[dragonwriter]

You're probably better off not choosing carbonated liquid candy -- especially not doing so regularly and in significant quantities -- even if the sweetener happens to be non-caloric.

And the point where you've reduced your choices to regular soda vs. diet soda, you've already failed.

[orangecat]

Along the same lines, there's no point in comparing the effectiveness of different forms of birth control because only abstinence is 100% effective.

Sometimes people want to eat and drink things because they taste good. There's nothing wrong with that, and we should be supportive of making marginal improvements rather than dismissing anything other than radical change.

[tedunangst]

Failed at what?

[marcosdumay]

Failed at having a healthy diet. (That is, if he does make that choice frequently - a one time event probably won't change anything.)

[parasubvert]

In what way is it unhealthy? Aspartame has zero calories, and decades of studies showing its safety.

Put another way, if you want to avoid sugar (which is much less healthy than aspartame), besides water, there's tea, coffee, flavoring mixes like Crystal Light, and various prepared sugar free soft drinks. Many prefer variety over water. There's little scientific basis to believe drinking any of these things are bad. Drinking a mix of these is quite a bit healthier for an adult than chugging juice or sugared drinks - unless you're explicilty trying to carb-load. Milk is a healthy alternative but debatable due to its effects on some.