Pre-packaged

Sugar-Free Snacks

In my opinion a healthy snack is one of the greatest tricks for a busy lifestyle. More often than not, a busy kid, a long work day, or even just a distraction from that doughnut your boss brought in. Snacks can be a big part of going sugar free. Most snacks out there are loaded with junk and overtime they cause stomach issues, skin issues, and all sorts of other health issues. Below are some snacks that we try to keep on hand when we are busy and on the go:

• Seaweed Snacks- I honestly do not care for these, but they are cheap filled with good minerals and my kids love them. (Any grocery store)

• Pork Rinds -Another salty snack, this is a great replacement for chips. (Any grocery store)

• Siete Chips - This brand is our go-to for most snacks, they are grain free and gluten free foods, that are all made with clean ingredients. While I don’t love chips - these are a great option for Superbowl Sunday. (Kroger, Walmart, Costco)

• Chomps/Archer Meat Sticks - Meat sticks are a great snack to have on hand. Be careful of added flavors, and sugars in most meat sticks- you just want meat and spices! These 2 are my favorite go-to brands and I like to rotate between the different Chomps Variety of Venison, Beef, Chicken, and Turkey. (Costco, Trader Joe’s , Target, Sprouts, Whole Foods)

• Nuts - One day I was looking at the nut mix my Grandma was eating while trying to have a healthy snack and there were way too many ingredients for ‘salted nuts’. Try to find nuts that only have two ingredients: the nut and salt! if you eat them raw you don’t need the salt, but be aware that too many raw nuts can cause stomach cramps in some people (Any major grocery store)

• Cheese - I am really not a fan of store-bought cheese unless it is made from Goat’s Milk or Sheep Milk. American cows, unless they are A2, are not really the best for our bodies. They have all the classic cheese’s *Cheddar, Mozarella) made from Goat’s Milk at grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and of course Whole Foods.

Better for you Breakfast

• Seven Sundays - It is a rare treat for us to cereal in this house. For the cost, the amount of junk in them, and the fact that they are basically just dessert for breakfast - there are so many other options I try to give my family. But when we do eat cereal, Seven Sundays is an amazing brand, that is filled with filling ingredients and comes in a variety of flavors. (Costco, Thrive Market)

• Love Bird - Another delicious cereal brand that is made with real ingredients, all though this one does err on the side of a bit sweeter but it is sweetened with honey (Thrive Market, Whole Foods)

• Evergreen Breakfast Waffles - I often feel Waffle/Pancake Breakfasts are more often than not a high carb, un-filling, sugar roller coaster. But I understand the desire for a frozen waffle that is a better option and these are it. There are many ‘healthy looking’ brands out there, that are still filled with nothing but flour and natural flavors. If I was to get a frozen waffle it would be this one! (Whole Foods, Specialty Markets)

• Sweet Nothings- Delicious premade smoothies that have tons of flavors, can be given to all members of the family, and can be eaten like ice cream, or a ice pop! Sweet Nothings is great quick morning food for a busy morning, or for a ‘dessert’ at the end of the day! Filling, and made with real food. (Walmart, Target, Thrive Market)

Ahh this one is a hard one for me, I truly wish everyone could do home cooked meals with fresh ingredients and filled with flavor and delicious spices. I do understand that some people have kids and busy jobs, with very little time to spend in the kitchen. And sometimes our decision bank is just zapped. In an effort to bring healthier decisions to people below are some premade recommended foods that can be used a main meal.

• 100% Grass-Fed Beef Hamburger Patties - There isn’t a better deal than these burger patties at Costco. Just add some Primal Ketchup (another brand I fully recommend for anyone looking for healthier sauces with no sugar - Primal sauces can be found at all grocery chains), and some Strong Roots sweet potato fries and you have an all around meal.

• Rao’s Meatball & Sauce - Just Heat & Eat! I am not a fan of the added breading in these, but it is a better quick option. I would skip the pasta, but if you feel like it is a necessity try to stick with a lentil or gluten-free noodle.

• Force of Nature Meatballs - Force of Nature is one of my favorite brands. They sneak in beef organs (Hello amazing source of vitamins and minerals!) and you would never know! I serve this to anybody, especially my littles and people love them. Add in some Rao’s tomato sauce (whole ingredients, no added sugar) - and you have a meal!

• Cappello’s - A great brand that makes an amazing pizza crust and premade pizza. If you are going to do a frozen pizza - this is the best brand to go with. Even though it is healthy, they are absolutely delicious and taste like delivery, but with half the grease.

• Sliced Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin - Another Costco option that is absolutely delicious and we love snacking on this, or adding it on top of a small bowl of rice with some vegetables.

• Amylu - Another great brand that I believe is only at Costco, but they have delicious flavors of meatballs and sausages with B+ ingredients. Beware the Teriyaki flavor has the most added sugar, while the others do not.

• Teton Grass-Fed Polish Sausage - Basically a hotdog on steroid, delicious filling. You will never go back to regular hotdogs again.

The Occasional Treat

I think that once you lose your sugar addiction, there is a place for treats in your life. I think sugar is excess is bad for us, and when we lose control of our ability to decide when to eat it and when not too, then it is time to ‘detox’. But in small quantities and less often than not, it is fun to eat a delicious treat with the family. Here are some that are great for celebrations or when life calls for an occasional sweet treat.

• Jenni’s Ice Cream -

• Cappello’s Cookie Dough -

• High Key Cookies -

• Siete Cookies -

• Simple Mills Cake Mix -

Sweeter/Fruit Snacks

While I try to focus on staying away from sweet things. Sometimes with kids, at parties, or other events, you need to bring a sweet treat so you might as well make it healthier. Luckily, there are a lot of new brands trying to make whole, clean, food. These are some of the ones we keep as treats for our toddlers, or when we have people over for a party.

• Elavi Cashew Butter - this brand is our absolute favorite, my toddler loves this as ‘dessert’ and I even use the Blue Frosting Flavor on all of her sweet treats, and of course add dye free sprinkles! (Amazon, Thrive Market)

• Simple Mills - This is a great clean brand, while they do have some very sweet treats, it is a great brand to be just a step in the right direction of real food, instead of sweets with a ton of addictive additives and other not so healthy things for your family (All major grocery stores)

• Solely Gummies - real fruit, delicious gummies with some very fun tropical flavors (Thrive Market, Walmart, Target)

• Boulder Canyon Chips, Classic Sea Salt - While overall a better brand, the Classic Sea Salt Flavor is the only one with all real ingredients that I would really approve of. But overall it is a great potato chip replacement for Lays or other seed oil/natural flavor baked chip (Most major grocery stores)

• That’s It -A great find at Costco, these are real fruit bars made with only fruit.

• Bear Fruit Rolls - One of our favorite fruit snacks, they are a healthy version of a fruit-by-the-foot, but you would never miss the classic treat. These are delicious, made with real fruit, and each come with a collectable card - you have to try to collect all 60! (Thrive Market, Costco, Whole Foods)