Girl

I spent most of Saturday at a regatta (that's a rowing race in layman's terms) in Clemson, SC watching my boyfriend and some other friends compete. Lounging lakeside in beautiful weather while spectating at my favorite sport made for a great day. But while stopping at a local grocery store to pick up snacks on my way to the race site, I made a discovery any diet drink lover could appreciate, making the day even better. A fairly new product from Crystal Light, aptly named Crystal Light On The Go are individual packets of Crystal Light powdered mix that you pour into the average sized bottle of water (16.9 fl. oz. or 1/2 Liter), shake up and presto - instant flavored water goodness! Simply ingenius.

Seriously these things are great. Stash them in your car, bag, desk drawer, back pocket, whatever. The only thing is, they come in packages of 10, but they were fairly inexpensive. And if you're anything like me - someone who likes to save calories for good food and beer - these things are only 5 total calories, so it's a diet drinker's friend. Now if only I had invested some money in sunscreen while at the grocery store that morning, my skin would have been as pleased as my palate. Instead, I ended up spending Sunday looking as pale-pink as the Easter paraphernalia I was surrounded with. At least no one can blame me for lacking holiday spirit...

Cola Wars or Sweetener Preferences

Headline on CNN.com this morning: “Coca-Cola, Pepsi in Calorie Battle; Arch rivals Plan Salvos of New Diet Colas, Pepsi ONE and Coca-Cola Zero.”

Welcome new Coke Zero, a zero-calorie Coke cola officially launching this June, and a reformulated Pepsi One (1-calorie cola) to be available sometime this spring. Coke Zero will be sweetened with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame-potassium. Pepsi One will be sweetened with sucralose. But don’t be confused fellow diet drinking aficionados. As of this summer, the Coke Co. will have Diet Coke (as well as it’s other Diet Coke flavors – lime, vanilla, etc.) sweetened with aspartame, Coke Zero sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame-K, as well as a Diet Coke with Splenda version – all of which have negligible or no calories. Then there’s also the “mid-calorie” C2 (70 cals/12 oz. can) sweetened with a blend of aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame-K. And Pepsi-Co will have its flagship Diet Pepsi sweetened with aspartame and Pepsi One sweetened with Splenda – both with one or less calories. In addition they’ll have Pepsi Edge, their version of a mid-calorie cola (75 cals/12 oz can), sweetened with Splenda.

I know there is extreme competition between Pepsi and Coke, and that there has been for quite some time. But children, children… there’s enough room for everyone! Naysayers are busy clucking about how crowded the diet drink shelves will soon be. I on the other hand say variety is the spice of life. Everyone has different taste preferences. Not to mention, we have so many options out there for people who drink regular drinks, but not nearly as many low-calorie drinks. For me, it’s preference and convenience. But what about diabetics, or people who really need to watch their blood sugar? I think they deserve options and choices too.

I do however think it will be very interesting to see how each of the new products performs in the cutthroat world of diet drinkers’ brand loyalty. In games of winners and losers, battles can get ugly, but at least the spectators will have plenty of refreshment.

Battle of the Sexes - Diet Version

I am a firm believer that full-time jobs exist for two reasons. First, it offers a paycheck that provides a livelihood and financial support. Secondly, it makes us appreciate the time which we can afford to spend in idleness and vacation. Yes of course there are a million other less important reasons that one should appreciate a full-time job... pride in accomplishments, independence, security, being able to relate to Dilbert, blah, blah, etc, etc. But how can you truly enjoy and appreciate a vacation - the majestic sight of the ocean and beautiful coastal sunrises - unless you can compare them to the less than stellar view of your cubicle and the morning glare of a freshly booted computer screen?

So after a terrific long weekend on Hilton Head Island, I find myself back at work, sans fresh salt air and jogs on sandy beaches. However all is not lost... I can still cradle my morning diet soda, despite locale.

But in the vein of ignoring my inbox and focusing my lunch hour on fun things, I found an article worth mentioning from a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution edition. The article (also printed in the Arizona Republic) allows me to expand on the issue of men consuming "diet drinks" that I briefly mentioned in an earlier post. The article begins with the tag line, "Men get fat, too." Take that you post-modern pop culture runway model female icon.

Basically the article points out that drinking diet drinks has become more and more popular among men as they realize that creeping pounds can find them too. According to a study cited in the article, in 1994, 39 percent of men were regular buyers of diet drinks. By 2004, that number had increased to 53 percent. And apparently soft drink companies are taking notice and gearing diet soft drink brands, or at least the marketing of them, towards men. I find this truly fascinating.

