The 5 best candy replacement snacks

Eat better, not less – a statement I see more and more often on my feed. And to be honest: my feed is right. Because the number of days that I collapse on the couch with a bag of chips in my hands and the next morning think: “Oh dear, I shouldn’t eat much today” and then survive on two slices of bread with cheese, is countless. And I’m almost certain you’ve experienced it too.

Buuut, here comes the solution! It’s much better to replace those candies with healthy snacks that are minimally processed but super tasty. No idea where to start with your healthy snack era? Well, I’m going to help you. Run to the kitchen, because you MUST try these power snacks (that taste like candy – yes, really) now.

Healthy Snicker Candy Snack

Okay, we all know it: those dates you once bought, but which have been sitting in the fridge for days without you ever really doing anything with them. But wait… this snack not only solves your excess date problem, it also gives you a MEGA boost. Bonus: it really tastes a lot like a Snickers. Who wouldn’t want that? Cut a few dates in half and place them on a plate. Remove the pit and then spread a generous layer of peanut butter in the date. Chop some nuts (bonus for peanuts!) and sprinkle them on top for a delicious crunch and texture. Finish it off with a piece of dark chocolate – preferably the 85% variant, or melt the chocolate and drizzle it over. Sprinkle a good pinch of sea salt over your snack and tadaaaa, you can easily eat five of these without guilty feelings.

By the way, this snack is perfect as a power boost for a light intensive workout, so even more reason to exercise. Looking for more pre-workout snacks? Check them out here.

Ingredients:

Dates
Peanut butter
Nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts, anything goes)
Dark chocolate (85%)
Zeezout

Quark Candy: Sweet and Packed with Protein

Quick, easy AND tasty: this is your new go-to snack. The antioxidants in blueberries help strengthen your immune system, while quark is packed with protein: AMAYZINEEE. Mix the quark with a teaspoon of honey and optionally add a tablespoon of protein powder for an extra boost. Add the blueberries and mix everything well. Place the mixture in small heaps on a baking sheet and put it in the freezer for an hour – trust me, this is the perfect snack for a warm day. If you want to go all out, top it off with a piece of dark chocolate for the wow factor.

Ingredients:

150 grams of low-fat quark
1/2 cup of blueberries
1 teaspoon honey
Optional: 1 tablespoon of protein powder
Optional: a piece of dark chocolate

Energy Balls: The Ultimate Snack for Quick Energy

Are you looking for something easy to take to the gym, your yoga class, or just along the sidelines at your daughter’s hockey game? Then these energy balls are really designed for you. Mix the oats, mixed nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, honey, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Roll the mixture into small balls and place them in the fridge for half an hour to firm up. And voilà, you have the perfect snack for on the go. Also known as: #busymomsnack (here you can find more busymomsnacks).

Ingredients:

1 cup of oats
1/2 cup of mixed nuts
1/2 cup of dried fruit (dates or apricots)
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch of salt

Sweet Chia Pudding with Dried Mango

Next: Chia seeds are not only a superfood, they also give that jelly effect of a real gummy candy. Dried mango adds a nice flavor, and it’s a great source of vitamin A for your skin (helloooo skinfood). Mix the chia seeds with the almond milk in a bowl and let the mixture sit in the fridge overnight.

Add the dried mango the next morning and mix everything well. Top with a bit of honey for extra sweetness. And yes, it’s so delicious that you’ll wish you could eat it every day.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of chia seeds
1 cup of almond milk
1/2 cup of dried mango, chopped
1 teaspoon of honey (optional)

Oven Baked Candy Cakes

Save the last for best, because these healthy cupcakes are to die for (literally). These protein cakes are all you need. Whisk the eggs, Greek yogurt, flour, milk, honey, and protein powder together and put them in a baking dish. Top with your favorite fruit and bake them in the oven until they are cooked through.

Healthy, quick to make, and the best part? You can bake them in any size mold you want. Small cupcakes (by the way, check out these reusable cupcake molds, too cute) for the kids, or a large cake, to cut slices from and eat on the go.

Ingredients:

Eggs
Greek yogurt
Flower
Milk
Protein powder
Baking powder
Honey