Crystal Light - On The Go - Iced Tea Review

OK, so it isn't the most healthy choice, but in a world of multitudinous snacking choices, it is a lesser evil.   On a huge number of levels, soda is not good for you, either with or without sugar.  There are those out there who want us to stop drinking fruit juices because it has too much sugar-even if it is 100% natural with no added sugars.  So that leaves water, which is a good thing, and I drink plenty of it-plain and straight up, but when I have a taste for one of the other forbidden items, I do enjoy the variety of the vitamin waters...At a $1 to $2 per bottle, my treats were kind of pricey and I was experiencing alot of budget angst....enter the Crystal Light - On the Go - flavor packets....I agree that they are a bit too strong when made according to the package directions.  I tend to split a pack between two water bottles, or use my giant 32 oz sports bottle and only use one packet.  I am still getting the modest amount of vitamin and electrolyte enrichment without the super sweet, pucker your mouth reactions.  My kids like them, and I consider it a better option than Kool-Aid in terms of not kicking up the added sugars.   I can get a case of bottled water, 24-30 bottles for about $4 on sale-and if I am using the packets at the rate of one packet per two bottles, then it really isn't very costly at all compared to other drink options.   It is a convenient thing to throw in the picnic hamper, take to the ball game, keep in the purse-and certainly cheaper than buying refreshments at public venues.  The Citrus flavors are a bit tinny tasting and definitely more artificial tasting than the berry options.  Only fair to warn everyone that if you put the mix in first and then the liquid, it kind of gets gummy on the bottom and it is hard to get it to all disolve right away-much better to put liquid in first and add the powder.  It will stain things if you get it on clothing, and the red varieties will stain skin as well.  Oxy will take the stain out with a bit of presoak, and lemon juice will get it off skin quite nicely.  The cost per serving is comparable with traditional Kool-Aid once you factor in purchasing the sugar to go with the drink mix, so I consider it a decent alternative.  And there is no more fighting in the house over what flavor to make-I purchased a container of each person's favorite and everyone can have their favs without my fridge being full of half empty pitchers.  For those of us trying to be more green, you can get a permanent sports bottle, buy your bottled water in the gallon or multi-gallon containers, and mix it up.  It is great for lunch boxes, and doesn't take up the space of a juice box or pouch...in fact, it mixes pretty well in a glass with a spoon, and for kids the serving size is pre-measured.   The likelihood of drink mix all over the counter is minimized, and anything the kids can do to see to their own snack needs is a help.   Overall, while it isn't a perfect solution, I like this stuff, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others because of its  versatility, convenience, lack of mess, and choices in flavor.  I really liked the cherry/pomegranite, and was kind of sorry when I ran out of my box before grocery day...had to snitch some lemonade from the kids...