For instance, Pepsi has their Diet Pepsi product, but they are gearing another product, Pepsi One toward the male crowd. Is it semantics that separates the sexes? Perhaps women are more likely to buy a low-calorie drink if it is called "Diet" and men are more likely to buy a low-calorie drink if it distinctly removes that "d" word.

An interesting point brought up by the columnist is that, "this might help change the perception of diets" among men and women. The article goes on to point out that guys who do drink "diet" drinks are the same guys we associate with the metrosexual phenomenon. To many, it's just another way that guys show concern for their aesthetic appearance. But no burping, burly, football crazed "man's man" would be caught dead drinking a "diet" beverage. No-cal, low-cal, all you want... but that "diet" seems to be a man's 4-letter word.

What's the Online Buzz

I received a comment on an earlier post... figured I could comment on the comment. Can I say comment 1 more time in the course of a sentence? Anyway, the post from "anonymous" asks:

"Does anyone know why the canned diet soda is so much better than the fountain drink?"

While I do tend to favor the taste of canned diet soda over diet drinks from a fountain, I still enjoy fountain drinks as well. I don't notice too much of a taste difference, but there is a slight one. Perhaps it's because soft drink companies use a different sweetener in their canned diet drinks vs. their fountain counterparts. Aspartame is used in most canned drinks, while a blend of sweeteners is used in most fountain varieties. Something about how the sweeteners' properties react with the storage of the different versions. Perhaps the poster prefers the taste of aspartame in their drinks vs. the taste of the other blends.

Speaking of sweeteners, I found some information on them while reading through news stories online today. The article (which included info from research firm BuzzMetrics) states:

"45 percent of all artificial-sweetener discussions among over 200,000 closely watched trend-setting consumers in online health and nutrition forums were negative in the fourth quarter of 2004. Specifically, 14 percent of discussions recommended using natural sweeteners instead; 13 percent warned of side effects; 11 percent advocated for limited intake; and seven percent complained of unpleasant taste. "

I guess I knew that the Internet wasn't the most diet drink-friendly place. Just do a search on any major engine and you can find all kinds of inaccurate info from "wactivists" who claim that drinking soft drinks or anything with no-calorie sweeteners will cause everything from multiple sclerosis to the third arm you have growing from your forehead. The amount of inaccurate and sensationalistic info out there is pretty ridiculous... not to mention an affront to the standards that journalists should hold themselves to. (But I'll spare you this rant for another time.) Although I knew there was ridiculous info out there, I had no idea it was such an overwhelming percentage.

If you search around the web for 10 minutes, you may begin to think me insane for my diet-drinking propensities. And perhaps my "hey- I just like the taste" excuse may not cut it for you. But I guess things aren't all bad for us calorie-conscious diet drink-lovers...

"Conversely, 42 percent of artificial-sweetener discussions were in favor of them in some way. Specifically, 19 percent discussed regular usage; 17 percent advocated their use in cooking; and six percent recommended them over natural sweeteners."

So there. At least I know I have comrades out in cyberspace somewhere. Now... what to do about this forehead/third arm predicament. This may present a small obstacle to my social life.

Driving a Freight Truck Has Its Perks

Just got back from lunch... but not a normal lunch where you get to sit down and chat with people and eat a nice satisfying meal. Rather, a lunch that consists of taking your car to the shop for a $25 oil change, and leaving with a $225 bill because in addition to oil, you also need 2 new tires. My isn't that nice... The annoying thing is that my car and its tires only have 16,000 miles on them.

Now I know how P. Diddy feels in that Super Bowl commercial. While I may not be broken down desert-style on my way to a glamorous awards show, trading in my car for a nice Diet Pepsi truck may be the answer. Think of the money I would save, not having to drive to a grocery store and buy diet soft drinks - I could just open the trunk instead. He definitely got the better deal in this case. Though I hear his bank account is better suited for the oil changes of freight trucks.

Although I will say, it's nice to see that we can move past the feminine stereotype surrounding diet drinks. A big time male rap exec becoming a face of diet soft drinks? I think it works. While I'm sure there are guys out there still under the impression that drinking anything with the word "diet" on it is done only by the fairer sex, it's not exactly the case anymore. I work with a few guys who only drink Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi... both of which are perfectly normal guys. I bet they like having their calorie consciousness validated by one of the wealthiest music moguls of our time. Now if only P. Diddy would contribute to our diet-drinking cause financially... hmmm.

Be safe while driving out there. I hear there are Diet Pepsi trucks everywhere.

