14 ‘Healthy’ Chocolate Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
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This Post: 14 ‘Healthy’ Chocolate Snacks to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Made from the seeds of the cocoa tree, chocolate has been shown to stimulate the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, including endorphins and serotonin (1).
Thus, it’s no surprise that you may find yourself craving a chocolatey snack from time to time.
However, not all chocolate products are created equal. Many are high in calories, added sugars, and highly processed ingredients.
Whether you’re in the mood for a simple chocolate bar or something crunchy to munch on, when buying a chocolate snack, you want to consider the product’s nutritional content and ingredient quality.
The products on this list were selected based on the following criteria:
- nutritional content
- ingredient quality
- additive content, such as preservatives and artificial flavors and colors
- taste
Here are the 14 best “healthy” chocolate snacks to satisfy your sweets cravings.
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A note on price
General price ranges with dollar signs ($ to $$$) are indicated below. One dollar sign means the product is rather affordable, whereas three dollar signs indicate a higher price range.
Generally, prices range from $0.23–$2.07 per ounce (28 grams), or $5–$64.55 per pack, though this may vary depending on where you shop and whether you’re getting a multipack deal.
Note that this roundup includes a diverse range of products, including cookies, brittle, bars, and beverages, and a direct price comparison is not always possible.
Pricing guide:
- $ = under $1 per ounce (28 grams)
- $$ = $1–$2 per ounce (28 grams)
- $$$ = over $2 per ounce (28 grams)
1. Best overall: JOJO’s Original Guilt-Free Chocolate Bars
Price: $$
JOJO’s Original Guilt-Free Chocolate Bars are the best overall healthy chocolate snack option, as they’re chocolatey and crunchy while being high in protein and fiber to help keep you satisfied for longer.
They’re also made with just five high quality ingredients, including dark chocolate, almonds, pistachios, dried cranberries, and hemp protein.
Made from hemp seeds, hemp protein is one of the few plant-based protein sources that contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a source of complete protein (2, 3).
In addition to a short ingredient list, JOJO’s bars are vegan, gluten-free, certified non-GMO, soy-free, and paleo-friendly.
One bar (34 grams) provides 180 calories, 13 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 11 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar (including 8 grams of added sugars), and 5 grams of protein (4).
These bars come in three additional flavors — peanut butter, Hawaiian, and raspberry. All of these contain 5 grams of plant-based protein and fewer than 200 calories.
Sweetened with erythritol, the raspberry flavor is also sugar-free and keto-friendly.
Shop for JOJO’s Original Guilt-Free Chocolate Bars online.
4. Best organic: Barnana Organic Double Chunk Dark Chocolate Crunchy Banana Cookie Brittle
Price: $$
Certified USDA Organic, non-GMO verified, and made with upcycled bananas, Barnana Organic Double Chunk Dark Chocolate Crunchy Banana Cookie Brittle is the perfect option if you’re looking for a crunchy snack that’s low in added sugars and calories.
The term “upcycled bananas” refers to the practice of using bananas that otherwise would have been thrown away due to a blemish or other physical attribute that makes them undesirable for export.
While the ingredient list is a bit longer than some other products on this list, these crunchy bites are made with high quality ingredients, including organic banana purée, organic coconut palm sugar, gluten-free oat flour, chocolate chips, and coconut oil.
This organic dark chocolate banana brittle is also a good choice for those who are vegan or gluten-free.
One serving (1 ounce or 28 grams) provides 135 calories, 6 grams of fat (4 grams of saturated fat), 19 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar (including 2 grams of added sugars), and 2 grams of protein (14).
Thanks to the banana purée, each serving also provides 160 mg of potassium, or 5% of the Daily Value (DV) (14).
Shop for Barnana Organic Double Chunk Dark Chocolate Crunchy Banana Cookie Brittle online.
5. Best vegan: Enjoy Life Chocolate Protein Bites, Sunseed Butter
Price: $
Enjoy Life is a food company dedicated to producing products that are free of gluten and major allergens. They also offer a wide variety of vegan-friendly snacks and treats.
Made with vegan semisweet chocolate, sunflower protein, sunflower butter, and pumpkin and sunflower seeds, these chocolate protein bites aren’t only vegan but also peanut- and tree-nut-free.
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These snacks are also low in FODMAPs — fermentable carbs that have been linked to causing or worsening symptoms in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (15).
Available in a 1.7-ounce (48-gram) single-serving bag, Enjoy Life Sunseed Butter Chocolate Protein Bites make portion control easier and can be taken on the go.
Each single-serving bag (1.7 ounces or 48 grams) comes with four bites and provides 230 calories, 15 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 23 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (7 grams of added sugars), and 8 grams of protein (16).
