Our favorite low-sugar snacks in a pinch, including siggi’s new Simple Sides.
14 Low Sugar Snacks That Actually Kind Of Taste Like Dessert
This recipe is sponsored by siggi’s ♡
Sugar is weird, right?
You want it, and you love it, but you don’t want it, and you maybe kind of avoid it, even though you like it, because too much makes you feel terrible. #complicated
I have found it so interesting to experiment with removing and reintroducing sugar into my life over these last few years. In January, I brought you guys along with me for Sugar Free January with a whole month of refined sugar free recipes. It was actually super delicious because I think we were all reminded that, shocker of all shockers, you can actually still eat really good food without sugar in your life! YES PLEASE! THIS IS AMAZING!
A lot of ice cream has happened in between January and now, so I guess we could say that this post is a gentle mid-year reminder to myself of everything that I felt so excited about after Sugar Free January.
Since Sugar Free January ended, I have definitely reintroduced sugar into my life. I eat oatmeal sweetened with brown sugar for breakfast almost every day, ice cream of all varieties is my summer anthem, and I have a popsicle or a glass of lemonade most nights after dinner. I’m not totally overdoing it, but I do think being pregnant is making me more susceptible than ever to REALLY LOVING sugar.
Every once in a while I have to really stop and think: is this what I want to be eating? Is there nutrition here? Is this making me feel better or worse? And that’s kind of what brought me to this post.
I personally need a reminder of all the good foods that are out there that can serve as both a treat and a benefit to my body. Maybe you do, too.
Of course, the lowest sugar snacks you could find would be things that aren’t sweet at all. Cheese, nuts, vegetables, that kind of thing. That’s nice and everything, and I’m sure there are lots of lists out there with those kinds of ideas if that’s what you’re looking for, but sometimes I’m craving something sweeter, and no offense, but a pile of carrot sticks just isn’t going to do it for me.
When I’m in that place of wanting a treat – an actual, non-carrot-stick, special-something treat – and also wanting to keep it pretty wholesome, I turn to these yummy and easy lower in sugar snacks (that conveniently kind of taste like dessert).
Siggi’s Simple Sides (!!!)
Here’s the deal with these little snackers.
- Simple ingredients, not a lot of sugar.
- Crunchy/sweet toppings on the side, all of which are NO SUGAR ADDED! (because they are good things like figs and walnuts and cacao nibs and coconut. I SEE YOU FANCY.)
- Excellent quality, super-creamy whole milk yogurt.
- Perfect for low maintenance on-the-go snacking.
- Comes in four yummy flavors: vanilla yogurt with almonds and dried cherries, vanilla yogurt with dried coconut and cacao nibs, honey yogurt with dried figs and walnuts, and plain yogurt with muesli and currants.
- All packaged together in a convenient and recyclable little single-serve cup
I need crunch with my yogurt, as you might remember from my strawberry shortcake yogurt bowls earlier this summer (more on that in a minute), and these brand spanking new Simple Sides offerings make it easy to get the CRUNCH I’m looking for, plus the protein I need, plus the feels-like-dessert vibe, without all the extra sugar.
Personally, I’d recommend the cacao nibs and coconut with vanilla yogurt. Why have I never had cacao nibs before? I don’t know, but those crunchy chocolate-like bits mixed with the naturally sweet coconut and creamy vanilla yogurt? Make that a yes. I have been eating these as breakfast, lunch, and dessert-like snack and my life is leveled up because of it.
WINNING. I love them. Thank you, siggi’s.
Cookie Dough Energy Bites
Not much to see here except COOKIE DOUGH THAT IS NUTRITIOUS.
Okay, it’s not real cookie dough, but it kind of SEEMS like cookie dough, and it’s made without dates. Because sometimes we need a break from dates.
Click here for the Cookie Dough Energy Bites recipe.
Bananas and Peanut Butter Waffles
Yes, you are indulging your inner five-year-old self here.
