10 Healthier Candy Swaps

Easter was less than a month ago, but we are still feeling the “come down” from the bunny induced-splurging. Why does it feel like I just finally got the Valentine’s candy out of site then turn around and the stuff reappears in the form of the next holiday. Can anyone else relate? There really is nothing better than holidays with young children. The excitement and anticipation just radiate out to the rest of the family. However, as Lyla gets older, we are noticing how blatantly obvious it is that what she eats affects her temperament. Sugar has never caused too much of an issue when consumed in moderate amounts. But my already slightly moody four-year-old took on a villain alter ego in the form of an all-out meltdown one afternoon after eating half of a Skittles-filled Easter egg. This is not an exaggeration, folks. It was enough to make this mama want to shove ol’ Peter Cotton Tail right off his Bunny Trail. Now here’s the thing. My kids are not particularly used to artificial coloring. Yes, they’ve had a grocery store cookie with the fake frosting and yes, they’ve had cheddar crackers with the weird cheese-ish flavor. But all in all, we avoid the “fruity” and colorful kid “foods” that are heavily laden with dangerous coloring. If I had raised my girls on traditional “kid food”, maybe the Skittles wouldn’t have caused such a dramatic personality change….because we’d just be living in the constant personality disfunction that the chemicals create, but that’s a conversation for a different post.

Kids like candy. It is what it is. My goal as a parent is not to deprive my children from every piece of junk floating around the grocery store aisles. But when you see that something they have consumed literally causes a meltdown which then causes a strained relationship between us and them, can you really ignore it? The correlation is not in my head. There have been numerous studies on how these artificial food dyes cause behavioral issues in children. It’s worth a Google. As a parent, it can feel like you’re going up against an army to protect your kids from this. And you really are……an army of strategic marketing and conditioning that all holidays must be laden with “fun” treats. So, what’s a good-intending mama to do? Vote with her dollars. There are companies out there making better options, they just don’t have the microphone, so you likely have never heard of them. Homemade is still my favorite, but until I perfect my Everlasting Gobstopper machine, here are some easy swaps you can make.

Unreal Chocolate Gems. How do M&Ms work their way into everything? Sundaes, cookies, trail mix. Somehow this drop o’ colorful cocoa has enveloped itself into all things kid-dom. Unreal makes a great alternate option that tastes amazing and uses no artificial dyes in their coloring. They also come in peanut.

Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups….or my homemade recipe here. Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my most favorite combinations which is why this is literally the only candy I’ve ever attempted to make from scratch. It’s totally worth it by the way, because you control the girth of that peanut butter center. However, Justin’s version are great for a quick grab. They also have an almond butter option!

Yum Earth Lollipops. Lyla gets a “pop” each week after dance handed out by her teacher. They are the old school small suckers that I also got after dance class when I was her age over 30 years ago….quiet sobs. While I don’t love this weekly ritual, I don’t fuss over it. The key here is moderation. I balance the bad by having these organic pops in the pantry. If you can find a different version without “natural flavor”, then all the better!!

Yum Earth Giggles. I hope to never repeat the great Skittles meltdown of 2022. These make a great alternative.

Yum Earth Gummies. Stick to a brand of gummies that are organic and also do not use any of the “# dyes” in their ingredients.

Yum Earth Fruity Chews. I ate Starbursts as a kid like they were going out of style. Now the idea of having to pick something sweet out of my sensitive teeth holds about the same appeal as a root canal. Love that there is a healthier option available for when the girls start wanting such things.

Hershey’s Organic. If you are loyal to the brand, you’ll be pleased to know that they have recently released an organic version! Notice that the organic bar doesn’t include “natural flavor” in the ingredients. Natural flavor is a blanket label that basically translates to “who the hell knows what we flavored this with?”.

Surf Sweets Jelly Beans. Ahhh the innocent little jelly bean. AKA synthetic coloring in a 100 different varieties for your kids’ emotional disruption pleasure. Vote with your dollars, mama. Get the good stuff.

Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars. Swaps don’t have to be for the kids. Indulge in a less…..indulgent version of your favorite candy bar.

Lake Champlain Chocolate Bunny. I am a sucker for putting cute animal shaped chocolates in the girls’ Easter baskets. Love this organic option!

In closing, when indulging your candy monster, just try to be aware of where the sugar is coming from (avoid corn syrup and palm oil if possible), how the color is added, and teaching your kids about moderation versus deprivation. Organic is best in my opinion, but you still must be mindful of the ingredients. I also spent many years on a very tight budget, and I get that organic is just not always feasible. Homemade will always be my first choice and is soooo much cheaper than trying to buy the higher end options. Ease your kids and yourself into these swaps and slowly phase out the junk. You got this, mama!

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