The clean, bright and refreshing flavor of a grape spritzer can help begin a gradual process of re-training and is aptly suited for this task, since grape juice is naturally sweet. As an added benefit, no artificial sweeteners or chemicals need to be added, helping to eliminate these potentially unhealthful substances from the daily diet.

Over time, you'll be able to increase the amount of seltzer water (and water provided by the melting ice) and dilute the quantity of the refined sugar. Adjust balances of grape juice, honey, water and ice to your tastes initially, then reduce the sugar and grape juice as your palate becomes more accepting of less-sweetened beverages.

Eventually, try plain seltzer water with a splash of grape juice, freshly squeezed lime, lemon or grapefruit juice; the tartness and fresh flavors of these fruits provide another element of taste which can be developed to help replace sugar cravings.

While on a reducing diet, too many calories are added to the diet by sweetened beverages at the loss of valuable vitamins, minerals and proteins at a time when calories are being budgeted more wisely.