This is one of my strange-but-favorite snacks right now: a toasted waffle, top with banana slices, drizzle with peanut butter and crumbles. Mwah.
Salted Chocolate Snack Bars
You should 100% make these, and YES I NEED TO SHOUT AT YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THESE ARE SO GOOD.
Easy and salty-sweet and customizable in the sweet-level department. Oats, coconut oil, cocoa, that kind of thing.
I love these bars.
Click here for the Salted Chocolate Snack Bars recipe.
Autumn Glow Milkshake
This is a great second breakfast situation.
It has a secret ingredient called frozen cauliflower and I know you don’t believe me but it just works. It adds bulk and nutrition and creaminess without requiring you to use 500 pieces of fruit. Low on the sweetness scale, mega on the creamy/yummo scale.
Click here for the Autumn Glow Milkshake recipe.
Pumpkin Granola
Just ate this for second (third?) breakfast, no joke.
This is the perfect granola for fall, except kind of for all year round. Like the rest of these recipes, it is customizable in terms of how sweet you make it, plus you get some natural sweetness from the caramelization of the pumpkin and the nuts all hanging out in the oven for a while. It is perfect when made with real maple syrup – natural sweetness at its finest, folks.
Click here for the Pumpkin Granola recipe.
Cashew Coffee
Afternoon sugar bomb latte … OR … ultra creamy coffee made at home with lots of healthy fats and less sugar in about seven seconds?
If you haven’t tried this, now is the time to make your move. Throw a handful of cashews in your blender with some coffee, basically. Add a pinch of salt and real maple syrup if you want to really live your best life.
ALSO THIS IS DELICIOUS WHEN MADE AS ICED COFFEE.
Click here for the Cashew Coffee recipe.
Caramelized Banana Oat Muffins
This recipe is an oldie! I made it in 2014 – the very first year we tried going refined sugar free for 60 days.
The sweetness in this recipe comes from – wait for it – NO SUGAR! just caramelizing the bananas to bring out some of the natural pizazz. It is made with whole wheat flour and it is a really nice wholesome snack when you are having a carb moment. I suggest a pat of melted butter or a drizzle of runny PB over the whole thing. Plus a cashew coffee. Those healthy fats are necessary.
Click here for the Banana Oat Muffins recipe.
Almond Butter Cups
Don’t even act like sometimes you don’t need a peanut butter cup.
WE ALL DO.
These can be made with peanut butter or almond butter and you can control the sweetness to taste, since you’re making that chocolate mix from scratch. I consider these an all-time-freezer-essential.
Click here for the Almond Butter Cups recipe.
Vegan Caramel Sauce (with Apple Slices And All Other Fruit, Duh)
I don’t know how this is a real thing, but it is.
Vegan caramel sauce, kids. It’s ready in five seconds flat and it makes you want to eat fruit every day. Such a good alternative to the overly sweet store-bought caramel and fruit dips!
Click here for the Vegan Caramel Sauce recipe.
Soft Granola Bars
Do you know those super soft granola bars that we used to eat as kids that were, like, basically candy bars in disguise?
These are like those, but healthier and less sugar crazy. They are sweetened with honey which you can scale up or down depending on how much sweetness you want in your life. The oats and peanuts add bulk, and the crushed pretzels give you that essential salty-sweet dance. Most importantly: they start soft and stay soft. The only way I do granola bars.
Click here for the Soft Granola Bars recipe.
Cottage Cheese and Peaches
Creamy goodness with my juicy beloveds? Yes, I will.
This is my essential snack/dessert of summer. Choose a higher fat cottage cheese, drizzle a little honey over the top, and you are probably at a five star restaurant right now.
Healthy-Ish Breakfast Cookies
For when you want to eat cookies for breakfast and have it be 100% appropriate and feel-good-in-your-body, because oats and bananas and blueberries and chocolate chips do, in fact, work together.
Who even knew.
