Easy Diet-Berry-Limeade Soda

I had my first cherry limeade for this summer last week during our vacation.  It was sooooo good!  I have been craving one ever since that visit to Firehouse Subs where I had one.  But, I can't bring myself to consume that many calories or that much sugar on a regular basis.  Nor do I want to pay for it when I can make my own for a cheaper price. 

I looked around online at a few different recipes.  All of them were very different.  Finally I just decided to do my own thing - keeping it simple, all natural and better for me.  I served it last night with our dinner.  The results were great!  My husband loved it and couldn't believe he was drinking a "diet" version of it with ingredients like part cranberry juice and real lime juice.  No sugar was added to it.  No high fructose corn syrup was in it either.  Just the good stuff.  

Also I wanted to use equal parts of berry and lime flavors.  If you prefer more of one or the other, just use 1/3 to every 2/3 of your preferred ingredient!  Taste it and experiment until you gain your desired outcome!

Sure I could have used fresh cherries or limes but frankly, I didn't feel like it.  I wanted it to be a quick, throw-together kind of drink that I could pull off after a long workday.  Just because you buy the canned stuff, that doesn't mean you're not gaining some nutritional value.  I bought all-natural, "real" items, like this:





Now go make your own soda and save yourself the money and extra calories too.  It's a perfect quench-your-thirst indulgence!   Below I'll tell you how you can make enough for two or a whole pitcher's worth!  :-)


Easy Diet-Berry-Limeade Soda

Ingredients:
- Crushed Ice, up to 3 cups worth for a pitcher
- Diet Lemon-Lime Soda, 2 Liter (I used all-natural Diet Sierra Mist)
- Cranberry-Cherry Juice, 64 oz. (Or just use cherry juice if you can find it.  I used the cranberry and cherry combination, 100% natural juice)
- Lime Juice, 8 oz (I used a can of "real" lime juice)




To Make Enough for Two:   Fill a tall glass (about 12 oz) with crushed ice.  Add 1/2 cup of diet lemon-lime soda.  Then add 1/2 cup of the berry juice.  Now pour in 1/4 cup of the lime juice.  Shake and stir.  Pour into two glasses.  Enjoy!





To Make A Pitcher:  Fill the bottom of your pitcher with crushed ice (about 1 and 1/2 cups worth).  Pour 12 oz of diet lemon lime soda over the ice.  Now pour 12 oz of the berry juice.  Add in 1/2 cup of lime juice.  Stir.  Then repeat each layer again using the same measurements- the 1 and 1/2 cups of crushed ice, 12 oz of diet lemon-lime soda followed by the 12 oz of berry juice.  Stir well.   Now you have enough to share with friends or last for two weeks.  Enjoy! 

This is a happy hour drink that you can feel good about!  Enjoy and think of me when you sip this soda!