The product: Surf Sweets (79 cents for a snack-size, 0.9-ounce bag; $2 for a regular, 2.75-ounce bag); surfsweets.com for stores
The health factor: Study after study has shown that childhood obesity is on the rise, and added sugar and fat are major culprits. Researchers have concluded that more than 50% of American kids’ calories come from those two sources alone. But simply swapping chocolaty, sugar-coated treats for an apple probably won’t work. That’s where Surf Sweets come in: Organic fruit juice sweetens familiar gummy shapes (think worms, bears, and beans), and a serving can provide up to 100% of the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C. Plus, if your little goblin has food allergies, then you’ll be pleased to know that these candies are gluten free and casein free, and they don’t contain any of the most common allergens either.
Adults with an overactive sweet tooth can rejoice as well: You can snack on a handful of jelly beans (about 20) for only 90 calories.
The taste factor: Just like the real thing!
Why we love it: The kid in us still craves sweets from time to time, and it’s great to know that as our taste and nutrition knowledge has evolved, so has our candy.
