Healthier Valentine's Candy and Chocolate

I used to have a sweet mouth. Not a sweet tooth, that wouldn’t do justice to my love of all things sugary. In my early college days, I would stop at one of those stores entirely devoted to candies, fill a lunch-sack sized bag, take it to my three-hour writing seminar and share it during class with my best friend. We would finish the bag. And we didn’t share.

Image from www.naturalcandystore.com

I’ve moved on from my sugar-induced writing binges and don’t really enjoy sweets like I used to, but since Valentine’s is just around the corner, I thought I should see what’s out there. Several options appeal to me in the candy category (I’m taken with the extra-big heart lollipop) and any of the dark chocolates on the next page are fair game if you put them within my reach.

HEALTHY CANDY ALTERNATIVES FOR VALENTINE’S DAY:

Note: Ingredients in those little Necco “conversation” hearts? Sugar, corn syrup, corn starch, gelatin, modified food starch, natural and artificial flavors, gum arabic, xanthan gum, FD&C Colors (Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue1).

Image from www.naturalcandystore.com

1. The Natural Candy Store: Online purveyor of all-natural, organic, non-hydrogenated candies.

2. Surf Sweets: Gluten free gummy candies, made in a nut-free facility, corn syrup and GMO free, with only natural colors and flavors using organic fruit juice and sweeteners.

3. Glee Gum: All natural colored and flavored gum.

4. Real Healthy Stuff: Handmade candy with all natural flavors and colors, gluten free and no preservatives.

5. Sugar Coated Organics: An online retailer carrying various organic candies with no artificial flavors or colors and no corn syrup. Many of their brands are gluten free, nut free, dairy free or vegan.

Next: Chocolate!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Michele W.

7:40AM PDT on Jul 25, 2011

Thank you

send a green star

CC R.

4:35PM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

it would be nice if this page could give you some ideas for those interesting ideas; but thats just a sugestion! so dont think im like hating this cuz it gave me some ideas but still. it was a good article!

jessica w.

12:12PM PDT on Apr 7, 2011

cool

Kelsey C.

10:00AM PST on Feb 28, 2011

thanks

dve d.

12:38AM PST on Feb 26, 2011

yum yum

Ioana B.

4:12AM PST on Feb 25, 2011

mmm..yummy,thanks