6 Crave-Worthy Cookie Alternatives You Need To Try
Who still feels like they’re detoxing from the sugar-laden food fest that is the holiday season? We definitely have our hands raised on this one. And man is weaning ourselves off the sweet stuff a painful challenge. But there are several foods out there that can help us curb even our strongest sugar cravings without breaking the nutritional bank. So if you’re on the hunt for healthy (eh, healthier) replacements for your favorite holiday cookies and treats, look no further than the options below.
1. Nonni’s Originali Biscotti
These classic, crispy biscuits pair perfectly with a morning cup of coffee or an after-dinner espresso. Each individually wrapped biscotti cookie contains only 90 calories and 7 grams of sugar, so you can get your fix without throwing off the rest of your dietary game plan. Italian tradition FTW.
2. Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie
If you haven’t tried one of these guys yet, it’s time to get with the trends. The Complete Cookie is loaded with healthy protein and fiber, excludes all soy, eggs and dairy for the allergy-prone folks, is both vegan and kosher, and nixes all high fructose corn syrup, sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. The result is a dense (and delicious) 2-ounce, 200-calorie cookie that makes 12 grams of sugar well worth the nutritional boost it provides.
3. Nature’s Bakery Stone Ground Whole Wheat Fig Bars
Fig Newtons have nothin’ on these babies. Each of these individually wrapped fig bars is packed with whole grains and skips all artificial coloring, artificial flavor, high fructose corn syrup, soy and dairy. The natural sweetness of the fig filling gives this treat its 10 grams of sugar, and each bar has only 110 calories. Sugar craving officially crushed.
4. Kashi Soft-Baked Cookies
Each Kashi cookie starts with a blend of seven whole grains, so you know you’re already faring better than with an iced sugar cookie. We’re partial to the oatmeal dark chocolate variety, which offers up 12 grams of whole grains and 4 grams of fiber per cookie — the keys to feeling full and satiated after one rather than three (or four). Not to mention, despite their larger size, they only have 130 calories and 8 grams of sugar.
5. KIND Bars
If you desperately need some chocolate drizzle in your life, KIND can come to your rescue. A bunch of the bar options have a decadent dark chocolate coating on the bottom while keeping the sugar content at 5 grams or less and the calorie content right around the 200 mark. (It’s honestly a miracle.) And with so many flavor combinations to choose from, your taste buds will never be bored.
6. belVita Breakfast Biscuits
Okay, they’re called breakfast biscuits, but like the biscotti, you can enjoy them anytime your sweet tooth strikes. We love the soft-baked blueberry almond variety the best. They’re reminiscent of a tasty scone, but contain only 200 calories and 11 grams of sugar. Plus, they have 10 grams of protein, which will keep you full and satisfied much longer than that holiday scone will.