It’s almost Halloween (I cannot believe how fast this month went by), which means you might come face-to-face with a few too many bowls of candy lurking on coworkers’ desks or even right in your very own home thanks to a night of trick-or-treating with your kids. In honor of the holiday, here are 5 healthier Halloween candy swaps for you (and your little ones)…
1) Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, and on their own can be a wholesome treat, but Reese’s are unfortunately filled with sugar and many other ingredients that can actually be harmful to your health! For a Jenny Approved alternative, I prefer Lakanto Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (code JENNY15 for a discount) sweetened with monk fruit or Evolved Almond Butter Cups also sweetened with monk fruit and made with all organic, simple ingredients. Or you can make your own homemade version following the recipe I posted on Instagram, which is equally delicious and much more nutritious.
2) Sour Patch
Sour Patch Kids are loaded with sugar (31g in a single serving) from 3 different sources including corn syrup along with a host of artificial colors and flavors. If you or your kids are fans of gummy candies like Sour Patch, I recommend trying out Smart Sweet’s gummy candies for low sugar swaps for your favorite classics like Sour Patch Kids (and watermelon), Swedish Fish, Gummy Bears and Peach Rings. You can buy a mixed pack on Amazon here.
3) M&Ms
Is it really Halloween without a few bags of M&Ms? Unfortunately, M&Ms are basically mini ultra-processed sugar bombs with both artificial flavors and colors. If you’re following (or trying to follow) a low sugar Lean & Clean diet, then you might want to skip this treat and opt for something with less sugar and artificial additives like this sugar-free option from Lily’s. As I am a big fan of Peanut M&Ms, my personal favorite swap is Lakanto’s Chocolate Covered Peanuts sweetened with monk fruit. You get the same satisfying crunch and salty sweet combo without all of the junk.
4) Snickers
Another chocolate and peanut butter favorite, Snickers are full of inflammatory ingredients like corn syrup, artificial flavors and loads of sugar. A single Snickers bar has almost 30g of sugar! I prefer a cleaner option like these Unreal Caramel Peanut Nougat Bars made with organic, simple ingredients. Whilst these do contain sugar, one bar contains only 6g, making it a much better choice. Or even better, make a “Snickers” Smoothie to curb your craving while loading up on nutrients like collagen, cauliflower (you can’t taste it) and cacao powder. The addition of Equip Protein Powder (code JENNIFERH for a discount) makes it a satisfying and filling option for breakfast or a midday treat.
5) For The Grown Ups
Not into the kids’ candy? My personal favorite treat when I am craving a healthier indulgence is a few squares of dark chocolate. Hu Kitchen’s Hu Bar is made with high quality organic ingredients and minimally sweetened with coconut sugar. My personal favorite flavor is the Almond Crunch (I love that it has a touch of sea salt). Evolved has some delicious nut butter filled chocolate bars, and their Keto versions contain no added sugar and are sweetened with monk fruit – they are the perfect “indulgence” without having to go too far off track with your diet.