On Thursday, October 9, 2014 Coachella Unincorporated staff pledged to give up sugary drinks for one week. As part of their Rethink Your Drink initiative, the Regional Access Project Foundation encourages all Coachella Valley residents to choose water for themselves and their families. Photo: AMBER AMAYA/ Coachella Uninc.
Post 1 October 9, 2014
STAFF / Coachella Uninc.
Coachella — “In Riverside County, 42 percent of ninth graders are overweight, yet almost half (47 percent) of high-school-aged (12-17) students report drinking at least one soda or other sugar-sweetened beverage per day. Soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the largest sources of added sugar in the American diet, and increasing access to water in place of sugary beverages can help reduce obesity.” – RAP Foundation
For one week, we pledge to cut out all sugary beverages because we want healthy lifestyles for ourselves and for our community.
Do you think we can do it? Will you join us?
Check back each morning to read blog posts from Coachella Unincorporated student reporters, staff members and from the community.
Johnny Flores / Student Reporter
Today was officially my last day of all sugary beverages for an entire week. I don’t think I’m much of a sugary drink person. I’ll drink the occasional soda and juice, but the majority of the time I opt for water. With that being said, my last day went out with a bang. Amber so kindly treated us to Starbucks for our editorial meeting, and the inner hipster in me opted for the limited edition Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. I hadn’t yet had one, and my last pumpkin spice came in November of last year after Black Friday. Boy was it delicious. The combination of pumpkin, vanilla and various spices brings the elusive Starbucks beverage to life. It is truly the pinnacle of coffees. Sadly this was my last sugary beverage for a week. Hopefully, I can restrain myself from buying another pumpkin spice before the week is over — until then, water it is.
Maria Garcia / Student Reporter
After getting home, I was actually kind of thirsty. When I looked inside my refrigerator, all I really saw was juice and Vitamin Waters. I was really thirsty, and I really just wanted something to drink. But as I look further in the refrigerator, I saw two lonely water bottles. Just then, in a way, I was extremely relieved and well, it was fine for that time. I can’t say I’m too excited, though.
Amber Amaya / Youth Media Coordinator
Today, I pledged to not drink sugary beverages for one week. I don’t drink soda, and I typically stay away from juices. But anyone who really knows me, knows my weakness is coffee. This is my achilles heel. I’ll have to be extra careful this week to make sure no sugar sneaks into my coffee. But I think I’ll be alright since an Americano (water and espresso) has zero grams of sugar in it. I did have a Vanilla Latte from Starbucks today, but that was before we made the zero-sugar pledge; it was my last sugary drink. Looking back, I wish I would have chosen my last drink as wisely as Johnny did. He sat in our editorial office, slowly sipping his Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, trying to hold on to the last bit of pumpkiny-goodness his Frappuccino could give him.
(Data and research provided by the Regional Access Project Foundation)
Editor’s Note: This blog is part of a series on the Rethink Your Drink initiative supported by the Regional Access Project Foundation.
