If you're looking for healthy treats to satisfy your sweet tooth, I have a few supermarket picks that meet my mark! What do I look for? I'm generally looking for simple, nutrition positive ingredients, with less added sugar than you might find in sweets. That means choosing something that has whole grains, like quinoa or brown rice, or real, dried fruit, which adds sweetness on its own. There are times when a more luxurious splurge is truly worth it, but these healthier treats will satisfy your sweet tooth for those in-between days when you're trying to keep things light and healthy.
I was skeptical that a treat that’s more fruit than chocolate would taste so rich and satisfying, but one bite proved me wrong. Each bag has a single serving, making this an ideal choice if you need a little help controlling portion sizes (and really, who doesn’t?!). Plus, I have to love a label with such simple ingredients! Choose from one of seven varieties, or sample them all (on different days, please!)
Nutrition stats to love: 150 calories, 4 g fiber (based on Apple + Pineapple Chocolate version)
I first tasted these at a trade show this summer and I recently refilled my stock at Whole Foods, where I also convinced two other shoppers to put them in their carts. The quinoa matches crispy rice in texture, so these nibbles are crunchy and chocolatey. Though the bag says it provides two servings, I think you could make it last longer. And if you don’t, that’s okay, since this is a treat that keeps things light. I love the dark chocolate versions, and especially the dark chocolate + blueberry flavor. It has a tad more sugar, but that’s from the dried blueberries, and either way, it’s really reasonable for a treat!
Nutrition stats to love: 120 calories, 2 g fiber, 8 g sugar (based on the Dark Chocolate + Blueberry variety)
True story: My son and I were talking recently about how much these bars taste like cookies, so it occurred to me that if you’re looking for a healthy treat to satisfy your sweet tooth, these could be a good way to go! I love peanut butter, but his favorite is Cashew Cookie. This brand uses very few ingredients, which is another thing I love about it, and most of the sugar comes from dates (though in my favorite version, the chocolate chips provide a little bit of added sugar). Since these bars provide less protein than other bars, I usually don’t recommend them after a tough workout, when you need more protein to recover, but you could have one if you’re going a long stretch between lunch and dinner, or after dinner instead of a cookie or two. Choose from lots of delicious cookie-flavored options.
Nutrition stats to love: 220 calories, 6 g protein, 3 g fiber (based on Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)
If you like chocolate-covered almonds, this is the brand I recommend! You get all of the chocolatey flavor and almond crunch with less sugar than competing brands. This is one of my son’s favorite study snacks, and I’m constantly replenishing our supply! Available in three flavors.
Nutrition stats to love: 180 calories, 5 g fiber, 7 g protein, 6 g sugar (based on the dark chocolate cocoa flavor)
I recently stumbled across this healthy treat at a trade show and it was love at first bite. I look for treats with more wholesome ingredients and this one meets my mark. Made with brown rice, each bar has just under two teaspoons of sugar, which isn’t bad for a treat. Plus, these treats contain some vegetable extracts, which, while no substitute for real veggies, do provide meaningful amounts of several key vitamins. But don’t worry! They taste great. Available in two tasty flavors.
Nutrition stats to love: 80 calories, 7 g sugar
Sejovia sent me some cookies to try and I can't say I was sad about that! Truth be told, we gobbled them up! The simple ingredients include coconut and cashews, along with some natural sugar. They're vegan, gluten free, organic, and are just plain tasty! There are five flavors to crush your cookie cravings and while they're all amazing, the lemon pie was the winner in my house. They also come in a thin version that's light and crispy and also available in multiple flavors.
Nutrition stats to love: 130 calories, 6 g sugar