Hey Chandler Kasay, What are healthier dessert swaps?

Hey friends, let me preface this by saying that desserts are still desserts. Just because these ingredients are simple does not mean they are a health food. I view them as something to be enjoyed in moderation throughout my week and not binged on during one sitting. My goal while looking at a potential dessert option is to find a simple ingredient list that I can find in my own kitchen. If I see complex words, I skip it.

Here is a sample list of complex words I avoid in my ingredients list for desserts that are going into my home:

1. Emulsifiers (ex. carrageenan, cellulose gum, guar gum, polysorbate 80) as these have been known to cause intestinal inflammation and digestive issues.

2. Artificial colors (ex. Red 40, Red 3, Yellow 5, or Blue 1)

3. Mono and Diglycerides (partially hydrogenated oils)

4. Sugar Alcohols and Zero-Calorie Sweeteners (Maltitol syrup, sorbitol, Sucralose/Splenda, acesulfame potassium) which are associated with destroying gut health.

5. Artificial Flavors which can contain up to 100 ingredients including synthetic chemicals, solvents, and preservatives such as BHA, propylene glycol, MSG, and parabens.

6. Natural Flavors which are created by a team of scientists and contain up to 100 hidden ingredients that can still contain preservatives such as BHA, propylene glycol, MSG and parabens.

7. Soybean Oil which increase risk of inflammation and disrupt hormones/those with autoimmune issues.

8. Cottonseed Oil which is from a GMO crop that requires intense application of agricultural chemicals. Residues from these pesticides can remain in the oil. Cottonseeds are also subject to intensive chemical refining with hexane, bleach, and deodorizers.

9. When it comes to ice cream I try and choose brands that contain organic dairy. Organic cows are only permitted to eat organic non-GMO food and organic grass. On the flip side, almost all non-organic dairy cows in the US are fed a diet of GMO grains on a factory farm. This grain diet contains roundup with the primary ingredient being glyphosate.

Ice Creams:

• Ice Cream For Bears Queen & Bean Vanilla Bean French Ice Cream

• Ice Cream For Bears Chocturnal Triple Chocolate French Ice Cream

• Straus Organic Dutch Chocolate Ice Cream

• Straus Organic Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

• Straus Organic Coffee Ice Cream

Peanut Butter Cups:

• Skinnydipped Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (2 grams added sugar/cup)

• Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (5 grams added sugar/cup)

Nougat Bars:

• Unreal Dark Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat Bars (6 added sugars/bar)

• Mid-Day Squares Peanut Butter Fiber And Protein Square (2 grams added sugar/bar)
  

Smoothies:

• Sweet Nothings Organic Strawberry With Beets Squeezable Smoothie

• Sweet Nothings Organic Mango With Carrot Kids Squeezable Smoothie

• Sweet Nothings Organic Blueberry With Kale Squeezable Smoothie

Cookies:

• Skout Organic Soft Baked Cookies (4 grams added sugar/2 cookies)

• Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (7 grams added sugar/4 cookies)

• Siete Mexican Wedding Grain Free Cookies (5 grams added sugar/8 cookies)

• Siete Mexican Shortbread Grain Free Cookies (5 grams added sugar/5 cookies)

• Simple Mills Crunchy Almond Flour Toasted Pecan Cookies (5 grams added sugar/4 cookies)

• Jack's Paleo Kitchen Lemon Zing Paleo Cookies (10 grams sugar/2 cookies)

• Jack's Paleo Kitchen Chocolate Chip Paleo Cookies (11 grams sugar/2 cookies)

• Emmy's Organics Organic Dark Cacao Soft & Chewy Coconut Cookies (6 grams sugar/2 cookies)

• Sweet Loren's Gluten Free Vegan Fudgy Brownie Cookie Dough (10 grams added sugar/1 cookie)

Sweet Thins/Graham Cracker Dupe:

• Simple Mills Chocolate Brownie Seed & Nut Flour Sweet Thins (6 grams added sugar/12 thins)

• Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon Seed & Nut Flour Sweet Thins (7 grams added sugar/12 thins)

Sandwich Cookie/Oreo Dupe:

• Simple Mills Cocoa Cashew Creme Nut Butter Stuffed Sandwich Cookies (6 grams added sugar/2 cookies)

• Simple Mills Creamy Peanut Butter Nut Butter Stuffed Sandwich Cookies (5 grams added sugar/2 cookies)

Coconut:

• AVA organics coconut crispy rolls Cinnamon (no added sugar)

• Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars (3 grams added sugar)

• Evolved Coconut Butter Keto Cups (no added sugar)

Box Mix:

• Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Muffin & Cake Mix (9 grams added sugar/1 cupcake)

• Simple Mills Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffin & Bread Mix (6 grams added sugar/1 cupcake)

• Simple Mills Banana Muffin And Bread Almond Flour Baking Mix (4 added sugar/1 cupcake)
  

Dates/Truffles/Oat Bars:

• Emmy's Organics Chocolate Coconut Crunch'ems (6 grams added sugar)

• Natural Delights Cacao With Pecans Medjool Date Rolls (no added sugar)

• Bhu Foods Organic Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Truffles (no added sugar)

Gummies/Fruit Roll Up Dupe:

• Solely Organic Mango & Guava whole fruit gummies (no added sugar)

• Solely Organic Mango & Orange whole fruit gummies (no added sugar)

• BEAR Sour Fruit Rolls Apple-Pear Strawberry Lemon (no added sugar)