Some meters (hey guys, which ones of you have one?) will actually read a soda like blood. I always take a sip before I eat anything. Sometimes, saltier food will mask the aftertaste, but if I haven't eaten anything, I can always tell, even with the ones that are supposed to be "just like" the fully leaded kind. One sip won't do much to my BG, so if I think it's leaded, I can send it back.
Most of the time, I drink water with my meals, except Mexican. I've got to have a Coke with Mexican food.
I'm sure some of the other folks here will have better, more reliable advice for you.