Shop for Enjoy Life Chocolate Protein Bites, Sunseed Butter online.
6. Best chocolate bar: Hu Chocolate Bars
Price: $$$
If you’re in the mood for a chocolate bar, HU is one of the best options with a variety of flavors, such as Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate and Almond Butter Puffed Quinoa Dark Chocolate.
In addition to being paleo, vegan, certified USDA organic, and soy-free, all of their bars are free of additives, including emulsifiers, soy lecithin, refined sugar, and sugar alcohols.
For example, the Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate bar contains just six ingredients, including organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic, fair trade cocoa butter, organic puffed quinoa, organic vanilla bean, and sea salt.
What’s more, they taste delicious. While a serving size is half a bar (about 1 ounce or 28 grams), these bars have a deep, rich flavor that can satisfy any sweet craving with just one or two squares.
One serving (1 ounce or 28 grams) of the Vanilla Crunch Dark Chocolate Bar provides 180 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 14 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar (7 grams of added sugar), and 2 grams of protein (17).
Keep in mind that the nutrition content varies by flavor.
Shop for Hu Chocolate Bars online.
8. Best chocolate covered nuts: SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds
Price: $$
Made with just five ingredients, SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds are as close to homemade as you can get without making this crunchy snack yourself.
Gluten-free and non-GMO verified, these chocolate-dipped almonds are free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Instead, they simply contain almonds, dark chocolate, maple sugar, sea salt, and cocoa powder.
Almonds are incredibly nutritious tree nuts that are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, including vitamin E and manganese. They have also been shown to help reduce hunger, as they’re a good source of protein and fiber (21, 22).
To help with portion control, you can buy these healthier chocolate covered almonds in 1 1/2-ounce (43-gram) single-serving bags.
Each 1 1/2-ounce (43-gram) serving provides 240 calories, 16 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 18 grams of carbs, 10 grams of sugar (9 grams of added sugar), and 7 grams of protein, as well as 6–10% of the DV for calcium, iron, and potassium (23).
Shop for SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Covered Almonds online.
9. Best chocolate-covered fruit: Nib Mor Organic Dark Chocolate Snacking Bites, Wild Maine Blueberry
Price: $$
As tasty as chocolate covered raisins or blueberries can be, it’s often difficult to keep an eye on portion size. As a result, it’s easy to consume more calories or sugar than you intended.
Nib Mor’s Organic Dark Chocolate Wild Maine Blueberry Snacking Bites combine the flavor of chocolate-covered fruit with the convenience of individually wrapped bite-sized pieces.
These fruity bites get good reviews for being smooth, creamy, and sweet while providing under 100 calories per serving.
They’re also made with just a handful of organic ingredients, including chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, cane sugar, blueberries, organic soy lecithin, and vanilla.
In addition to being certified USDA organic, Nib Mor’s Wild Maine Blueberry Snacking Bites are gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO verified.
One prewrapped snack bite (17 grams) provides 80 calories, 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, 8 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (5 grams of added sugar), and 1 gram of protein (24).
Shop for Nib Mor Organic Dark Chocolate Snacking Bites, Wild Maine Blueberry online.
10–11. Best chocolate granola and protein bars
Granola and protein bars are a popular grab-and-go snack option. However, as many are high in added sugar and low in protein and fiber, not all prepackaged snack bars are a healthy choice.
Fortunately, a few options on the market can satisfy your chocolate craving while being filling and nutritious options.
10. RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt
Price: $
RXBARs are among the healthiest protein bars, as they’re high in fiber and protein, free of added sugars, and made with just a handful of whole ingredients — many of which you likely already have in your kitchen.
In particular, their Chocolate Sea Salt bar is popular among chocolate-lovers, as it has a deep, rich chocolate flavor with a hint of salt. It also contains an impressive 12 grams of protein per bar (52 grams), making it a filling snack or post-workout option (25).
As for its ingredients, this bar is made with just eight high quality foods, including dates, egg whites, cashews, almonds, chocolate, cocoa, natural flavors, and sea salt.
One bar (52 grams) provides 210 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 23 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber, 13 grams of sugar (0 grams of added sugar), and 12 grams of protein (25).
Shop for RXBAR, Chocolate Sea Salt online.
11. Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola Bars, Chocolate Sea Salt
Price: $$
If you’re in the mood for a crunchy granola bar, Purely Elizabeth’s Chocolate Sea Salt Ancient Grain Granola Bars are the best option.
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Sweetened with organic coconut sugar, these sweet and salty bars are made with just a handful of quality ingredients, including fair trade dark chocolate chunks, puffed amaranth, quinoa flakes, gluten-free oats, chia seeds, raw coconut oil, and cinnamon.