Click here for the Breakfast Cookies recipe.
Strawberry Shortcake Siggi’s Yogurt
Circling back to this siggi’s beauty one more time, since it’s like eating strawberry shortcake without eating strawberry shortcake.
Lightly macerated strawberries + a coconutty, buttery-tasting granola (basically shortcake, work with me here) and couple of generous thwaps of creamy, high protein, lower in sugar siggi’s Vanilla Triple Cream yogurt. Simple ingredients, not a lot of sugar. OMG.
Click here for the Strawberry Shortcake Yogurt Bowls recipe.
Would LOVE to hear from you guys on this! Mostly because I’m a food hog and I want to borrow your ideas and eat them for myself.
How do you treat yourself AND also keep the sugar beast under control?
Also – anyone already thinking about Sugar Free January again? 🤓 Meeeee!
Thank you to siggi’s for sponsoring this post!
August 9, 2018
Nice to meet you!
I’m Lindsay and I ♡ FOOD. I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I'm so glad you're here.
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I love all these ideas! I also really like to put a little almond butter inside some dates and sprinkle sea salt on top. It doesn’t sound that enticing but it’s really good!!
Almond butter + dates + sea salt is my favorite!
Yesss so good!
These are all amazing snack ideas! I can’t wait to make the soft granola bars – a recipe I somehow have never seen before. I’ve been wanting to try making some dates, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with chopped almonds as a fun afternoon treat!
That sounds amazing!
Just a couple things here…First, I SWEAR to you that the sweets cravings are a carrying-a-baby-girl thing! When I was pregnant with my daughter I could’ve sat down with a bag of chocolate chips and been perfectly content for the rest of the evening! God pity the fool who attempted to steal a few!
Also, if I might add your Ultimate Chocolate Granola to the list?? I only add the maple syrup (and leave out the turbinado sugar) and just add a couple small handfuls of mini chocolate chips to lower the sugar content. It’s still plenty sweet for us and it’s our favorite granola! As a matter of fact it’s in the pantry right now! ❤️
Ohhh that’s a good one too! Love that granola!
Siggi’s yogurt is one of my favorites! Also, those salted chocolate snack bars…YUM!!
The best!
Kudos to you for being so mindful about sugar, and these are awesome recipes. I appreciate you collecting them together, because they are recipes from you that I go to again and again.
All that being said, I craved sugar SO much more with my daughter than my son, and you have to honor that little baby a bit too which it totally sounds like what you are doing. BEST WISHES to you both.
Thanks for the comment, Kari!
Such a great reminder that we can be healthy all the while enjoying delicious food. Thanks for the post. I love all of your selections.
So true!
I have loved siggis since my trip to Iceland last year and becoming addicted to skyr. While you can’t get it here siggis is very very close. I loved the strawberry shortcake recipe. I’ve been having siggis with fruit and granola ever since. I’ll have to look for those snack ones!
So glad to hear that, Lindsay!
It’s ironic that you discussed snacks today Lindsay. Just yesterday, I happened to stop by the Dollar General store on Maryland Avenue to buy some vitamins and randomly bought a $2 can of mixed nuts. I ate the nuts to prevent myself from getting off track and eating a sloppy hamburger from Burger King of Fartdonalds. LOL
Lo & behold, I did eat nuts and loved the snacks. It kept me on track with eating right and doing the transformation work. 🙂
I think one of the best things about this list is that all of these things are pretty simple to make and don’t take a lot of time or effort. Having said that, though, they have all been on my “want to make but just haven’t gotten around to it” list for some time. Thanks for the poke to actually get to it!
Oh, and I’m glad to know there is a full fat yogurt available at the grocery store. So hard to find anything but low fat options. =/
Of course! Hope you enjoy them!
