I thought I’d died and went to sugar heaven as I entered the recent ALL CANDY EXPO 2009 in Chicago.  It was a sea of confections all waiting to be taste tested.  I know you are wondering why me - a registered dietitian/nutritionist, would enter the den of temptation like this…but to be honest I was on a mission to find the healthy gems hidden under all of the sugar-coating.   I have to say that my sweet tooth is sharper (and more demanding) than its  salty and fat counterparts - and that was why this tasks was perfect for me.  

One of the nutritionally interesting confections was from a Chicagoland-based company, Brightspot Brands, LLC.  The product is called Gimme and touted as “Candy with Benefits”.   Who doesn’t love crunchy dark or milk chocolate balls that melt in your mouth?!  The great news about this candy is that the three varieties are  jam-packed with calcium, probiotics and omega-3 fats (that’s the healthy fat — in these candies its derived from flaxseed).  I am not quite sure if you are getting all of the nutrients that each bag boasts, but they taste darn good and 12 peices are 120-130 calories – that is fits into my snack calorie quotient perfectly!

   Another wonderful find was out of Ixonia, Wisconsin – a company called Oskri  Organics has some beautifully tasting and formulated products.  From olive oils to fruit/sesame/nut bars to fig/date/sesame/molasses spreads, the taste is outstanding with a clean profile!  I fell in love with the fig bar which is 100% figs (that’s it!).  Every bite is worth the 100 calories of melt-in-your-mouth, dried fig goodness.   This is the sweet spot for any sweet tooth!  Check them out at www.oskri.com.