More and more of us are struggling to digest conventional dairy. The most common complaints I hear of include bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. Although, an unaddressed food intolerance to dairy can also be the impetus for many more challenging chronic gut issues, too, like leaky gut, inflammation and imbalanced microflora any (or all) of which can contribute to hormonal imbalances, skin issues like acne, anxiety, fatigue, and more.
Those of you who have worked with me also know the dangers of cane sugar, which is one of the most common sugar additives. I’ve written about the long-term risks of high added sugar consumption on accelerated aging and declining health. You can read more about it here.
So, you’ve decided to try going dairy-free and cane sugar-free
…but you desperately miss the sweet treats! After all, nearly EVERY conventional dessert either has dairy or cane sugar, and more commonly, both. This is a common frustration, but it doesn’t have to be! I have personally been dairy-free and cane-sugar free myself for just shy of a decade. Access to more delicious dessert options has become much easier in the past few years, and I have made it a personal mission to find the best options and share them with you!
Right now, here are my favorite brands that have been tried and true for many years. You can buy any of these online, but most Whole Foods, Sprouts, Co-opportunities and even some Ralphs or Vons will have some of these brands, too.
Here are my top choices:
· Hu Brand: I love all of their chocolate bars, and most of them are safe to eat (warning: they did just come out with ONE dairy-full option, so just triple check that you’re choosing the non-dairy versions). I am also a huge sucker for Hu’s chocolate covered goji berries, chocolate covered cashews and chocolate covered almonds. They make amazing movie treats, too!
· Lulu’s Brand: These are a bit more elegant and come in a variety of amazing flavors. The individual package sizes are reasonable enough not to feel so guilty about eating a whole bar in one sitting. But believe me when I say that savoring these is way more fun.
· Honey Mamas: An unmatched, dairy-free take on fudge that will satisfy every ounce of your chocolate cravings. My favorite flavors are chocolate almond, coconut and chocolate cake.
· Hail Merry: This brand is entirely safe, and you will not regret these mini pies. I have loved this brand for years, and my absolutely favorite flavor is the key lime pie. If you’re struggling to find it in the store, check the fridge section, they are usually there.
· Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies: These cookies hit the SPOT. They are all dairy-free, but some of the chocolate chip versions have some cane sugar, so triple check the flavor before purchasing. My favorite options are the snickerdoodles and the peanut butter oatmeal.
· Nelly’s Organics: These are a nice cross between a dessert and a delicious protein bar, so I often opt for these as an afternoon snack. I love the coconut bar and caramel nougat!
· SO! Delicious: If you’re wanting some amazing dairy-free ice cream options, So! Delicious is a trusted option. They also have a lot of other ice cream-based desserts like dipped chocolate popsicles and ice cream sandwiches. Be warned though that most of the “chocolate chip” or “brownie” options might include cane sugar, so review the nutrition facts labels to ensure you’re choosing the right flavors!
· Cado Avocado: Avocado ice cream? Sounds strange, but is incredibly delicious. Creamy and chalk full of super healthy poly-unsaturated fats, this dessert is both nutrient-dense and mouthwateringly good.
· Lilly’s Chocolate Brand – Lilly’s has BOTH dairy-free options and dairy-full options, so you have to be careful to read the labels on these. But in general, the yellow bags are the safe options. They also have one type of peanut butter cups that you won’t want to miss. For all of my chocolate chip cookie lovers, be sure to try the Lilly’s Chocolate Chips for baking. It’s the only brand I use and they are so, so good!
Comment below with your favorites! And if you have other dairy-free, cane sugar-free options you think I must try, send them my way!
Happy desserting!
In health ‘n Mellness,
xo