These last few weeks we have been doing a lot of talking about what’s right and what’s wrong to eat while low carbing. This week I want to talk about … Candy!
Yes, I said candy. Once you get through the first 7-10 days, the period we call sugar detox. You’ll start feeling better and witness the weight begin to fall off of you. Then you can start enjoying some of the sugar-free yummies that are available on our low carb lifestyle. There are so many, but you really need to watch the labels. Remember, when choosing a sugar-free treat, it still has to fit into the same guidelines we go by daily. Which are: You are allowed to have 20 net carbs per day and only 2 grams of sugar or less per serving. Sugar alcohols will be listed on the nutritional guidelines panel on the back of the product. To find your net carbs you take your total carbs listed on your nutritional label, and then subtract the total fiber and sugar alcohols. This will give you your total net carbs per serving. So looking to the label at the right, after subtracting our fiber and sugar alcohols, our total net carbs are 5. It’s really important to follow the serving size when indulging. You will be surprised to find that some treats will be very large serving sizes while others many only be a piece or two. So really watch those labels.
So now that we’ve learned how to find net carbs in sugar-free foods let’s talk about some of our favorite candy! Here are our top five sugar-free candies, as voted on by our readers.
#1: Russell Stover Sugar Free Mint Patties
Much like the peppermint patty candies you can buy at most checkout counters, these mints really hit the spot. They are a combination of cool mint in a dark chocolate candy shell and come individually wrapped. Plus they’re made with Splenda and only have one net carb per three pieces. A definite indulgence worthy of 1 net carb.
#2: Russell Stover Peanut Butter Cups
Yum is all I can say. These are amazing and taste amazing too. A delicious flavor combination of peanut butter covered with chocolate candy. Very similar to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, but with more of a honey taste to the peanut butter. Bite-sized pieces are individually wrapped. A must try at only have one net carb per cup.
#3 Quest Bars
Quest Bars are being sold as nutritional bars, but you really need to think of them as sugar-free candy bars. They are also made with whey, which doesn’t settle in some people’s system correctly. That being said, if you are one of the peeps that can tolerate them, they are fantastic. They also expand in your stomach and really fill you up, so they are a great meal replacement food for when you’re on the go. They come in several flavors. Favorites include Quest Oreo Bars, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Cinnamon Roll.
#4 Sugar Free Gummy Bears
These are really good, tasty and make you forget you’re eating sugar-free candy. But you need to make sure you pick up the type made with Splenda and not Maltitol. What is Maltitol you ask? Well, it’s another type of sugar alcohol, only it has a tendency to cause diarrhea … and not just a little, but massive amounts. To really understand what I’m talking about, read the hilarious reviews left by customers on Amazon. They’re funny but also true. Any sugar-free candy with Maltitol can cause this reaction, so always check your labels.
#5 Werther’s Sugar Free Chewy Caramels
Looking for something that tastes like real caramel? Something that doesn’t taste sugar-free? Then I have just the thing for you. Werther’s makes a full line of sugar-free candy. From butterscotch chews to chewy caramels. You can’t go wrong with this brand. You do, however, need to watch the carb count. While some are low, only two carbs per six pieces, other varieties have as high as one carb per small piece. So enjoy them, just watch your labels.
As you can see, low carbing doesn’t have to be boring, there are lots of alternatives. Staying on a lifestyle like this sometimes just takes a little imagination. So keep up the great work. Enjoy your candy, and keep losing the weight you want to lose. By the way, if you haven’t joined us yet … now is the time. A new month is coming up, and that means it’s time to do what you’ve been putting off. It’s easy to start, just pick up a copy of the low carb plan we’re using called Fat to Skinny by author Doug Varrieur. It’s a quick read, but it will make the low carb lifestyle really come to life for you. If you have already been doing it with us at home and you’re proud of your progress, drop me an email at aByteOfLife@FeminineCollective.com or hit us up on Twitter @femininecollect. We would love to hear all about how you’re doing, plus you might make it into one of the weekly articles.
By the way, be sure to check in with us next week when I share with you how to incorporate cocktails into your low carb lifestyle. Until then … keep your carb count down and your attitude up.
Week 1 – The Rules
Week 2 – Getting Started
Week 3 – Favorite Things
Week 4 – Screwing Up
Week 5 – I Want Candy
Week 6 – Taking Care of You
Week 7 – You Can Do It!
Week 8 – Wine, Beer, Tequila? Definitely!
Week 9 – Carb Creep
Week 10 – Hollywood Eats Low Carb. You Can Too!
Week 11 – Wow! You Did it!
Photo Credit: terren in Virginia via Compfight cc
