Get your kid to give up soft drinks

Here's a trick to appease that coca-cola or sweetdrink-loving young hankerer. When your child asks you for some "coke", sneak some PLAIN WATER into the coke...not too much to be obvious, but definitely more than just a splash. This will mitigate the carbonation (which is 90% of plain coke's appeal). Also serve the 'coke' at room temperature. When you give them the coke, enjoy saying, "Doesn't that taste bad? You know it's also bad for you". They won't like the taste anyway and most likely will never go back for the 'black juice' (just make sure they don't catch your diluting-sabotage).

Have a coke and a smile!