They also contain a strain of probiotic cultures that can survive the baking process. Probiotics are helpful gut bacteria that have been shown to support overall health, including your immune system, digestive system, and heart health (26).
One bar (30 grams) provides 130 calories, 6 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of saturated fat, 19 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar (6 grams of added sugar), and 3 grams of protein (27).
These chocolate granola bars are also vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified.
Shop for Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grains Granola Bars, Chocolate Sea Salt online.
12. Best no-added-sugar option: HighKey Mini Cookies, Chocolate Mint
Price: $$$
If you have type 2 diabetes or are following the ketogenic, or keto, diet, HighKey Mini Chocolate Mint Cookies are one of the best healthy chocolate snacks, as they’re low in carbs and free of added sugars.
HighKey is a food company that produces keto-friendly snacks, breakfast cereals, and baking mixes — including these crunchy chocolate mint cookies.
In addition to being low in carbs, HighKey Mini Chocolate Mint Cookies are gluten- and grain-free.
The cookies are made from a base of almond flour, coconut oil, and natural sweeteners, such as erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia. They’re also free of preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.
One serving (7 mini cookies or 28 grams) provides 130 calories, 13 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 11 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, 8 grams of erythritol, and 3 grams of protein (28).
Shop for HighKey Mini Cookies, Chocolate Mint online.
13. Best frozen treat: Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars, Chocolate Fudge
Price: $$
Yasso Chocolate Fudge Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars are the best choice when you’re craving something cold and chocolaty.
Made with just a handful of ingredients, including nonfat Greek yogurt, these chocolate fudge bars are lower in calories and higher in protein than many similar products on the market.
Plus, unlike ice cream, these frozen Greek yogurt bars are preportioned, making it easier to keep your chocolate indulgence within your nutrition goals for the day.
Despite being a lower calorie treat, these bars are still satisfying thanks to their creamy, smooth texture and chocolate flavor.
One bar (65 grams) provides 80 calories, 0 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbs, 1 gram of fiber, 12 grams of sugar (including 8 grams of added sugars), and 6 grams of protein (29).
Shop for Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars, Chocolate Fudge online.
14. Best chocolate beverage: Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats
Price: $
Elmhurst is a plant-based beverage company that’s known for producing products with minimal added ingredients.
Its Chocolate Milked Oats are no exception, containing just six simple ingredients, including filtered water, whole grain oats, cane sugar, cocoa, natural flavors, and salt.
In addition to being free of gums or emulsifiers, this oat-based beverage is vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified. It also comes in shelf-stable containers, making it an easy option to stock up on ahead of time.
Best of all, Elmhurst’s Chocolate Milked Oats contain less added sugar than many other flavored alternative milks on the market. Yet, it still gets great reviews for its rich chocolate flavor, which can be enjoyed straight from the fridge or heated.
Eight ounces (240 mL) of this oat-based chocolate milk provides 110 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 19 grams of carb, 3 grams of fiber, 4 grams of sugar (including 4 grams of added sugars), and 3 grams of protein (30).
Shop for Elmhurst Chocolate Milked Oats online.
How to choose a healthier chocolate snack
The best chocolate snack for you depends on your dietary needs and preferences. For example, given that chocolate often contains dairy, vegans or those with a lactose intolerance or dairy allergy will want to look for products that are certified vegan-friendly or dairy-free.
Additionally, some products are richer and meant to be enjoyed in small quantities, while others are lower in calories and can be enjoyed in larger quantities.
Regardless of the type of product you’re hoping to buy, you’ll want to look for a product that’s low in added sugars and made with high quality ingredients.
Ideally, look for a product that’s free of unnecessary additives, or contains small amounts of them, as they may indicate that the product is more highly processed.
Diets high in highly processed foods have been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and all-cause mortality (31, 32, 33, 34).
Finally, while some chocolate snacks may be healthier than others, it’s still important to be aware of serving sizes, as calories and sugar can add up quickly.
Summary
When shopping for chocolate snacks, factors to consider include the nutritional content, ingredient quality, and your dietary needs. To avoid consuming excess calories and sugar, exercise portion control.
The bottom line
While chocolate is not always thought of as a healthy choice, several products on the market can both satisfy your chocolate cravings and serve as more nutritious and healthy options.
In general, look for snacks that are low in added sugars and contain nutritious ingredients like almonds or puffed quinoa, which provide additional nutrients like protein and fiber.
Most importantly, make sure to choose a snack option with a serving size, flavor, and texture that will fully satisfy your cravings.
Source: https://bloghong.com
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