I love siggi’s yogurt….so I’m excited to try this new variety with the toppings! Great round up of snacks too…I’m all about the healthier sweets! 🙂
Forgot to answer your question! I love no-bake energy bites made with dates, nuts, and cocoa powder. And these are my all-time favorite healthy cookies that nobody can ever guess are actually healthy for you!
https://audrasappetite.com/monster-cookies/
Yummmm! Thanks for the rec!
FANTASTIC list Lindsay! Super excited to get started on trying ALL these 🙂
Hope you enjoy them, Amy!
I just had to double back this evening and tell on myself. I slipped up and had a cookie earlier this afternoon from Royal Farms. They have Chocolate Chip cookies at the front counter where you pay for your gas and I couldn’t resist. So I bought one for $1.00 or $0.99 and ate it like there was no tomorrow. Now I feel so guilty that I feel the need to go out and do cardio tonight.
Lindsay, these are awesome ideas. I especially love the Almond Butter cups, such a great idea!
I felt the need to double back and say that I did my cardio in the wee hours again this morning on a semi-empty stomach. I did have water and vitamins, minus the Apple Cider Vinegar with the mother by Bragg. And today, I had 2 low fat chicken & bean burritos I browned a few minutes in the oven. Bought another bottle of ACV with the MOM by Bragg today from Walmart then doubled over the Dollar General and bought a $2 can of mixed nuts. I was tempted to get something with sugar in it, but I’m doing the transformation work again and ate mixed nuts. So glad for the healthy choice I made today.
These are all such great, delicious ideas, but the one that REALLY caught my eye was the “cashew coffee”.mmm. Maybe because I cannot start a day without coffee and I think this would be something different than my usual cup of coffee!! 🙂
I totally agree with you.
I like crunchy. Right now my favorite snack is a Wild Rice Organic Rice cake spread with no sugar almond butter and topped with a few raisins or craisins…I’m sure a few mini chocolate chips would be good too.
Yum! Sounds awesome!
Wow, never thought of that any dessert can be made up of without sugar. The list you have given is awesome. My favorite is BANANAS AND PEANUT BUTTER WAFFLES. Most important is that it is better to have so much option without sugar because nowadays everybody is health conscious.
Ohmygoodness, Lindsay. So much beauty and deliciousness in your ideas, recipes and photos… I hardly know what to do with myself!
Quick question for you: A couple years ago I discovered that the cause of my severe eczema was a nickel allergy which, apparently, was coming from having oatmeal in my diet! So many great, healthy snacks have oatmeal in them, and I wonder if you have any substitute suggestions, or know (for a fact) that any certain types of oatmeal do not have the nickel “contamination”. I’d love to hear from you on this, if you have any ideas!
Thanks for sharing all your loveliness, and in such fun-loving prose.
Oh, and to “share back” a favorite low sugar treat in our house, we’ve been enjoying this recipe this summer. We call it our “fake ice-cream” – my husband and I are converted ice-creamivores because of this recipe.
http://liveleaneatgreen.com/2016/02/19/cookie-dough-greek-yogurt/
I was hoping now that you talked about healthy low fat snacks to see one particular healthy fast food restaurant sprout up in Philadelphia called LYFE Kitchen. I heard about then years ago through someone I used to associate with. As i mentioned previously, I wish there were more healthy fast food restaurants in America that served nice healthy snacks like the one in your post here b/c ppl I believe would feel more compelled to eat healthier and quit spending money at these unhealthy fast food joints. 🙂
Thank you for reminding us that we can all use a little less sugar in our lives!! Great ideas for a low-sugar lifestyle, without sacrificing anything tasty!
Well, I don’t have to have the sugar beast under control. It’s doing it by itself. Cause I’m a ,,salty” person. HAHA. Chips, popcorn, fries that’s just my curse. Any idea how to keep my ,,salt beast” under control? 😀
So much goodness. i will have to try some of these because I love sugar and am working on getting in shape and eating healthy.
Good recipe.
Can’t wait to try the strawberry shortcake yogurt! How have I never thought of that before?? 😍