By By Stephanie Denham / editor’s assistant
June 6, 2004
I have not jumped onto this country's latest bandwagon, fad, craze or whatever else you wish to call the "low carb thing." I am amazed at how everyone in this country is always willing to try anything and embrace it.
Of course we all want to have the bodies of Halle Barry or whoever is the flavor of the month in Hollywood and who is being pushed onto us by the media moguls.
This week I was given a challenge by Buddy Bynum, the editor at The Meridian Star, my boss, when Coca-Cola sent samples of their newest product, Coca-Cola C2. This is Coke's newest product, introduced as having half the carbs, sugar and calories. He told me to try it and then write about what I thought.
I have to say this up front, I am a Coke girl, to be exact, a Diet Coke girl. I am not a Pepsi drinker, but have nothing against anyone who is. I just prefer Coke.
I went into the assignment skeptical of Coke C2. I had visions of "New Coke" and was thinking, "Oh, no, not again!" But I thought I might as well try it since I did not have to put out any money and will not feel like it is wasted if I did not like it.
I have tried the recent new Coke products and, quite frankly, thought Lemon Coke tasted like Pledge smells and that Vanilla Coke is the same as a Cream Soda; so, I was not really expecting much from Coca-Cola C2.
I took the sample home and put it into the refrigerator so it would be cold, the only way to drink Coke. I know people in Europe drink their soft drinks at room temperature and I have done that occasionally, too. But I am not in Europe, so cold Coke is the best way to go. The next morning I took the sample out and brought it with me to work. I now can say I have had my first Coca-Cola C2!
I have to admit I don't understand this country's craze for low carb food and drinks. I remember a few years ago when carbs were being pushed as part of a healthy diet and red meat was the enemy. It was pasta and fish and chicken that were going to make us lose weight and be healthy, not red meat. I have to wonder if the beef producers are not really behind this low carb thing. Maybe not. In my case and in most everyone else's if they were truly honest, the only thing that will make a person lose weight is to eat less and exercise more.
Pure and simple. Not very exciting still the truth
My true assessment of Coke C2 … drum roll, please … I liked it.
It is not as sweet as the original Coca-Cola, but was sweeter than Diet Coke. If it was a movie and I was a movie critic I would give it a thumbs up.
Coca-Cola is introducing C2 in a big media blitz and it will be available in stores this week. If you are a Coke drinker and are not a Diet Coke fan, but are not crazy about all the sugar in regular Coke, then I think Coca-Cola C2 is for you.
So when you fire up your barbecue grills on the Fourth of July to cook up your latest low carb solution and eat your red meat, have a C2 with it and feel even thinner.
Stephanie Denham is an editorial assistant at The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3303, or e-mail sdenham@themeridianstar.com.