And, if your team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl this year, the game time experience has much more to offer than just football. The half-time performance featuring Madonna with Nicky Minaj and MIA are sure to provide musical entertainment for all. And of course, we’re all excited to see what the infamous Super Bowl commercials –ranging from laugh-out-loud funny to heartwarming – have in store this year.

Whatever your favorite part of the Super Bowl game day may be, we hope you’ll remember to stock up on the essentials: refreshing non-alcoholic beverages for the whole family. This year, as in years past, our member companies are delivering choices. From full-calorie to no- and low-calorie beverages, ranging in portion sizes and taste, there is something for everyone.

At the time, Dr. Richard Besser, ABC News Medical Correspondent, called the study “one of the worst studies I’ve seen capturing headlines in a long time. It’s bad because of the science.”

Despite the onslaught of criticisms within the scientific community, the study has now been published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, just a week before the 2012 International Stroke conference.

Important note for our readers:  There is still no scientific evidence that shows that diet soda consumption causes increased risk of vascular events or stroke.

This observational study only “suggests a potential association” between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular issues, yet its authors (or some of the media coverage) would lead you to believe otherwise. ..

According to American Stroke Association (ASA) spokesperson Dr. Larry Goldstein, the study is “an observational study and not a prospective randomized trial…This is an association and not yet a proven casual relationship.”

As Dr. Richard Besser said when this was first presented: “This study has major flaws and should not change anyone’s diet soda consumption.”

Diet soft drinks are safe and still a useful tool for weight management and weight loss.  With our member companies producing a wide variety of beverages in a range of calorie options, consumers can choose the beverage that’s right for them.

That snack you’re holding is a toxic substance. That’s right, your Valentine’s Day candy is no longer something you can be trusted to consume without the oversight of the Snack Police.

An article entitled “The toxic truth about sugar” was published in the February issue of the journal Nature, advocating more government imposed regulation at all levels to keep us from eating sugar.

We’re not talking about harmless warning labels that remind you not to walk into a bathtub full of water while holding a hair dryer plugged into an electric socket. That’s just a lawyers being lawyers. No, the frightening approach to controlling personal behavior through government imposed regulation advocated in Nature is banning people under the age of 17 from purchasing soda; banning TV ads for soda; more taxes; even zoning ordinances to limit availability of soda in certain neighborhoods.

We believe providing more options – not taking them away—is a better solution to help parents and individuals choose beverages that are right for them and their families.  The non-alcoholic beverage industry is a leader in innovation, developing new products that provide consumers with an ever-increasing selection of low- and no-calorie beverage choices. Our soft drinks range from 150 calories per 12 ounce can to 10 calories to zero calories.

The truth is, there’s a drink and portion size for every occasion and lifestyle. We hope you enjoy your freedom to choose – and decide what’s best for you.

Well imagine having only three networks to watch and a set of rabbit ears for reception; or shouting instructions to your dad out the window while he crawled around on the roof to adjust the TV antennae. That was the extent of television entertainment 30 years ago.

Today, variety is something we’ve come to expect. Perhaps you’re a cupcake fanatic with a competitive streak who performs best under pressure. There’s a show for you.  Or maybe watching city slickers noodle for catfish in the muddy waters of Oklahoma is more your genre. There’s a show for you too.

Variety of entertainment, just as with food and beverages, gives life flavor. Here at Sip & Savor, we’re enjoying more variety in the beverages our member companies produce than ever before. Flavored waters, sports drinks, diet sodas, energy drinks, 100 percent juices and teas provide variety and options for maximum enjoyment to fit your lifestyle.  So, sip away and celebrate the variety!

While you are reading through our posts here, and on Facebook and Twitter, make sure that you are staying hydrated.  After all, even if your resolution for change isn’t related to increasing physical activity, we know that hydration is essential for good health.

So, stay motivated!  We’ll be here, waiting to hear about how your new pursuits are going.  Let us know!

Whether or not your favorite team made it to the Super Bowl this year, there is something for everyone at “watch” parties around the country: a good appetizer, spending time with family and friends, the much anticipated Half-Time performance by Madonna and – of course – the commercials. For sneak-peeks and a look back, Ad Age and Hulu have paired up to bring you the best Super Bowl ads ever.

So, as the last weekend before the Super Bowl is upon us, be sure to stock up on your favorite non-alcoholic beverages for the game. With such a wide range of sizes and calorie counts – from diet and regular soft drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas to bottled and flavored waters – our member companies provide something for everyone that’s sure to keep them satisfied on the big day.

We hope you try to do your best to recycle no matter where you are – at home, on-the-go or at the office.  So find out what you can do to make recycling a part of your life, if it isn’t already. Find out if your community has a curbside recycling program.  A good place to start is by contacting your local department of recycling, transportation or sanitation.  Some cities also have public space recycling bins available on streets, in parks and in other locations to help you out when you’re on the move. And many office buildings have recycling requirements.  If your office doesn’t, try checking out Earth911.com for great tips on how to create a workplace recycling program.  Earth911.com also has a nifty tool to help you find out “what” you can recycle “where” by entering your location to find a recycling center.

Wherever you may be, we encourage you to “Think Inside the Bin.” And if you’d like to learn more about some examples of ABA member companies’ efforts to support and promote recycling in their businesses and among consumers, check out our news release from last year’s America Recycles Day.

We hope you find time to “refresh” – but when you do, please be sure to recycle.

The new school nutrition standards place restrictions on calories and will increase offerings of fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, while reducing saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.  While the changes will affect meals served to millions of children in school cafeterias across America only, we know that standards for competitive foods sold in schools are forthcoming as well.  This will include foods and beverages sold in vending machines.

If you’ve been a long-time reader of Sip & Savor, then you know that the health of our nation’s young people is something our industry is committed to and providing them nutritious food and beverage options in schools is something we all support. To that end, in early 2010 we announced that we had successfully implemented national School Beverage Guidelines that removed full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and replaced them with more low-calorie, smaller-portion options.  The result:  a dramatic 88 percent reduction in beverage calories shipped to schools.  In fact, the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010” points to our national School Beverage Guidelines as a set of guidelines to be considered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as it drafts new rules.   After all, the School Beverage Guidelines strike the right balance, are supported by parents and are a national standard already in place and working.

So, the next time you walk down the beverage aisle in your local grocery store or go to grab your next drink from the cooler in the corner store, take a look at the front of our products.  We hope you’ll use this information to make the choice that’s right for you.

Tweet us, or post a picture on Facebook when you spot the new labels!

55 years later, the Frisbee is still a beloved toy across all ages and demographics. And, Frisbee playing is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and stay physically active. With games such as Frisbee Golf, Ultimate Frisbee and Freestyle Frisbee it’s the perfect sport to enjoy with a friend, a whole group of friends or even your dog!