Certainly not Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert and co-author of just-released Sugar Shock (consider it the bible of spotting sneaky sources of sugar in foods and finding healthier replacements). According to Cassetty, the key to eating desserts that are delicious and won’t wreak havoc on your health—sleep included—is stocking up on snacks and other ingredients that are low in added sugar, meaning the type of sugar that’s added to foods during preparation or processing (versus natural sugar, found in small amounts in fruits, vegetables, and dairy). “According to the CDC, the leading sources of added sugars in our diet are sugar-sweetened beverages, grain-based desserts like cakes and cookies, candy, and dairy desserts like ice cream,” Cassetty explains. Key takeaway? Skip the packaged sweets aisle and scour your grocery store for some of these better-for-you treats instead. Here, are Cassetty’s nine favorite foods for post-dinner indulging that are free of any added sugars. RELATED: 12 Foods Registered Dieticians Never Eat RELATED: 7 ‘Unhealthy’ Foods That Are Actually Great for You If you stuff a date with some crunchy nut butter and a few Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, you’ll get the closest thing to a candy bar, but without any added sugar," Cassetty says. By comparison, a typical candy bar can have about 26 grams of sugar, which is just higher than the 25-gram maximum that women should have in a day. And that healthy fat helps you feel fuller longer, which can help tame cravings and the urge to roam the kitchen for treats. But if you do want dessert, peanut butter can be used to make a lot of options, like no-bake cookies and bars. Because of its flavor, you can get away with using a little less sweetener.
