Homemade soda recipes

So the hubby and I are trying to lose weight by eating healthier options. He is having a hard time adjusting to drinking only water even if it has fresh squeezed juice added to it. He likes his soda, and we have been looking for some healthier lower sugar options. We do make an italian soda using soda water or some type of sparkling water that doesn't have sugar or sodium added to it. Then add sugar free flavored syrup to it, and that is a quick easy refreshing drink.

I also found the following recipes for make your own soda. Have any of you ever tried making soda yourself?? How did it turn out? Was it easy, hard??? any recipes to share?

Almost 'Coke'

List of Ingredients

2 T Sugar
1 t Vanilla
1/4 t Cinnamon
1 t Bottled Lime Juice
1 C Club Soda

Recipe

Mix well and add lots of ice.
This will look different than regular cola, but tastes similar.
You can vary the lime juice and sugar amounts to suit your taste.
Makes 1 Cup

Fresh Ginger Ale Recipe

Yield: 12 Servings

2 c Coarsely chopped, peeled Fresh ginger
3 Strips lemon peel, pith removed
1 1/2 c Sugar
3 Quarts chilled club soda
Ice cubes
Put ginger, lemon peel, and 4 cups of water into a 4quart pan. Bring to the boil, and continue boiling, without lid, for about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 cups sugar and boil for about 15 more minutes. Liquid should have reduced to about 3 cups. Pour through a wire seive and discard the peel and ginger. Cool the syrup, cover and chill for at least an hour.

To serve, pour 1/4 cup of the syrup into a tall glass and add 1 cup of the club soda. Add ice and more soft drink syrup if needed.

Al's Root Beer

Yield: 1 Batch

1 ts Dry yeast
1/2 c ;Water, warm
2 c Sugar, granulated
1 qt ;Water, hot
4 ts Rootbeer extract
Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Dissolve sugar in 1 quart hot water. Mix together dissolved yeast, sugar and root beer extract in gallon jar. Fill jar with warm water and stir until all ingredients are well combined. Cover jar. Set in warm sun for four hours. It will be ready to drink the next day. Chill soft drink before serving.