I’m a kid who grew up with an allergy to refined sugar. It’s exactly what you think it means. I’m that kid who grew up not being able to eat desserts or even really sweet fruits like lychee. Aside from the obvious downside of not being able to indulge a sweet tooth, it does have a silver lining: Eating healthy is not hard for me at all since it’s all I’ve ever known!
However, let’s be real. Looking at other people savor a decadent scoop of ice cream and knowing that I can’t have any is difficult, so that is when a sugar-free snack comes in handy. Most people don’t have a sugar allergy, but consuming too much refined sugar is terrible for our health.
This is a list of snacks that I turn to when I want a little pick-me-up. So, swap out some of your kids’ sugar-loaded cookies and cakes for a few of these healthier options.
1. CHOCODATE
This is a recent discovery of mine, and ever since I found out, I have been hooked. It is a date covered in chocolate with an almond on the inside. The brand offers quite a few flavors, ranging from sugar-free (the one I would go for) to all sorts of dark and white chocolate. If you are vegan, there are also vegan flavors as well: dark chocolate, coconut … you name it. CHOCODATE’s products can be found in some supermarkets or perhaps in online shops.
Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.
2. Chocday
We are still talking about chocolate, and this is my go-to option for sugar-free chocolate. All of the brand’s products are sugar-free, so there’s a wide range of flavors to choose from. My favorite has been their oat milk coffee-flavored chocolate, which also happens to be vegan as well. There are also options for dark chocolate, classic milk chocolate, and even limited edition flavors (currently the limited edition flavor is cheese-filled chocolate, which, frankly, I have not tried yet). You can find Chocday’s products in supermarkets and grocery stores.
Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.
3. Freshhippo’s date and walnut pie
Like CHOCODATE, this is also a recent discovery. What the name suggested was nothing like what was in the packet, though. These are small pieces of walnuts sandwiched between two layers of mashed dates. However, the taste was surprisingly delicious, with the sweetness of the dates combined with the crispy walnuts creating a pleasant texture, so it is a good substitute for sweets. You can get this snack on Freshhippo’s online store.
Here is a QR code for the product on Freshhippo.
4. Nature Valley’s granola bars
I guess you can’t go wrong with a good old classic granola bar, right? The brand offers plenty of flavors, ranging from honey to peanut butter to cinnamon, but my all-time favorite is dark chocolate. Yes, it does have a little bit of sugar, but I do not have any allergic reactions after eating it, so I guess it is agreeing with my system. Nature Valley’s products can be found in most supermarkets and grocery stores.
Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.
5. FUNYE fried fava beans
This snack is what I reach for when I want a savory treat. Even though the beans can be a bit oily, the burst of flavor and the crispiness make it worth the extra calories. I would suggest grabbing a handful and putting it on a plate before eating, because it’s hard to stop once you’ve had a taste, and you might find yourself finishing the entire bag in one sitting. FUNYE also has sunflower seeds and other snacks, which can be found on Taobao and in some supermarkets and grocery stores.
Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.
6. Popcorners
I’m saving the best for the last, and Popcorners are the ultimate choice of chips. The best thing about Popcorners is that the ingredients are all clean and the chips are not deep-fried. Unlike regular chips, Popcorners are (as the name suggests) made of corn, so in a way, it is popcorn being flattened into triangular chips. The chips come in so many flavors, but the sweet chili flavor is my favorite. Popcorners can be found in some supermarkets and grocery stores, and can also be bought online.
Here is a QR code for a vendor on Taobao that sells this product.
Images: Margaret Yang, Taobao
