10 Healthier Christmas Candies for Kids This Holiday
The holidays are joyous, but not the healthiest. Instead, they're packed with indulgence and foods that are sky high in calories. We're not here to suck the fun—and flavor—out of your holiday menu (after all, we are candy-lovers!). However, we got a little help from Eat This, Not That and our own candy inventory to determine the candies that are lowest in calories, sugar, and fat, so you can enjoy the holidays without going over the top.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate with 70–85 percent cacao is considered to be somewhat of a health food. It includes soluble fiber, antioxidants, and the ability to lower blood pressure. The Livestrong link below showcases some of the cleanest dark chocolate bars out there, so you can choose the lowest calorie options with the most added health benefits.
Instead of using milk chocolate this holiday, swap in high cacao count dark chocolate for a healthier season. It's absolutely incredible when used in sipping chocolate or ganache.
Starlight Sugar Free Peppermints
Starlight mints are sugar-free, so they won't rot out your teeth or add to your daily calories. Plus, peppermint is a stomach-soother, mood calmer, and gives you fresh breath! You won't have to feel guilty feeding these to the kiddos this holiday or keeping your candy jars full of these mints.
If you're making anything with peppermint this holiday, use these mints! That includes crushing these up to make a peppermint candy rim for hot cocoa and cocktails or sprinkle on top of desserts.
Lindt Milk Chocolate Snowmen
Buy some Lindt chocolate snowmen to enjoy sweets this holiday without the added fat and sugar. Eat This, Not That reports that four pieces only include 220 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 20 grams of sugar—just 55 calories a piece!
Candycrate.com
Other milk chocolate goodies like Hershey's Milk Chocolate Santas and Russel Stover Caramel Santas were also on the list of the "healthier" holiday chocolates, but these were deemed the best in terms of calories, fat, and sugar content.
Bob's Candy Canes
Three Bob's candy canes only amount to 50 calories! Plus, these canes have no fat content and a measly 10 grams of sugar. Order Bob's candy canes for a lower calorie classic you can enjoy guilt-free.
If you love hanging candy canes on the tree for snacking, using them as stirrers in hot chocolate, or crushing them up to use on top of baked goods, these are the "healthiest" candy canes out there. Plus, you can enjoy more than one and still stay under 100 calories.
Reese's Peanut Butter Trees
Normally, chocolate and peanut butter would put you over the edge for fat and sugar content. However, these Reese's Peanut Butter Trees are one the lowest calorie treats you can enjoy around the holidays.
One tree contains 90 calories, five grams of fat, and eight grams of sugar—making these a great choice for parents who want to let their kids enjoy sweets, but not compromise their health. So go ahead, stuff them into stockings and fill your holiday candy jars with these chocolate peanut butter trees.
Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark
Peppermint and chocolate seem to be a trend on this low calorie Christmas candy list. Alas, here's another delicious option: Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark.
One square is about 70 calories, and contains less than five grams of fat and six grams of sugar. Enjoy your sweets this holiday while maintaining a healthier lifestyle when you bring Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark home.
Trolli Extreme Sour Frost Bites
The serving size of Trolli Extreme Sour Frost Bites is over 70 grams, which is a huge snack! Most people would probably be satisfied eating half of that, and per half serving, you'll only find 120 calories, zero grams of fat, and 22 grams of sugar.
Since these jelly bean bites come in winter colors, they're perfect calorie-friendly sweets for gingerbread houses and seasonal candy jars. They're also fantastic for decorations when building a snowman!
Gumdrops
Even though gumdrops are covered in sugar, they're quite low in fat and calories. In fact, a 35 gram serving of gumdrops only contains 21 grams of sugar, under 115 calories, and no fat.
While it would be a stretch to say gumdrops are healthy (with all the added coloring and high fructose corn syrup), there are some natural versions out there to avoid those additives. If you want to stick to a healthier holiday diet, parcel these gumdrops out into small portions and snack in moderation.
Sugar-Free Cinnamon Gummy Bears
Gummy bears are the perfect treat to satisfy a sweet tooth—and sugar-free versions are one of the best candies you can eat around the holidays because they won't add empty calories to your body.
Cinnamon itself is also a spice that reduces blood sugar levels and heart disease. While we're not sure you'll find a raw enough version of cinnamon in these gummies, it's a good piece of health information to know!
Holiday Dum Dums
Holiday Dum Dums are tiny little pops packed with flavor—but none of the added calories. In fact, two Holiday Dum Dums only have 50 calories, zero grams of fat, and 10 grams of sugar!
We love these Dum Dum holiday variety packs because they have flavors for every candy fan. Plus, you can feel good giving your kids these candies because they won't hurt their teeth and growing bodies.
Looking for more sugar-free candies this holiday? Shop on CandyStore.com to make this season delicious, but not overly indulgent.