30 Healthy Sweet Snacks That ll Still Taste Absolutely Scrumptious

We at Cosmo love our snacks (so much, in fact, that we even have a whole award series devoted to them!!). If you’re like me and can polish off an entire box of PopTarts without blinking, you may also want some healthier (but still yummy) alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Finding that perfect snack to fulfill every sweet craving without heading straight to your stash of gummy bears is tough, though. The good news is that, in an effort to cut back on super sugary treats, I stumbled upon some of the most ~delightful~ healthy replacements for my go-to sweet snacks of choice—things I actually look forward to eating just as much.

30 Healthy, Sweet Snacks to Satisfy a Craving (Plus, What Nutritionists Think About ’Em)

We love snacks. They break up the day, give us a treat to look forward to and keep us from feeling ravenous when the next meal is hours away. But we’ll admit that a handful of sour gummies isn’t the smartest choice when aiming for that last goal. We can’t quit the sugary stuff for good, but we can mix in a few healthy snacks that are as satisfying to our sweet tooth as they are to our hunger pangs. Here, 30 sweet snacks that fit the bill, plus some expert advice from nutritionists.

Meet the Experts

• Melissa Buczek Kelly, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietician and state-certified dietician/nutritionist in New Jersey
• Vanessa Rissetto, RD is a registered dietician and the CEO of Culina Health, a virtual nutrition platform powered by registered dietitians

First, What Makes a for a Healthy Sweet Snack?

Obviously candy and cookies aren’t going to cut it, but what about the less obvious stuff, like yogurt or protein bars? We tapped two nutritionists—Melissa Buczek Kelly, MS, RD, CDN and Vanessa Rissetto, RD—for their take on what constitutes a healthy, sweet snack (because sometimes it’s hard to tell).

Both Kelly and Rissetto stress that choosing a sweet snack requires thinking about more than just the sugar content and calories. “If there is a label and I’m trying to choose between sweet snacks,” Kelly explains, “I look to see what the fiber, protein and added sugar content are. Snacks may have naturally occurring sugars as well as added sugars. Be mindful of the added sugars.”

Likewise, Risetto recommends making sure the snack includes fiber, protein and some fat to hold you over. “I’m also looking for no more than 200 calories and no more than 10 grams of sugar,” she says, which can help keep you focused if weight loss is your goal.

Beyond that, Kelly recommends practicing mindfulness. “I first ask myself, ‘what type of sweet am I craving or looking forward to?’ It’s best to listen to your body and have what you are in the mood for off the bat versus consuming things you aren’t as into. Being more mindful and intuitive with all your food choices, meals and snacks sets us up with a healthier relationship with food overall,” she says.

What Sweet Snacks Do Nutritionists Recommend?

If you can hit that, ahem, sweet spot of fiber plus protein, you’ll set yourself up for success. Kelly recommends pairing apple slices, a small banana or a handful of strawberries with natural peanut butter. “I may also reach for a couple of squares of quality dark chocolate, or even a few dates sliced open and smeared with nut butter and a few chocolate chips or a drizzle of honey on top.”

Rissetto is a fan of plain yogurt with dark chocolate—“over 85 percent [cacao] has a good amount of fiber”—or a teaspoon of Nutella. “I love Trader Joe’s mini ice cream cones as well,” she says. “The serving size is three, so you hit the calorie goal while having something seemingly decadent, like an ice cream.”

Want the TL;DR? You should aim for natural sugars over added and pair your sweet treat with fiber and protein for maximum impact. Here, 30 healthy sweet snacks we love.

30 Healthy Sweet Snacks That’ll Still Taste Absolutely Scrumptious

We at Cosmo love our snacks (so much, in fact, that we even have a whole award series devoted to them!!). If you’re like me and can polish off an entire box of PopTarts without blinking, you may also want some healthier (but still yummy) alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Finding that perfect snack to fulfill every sweet craving without heading straight to your stash of gummy bears is tough, though. The good news is that, in an effort to cut back on super sugary treats, I stumbled upon some of the most ~delightful~ healthy replacements for my go-to sweet snacks of choice—things I actually look forward to eating just as much.

Luckily, there is hope for all of us who have a raging sweet tooth. Of course, not every single thing on this list falls into the super-healthy category (yes, there is homemade ice cream on here, don’t be mad). But making some of these items yourself will result in fewer and more natural ingredients and way less sugar or preservatives. As food author Michael Pollan has explained, you can have all the junk food you want. you just need to make it yourself. (Sneaky healthy tip for ya!)

So enjoy these 30 healthy snack ideas for a fresh take on some of your faves alongside some new recipes to try. Have ’em all by themselves (especially after you’ve had a long day at work). Or load up a bento box with the yummiest (and less perishable) options for a rainbow-colored, nutritionist-approved snack box. Bon appetit!!

Homemade Fruit Pops

Flavia Morlachetti // Getty Images

Homemade fruit pops usually have fewer than five ingredients and they’re a cinch to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to freeze, tbh. Just make sure you have the molds and wooden sticks before you start.

Or Just the Berries

Yulia Reznikov // Getty Images

Frozen fruit is. a surprisingly delicious treat, whether you’re just throwing some grapes in the freezer or freezing them as a bar. Also, it’s lower in sugar than a more processed bar.

Better Bark

SEE D JAN // Getty Images

This yogurt “bark”consists of fruit and sweets mixed in, then the whole concoction is frozen for a crunchy cold snack. Like chocolate bark, only cold (and way better for you, so long as you don’t add too much sugar).