It can be hard to resist munching mindlessly on snacks full of sugar and chemical preservatives, especially while watching a suspenseful episode of Stranger Things. (Raw cookie dough and microwave popcorn anyone?)
Thankfully, lots of healthy brands understand this, and they're making substitutes for some of the most popular junk-food snacks—from Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to Nutella and Doritos.
The new snacks use better ingredients like organic dark chocolate and skip gross ones like GMO-packed high-fructose corn syrup. And they still taste delicious. Here are seven junk food faves and their substantially healthier remake.
Originally posted November 8, 2013. Updated March 9, 2018.
Scroll down for 7 healthy upgrades on your favorite munchies.
Bad: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Better: Justin's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
While the calories and fat in these two products are similar, Justin's cleaner candies are made with organic dark chocolate and actual peanut butter. They also contain less sugar, no scary emulsifiers or preservatives, and are dairy-free for the vegan set.
Bad: Doritos
Better: Food Should Taste Good Kimchi Chips
It may be an accident, but these kimchi-flavored chips taste a lot like the Nacho Cheese Doritos you ate by the handful in grade school—even though their ingredient list is about half the length. And since you're pretty much eating mostly corn in either case, choosing Food Should Taste Good's non-GMO product is essential. They also use higher quality oils.
Bad: Nutella
Better: Rawtella
Remember when people thought Nutella was good for you? It's actually pretty close to eating spoonfuls of sugar, with some vegetable oil to boot. Rawtella, on the other hand, is made with just raw hazelnuts, raw cacao nibs, and coconut sugar, making it a much more wholesome option.
Bad: Pillsbury Cookie Dough
Better: Simple Mills Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Where you're an "eat the dough out of the package" kind of person or just love cookies, we doubt that bleached white flour, artificial flavors, and partially-hydrogenated palm kernel oil are a part of your diet plan. Simple Mills Chip Cookie Mix is made with almond flour, vegan chocolate chips, and coconut sugar.
Bad: Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn
Better: Quinn Popcorn
Microwave popcorn is an essential when it comes to Netflix and chill kind of evenings, but conventional brands come with chemical coatings inside the bag. Quinn Popcorn ditched those chemicals, designed compostable bags, and even makes its products with organic corn, non-GMO ingredients, and no preservatives. Plus, they come in fancy flavors like Parmesan & Rosemary and Vermont Maple & Sea Salt. Maybe pair a bowl of this popcorn with a high-brow French film?
Bad: Wheat Thins
Better: Simple Mills Naturally Gluten-Free Almond Flour Crackers
Wheat Thins may not seem like junk food, especially when paired with a delicious wedge of artisanal cheese. But actually, they're packed with high-fructose corn syrup and chemical preservatives like BHT. Thankfully, Simple Mills Naturally Gluten-Free Almond Flour Crackers taste suspiciously similar, and they're made with nut and seed flour, organic sunflower oil, and organic onion and garlic.
Bad: Nestle Crunch Bar
Better: Alter Ego Quinoa Dark Chocolate Bar
Nestle Crunch comes from nutritionally-lacking crisp rice; Alter Ego’s comes from protein-packed bits of quinoa. It's also made with organic, fair-trade chocolate, contains a third of the sugar you'll find in a Nestle, and is both vegan and gluten-free. And while Alter Ego’s taste alludes to Nestle's popular product, it's high-quality dark chocolate gives it a flavor that's a million times better.
What should you add to your Netflix queue for your snackathon? How about this new series that could help you reach your chic french girl #goals or one of these five post-breakup picks.
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