Fave Finds: Best Store-Bought Healthy Desserts:

Dear Margaret,

Good to know all the background info on the Met Gala:)... I only looked at the dresses ha ha. 

As you know, I have quite the sweet tooth.. but don't like all the refined sugars, hydrogenated oils, and bloating dairy products that make up today's desserts. Here are my go-to, store-bought healthy desserts that I keep on hand at home (or for travel) for when my sugar cravings strike. 

1.) Fabe's All Natural Vegan whole grain mini cookies:

 I'm full on addicted to these lil boogers. My favorite are the chocolate chip and the double chocolate chip, but they are all so good and very moist. They are sweetened with fruit juice concentrate and the serving size is about 7 cookies so you can spread them out throughout the day! They also make gluten free options. I get mine at Sprout's farmers market or Whole Foods.

http://www.fabesnatural.com/

2.) Arctic Zero 150 calorie 'ice cream' pints:

You can eat the entire pint for only 150 calories and they are made with whey protein concentrate so are are very high in protein... plus there are not artificial ingredients! My favorite flavors are chocolate peanut butter and chocolate.. but there are a lot of other flavors I haven't tried yet. The consistency is very icy, so a good tip is to leave the pint out on the counter for about 10 minutes before eating it so that the consistency tastes more like ice cream. This product is good for those days when you feel like eating the entire pint:) I buy mine a Sprouts Farmers Market or Whole Foods.

http://www.myarcticzero.com/pints.php

3.) Barbara's Puffins Peanut Butter Cereal:

All natural wholesome ingredients and many flavors to chose from (Cinnamon, Honey Rice, Crunchy Cocoa, Chocolate Peanut Butter, etc). I like this cereal in the morning with almond milk or dry after a meal as a dessert...3/4 cup is only 110 calories and it feels like you are eating a crunchy cookie. Sold at most grocery stores.

http://www.barbarasbakery.com/cereals-puffins/

4.) Laura's Wholesome Junk Food:

Great portion sizes and very rich and satisfying! They use oats as the whole grain and dates as the primary sweetener. These definitely make eating "junk food" seem less sinful:)  Flavors include: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Xtreme Chocolate Fudge, Cranberry Breakfast, and Mint Double Fudge. A little goes a long way with these little jewels:) Sold at Whole Foods and Sprouts Farmers Market.

http://www.lauraswholesomejunkfood.com/collections/healthy-cookies

5.) Emerald Cocoa Roast Dark Chocolate Almonds dipped in Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil:

I love to dip a few of these dark chocolate almonds in coconut oil after a meal because it tastes like a macaroon or coconut cake, yet it's till very good for you. (I bought a huge tub of them at Sam's Club:) The almonds give you vitamin E and the coconut oil provides tons of benefits, including lauric acid which fights infections. See my previous post on the benefits of coconut oil:

http://2noblecrows.blogspot.com/2012/03/coconut-oil-miracle-food.html

http://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Cocoa-Almonds-Chocolate-Canister/dp/B001EQ55RW

6.) Mary's Gone Crackers Cookies:

These aren't as moist as Fabe's or Laura's Junk Food but they are still very good cookies. Plus, they are organic, gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, and dairy-free.. can't get much better than that. I have only tried the "N'Oatmeal Raisin", but they also have: Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, and Ginger Snap! One cookie is only 60 calories and the ingredients are actually good for you. Great brand in general. Can get in the gluten-free section of pretty much any grocery store.

http://www.marysgonecrackers.com/cookies

7.) Green & Blacks Organic Dark Chocolate 85%:

"A perfect balance between flavor and intensity was struck with this product. Adding Madagascan organic vanilla was essential in rounding out the bitter notes and softening any tartness in this extremely dark, fantastically intense tasting chocolate."  Just a little satisfies in a major way.. plus dark chocolate is so good for you.. in addition to the high antioxidant levels, it also has been know to help with PMS:) Can get at Sprouts, Whole Foods, or any high end grocer.

http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/our-chocolates/bars/dark-85.html

8.) Hail Merry Macaroons:

These are made with raw oils and are gluten-free and vegan.  They are made with only a handful of ingredients and taste like sugar cookies to me (the Blonde ones). Probably the purest dessert around:) FInd at Whole Foods.

http://www.hailmerry.com/

XO,

Kara

              1.)

         2.)

                   3.)

                    4.)

5.)

 

                    6.)

                    7.)

8.)