It's a necessary and wonderful choice you made. We fail to pay attention to our bodies a lot of times. Until it weakens and fails that we do, mostly. Thankfully,it didn't get to that point for you. I've made efforts to stay away from soda too.
I like how you extended it to your children,knowing well the effects. We often excuse them to some things because we feel they are children. But the earlier the better, and this is when habits are formed.