Against the Wind

What a whirlwind weekend! Amidst birthday celebrations for my brother, lots of errands, apartment cleaning, etc. I managed to fit in a workout - a 10k race on Saturday morning. It was a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th. Basically if I did well enough, I should get a good spot in the Peachtree RR. I've been running the Peachtree ever since high school, but since I never run a qualifying race, my number comes pot luck. Inevitably this always lands me way in the back with the people who have never run more than 1 mile in their life. Grrrr. The people who think July 4th's patriotism will be enough to propell them through the streets of Atlanta for 6.2 miles without any training. Although I don't "race" the Peachtree, being stuck behind the guy whose still wearing running shoes purchased in the eighties, or the "walkers" who neglected to read the entry information ("Open to all who can RUN 6.2 miles") generally turns the race into a more drawn out and less fun affair for yours truly.

Back to the present though... the race went pretty well, even though I have hardly done any training for it. I ran a time much faster than expected, which is always nice... especially at 8am when my muscles are generally still lagging. Total time - 46:52, with an avg. mile pace of 7:32. Success! Celebration consisted of receiving an ugly race t-shirt and a caffeine-free diet soda... because it was simply too early for alcohol. But I did manage to sneak in a doughnut later, so I got away with my treat for the day.

Drink Like a Rock Star

It's a small world after all... among diet drink lovers I mean.

I made my way up to my alma mater last night for a concert put on by the UGA Student Union. Although I was headed to God's Country, a drive like that (from Atlanta to Athens) in rush-hour traffic is no small feat, so I would only do it for the worthiest of events - i.e. last night's concert. One of my favorite bands, Better Than Ezra, was playing with a few other bands in the student center, which was an interesting detail in and of itself. Note to UGA... the student center has no sense of acoustics whatsover, and is not the most ideal setting for "rocking out." But I would listen to BTE pretty much anywhere, so I still managed to have a great time listening to awesome music. Yet, I digress.

As a frequent concert goer, I have often noted that musicians on stage usually do so with a guitar, mic or drumstick in one hand, and a cold adult beverage in the other. However, this is not quite possible when putting on a show on campus in an academic building. So what drink of choice did the bassist have on stage with him instead? What drink of choice would any rock star choose? You guessed it, a diet one. So by living vicariously through my diet-drinking lifestyle, I can honestly say I drink like a rock star. As a side note, he has obviously become slimmer in the past year since the time I saw the band in New Orleans. Coincidence? Maybe. But it's more fun to think about our similarities... as I have also managed to lose about 8 pounds over the past year after I began drinking more diet drinks than full-calorie drinks. And I didn't even drink THAT much soda! Seriously... 1-2 cans a day was my max, and I didn't even drink it everyday. I was a poor college kid back then, so it's not like I could afford more anyway. Not that I don't enjoy a "regular" drink every now and then, because I definitely do. But my palate has grown quite fond of the diet varieties, and it's just easier for me to cut calories this way. Now I sound like a typical female... talking about my weight again.

Random interesting fact - I made the correlation between my change in top beverage choice and my loss of a few pounds to my mother the other day and she pointed me to this info, which she found online. (She has become as much a "newsie" as myself, constantly nosing around the internet and papers for news and info. It's a fun hobby.) I thought it worth noting for any inquiring minds out there: memo from the U.S. FDA.

So between my love of good music and diet soda, I would say the members of my favorite band and I should undoubtedly become great friends. At least enough for a guest spot in a music video, right? Ok, I'd settle for an autograph.

Pop Culture: Where Refreshment Meets Technology

It's a slow morning in the office. Not that I don't have tons to do... moreso because the vending machine is empty of Diet Coke AND Diet Dr. Pepper. What's a girl to do? Despite the unexpected snow that dusted the metro ATL this morning, and my thirsty palate, the office space beckons.

Regardless, this is the maiden voyage, the inaugural post. How to appropriately begin? I live a simple life - not in the Nicole Richie/Paris Hilton sort of way - but I try to make the most out of my time working hard and playing hard too. Transitioning to a 40 hour work week from the freedom of college life has been a little harder than I thought, but nothing I can't handle. Had I had more foresight 5 years ago, I would have purchased stock in diet drinks and might be in a position where I wouldn't even need to work full time. Besides the fact that the industry is healthy these days (pun intended), I drink so many diet drinks myself that I am probably driving stock value up with every trip to the grocery store.

The funny thing is, I am discovering I am not alone in my small obsession. While I sit at work, the opening of soft drink cans can be heard over the ambient noise of keyboards, ringing phones and printers. The red "empty" light of our company vending machine always seems to pop up next to the diet soft drink selections first. The pop-culture phenomenon permeates all reaches of life, piquing the attention of my inner sociologist. And have you ever met more diehard brand loyalists than diet soft drink consumers? I rest my case. Actually... I take my case and start a blog. Where one cultural buzzword meets another. Welcome.