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Our nutrition experts share their favorite low-sugar and low-calorie candy picks.

Did you know that the average American eats 60 pounds of sugar in just one year? In fact, most Americans consume on average about 77 grams of sugar daily, which is more than three times the American Heart Association's recommended limit for women. Of course, satisfying your sweet tooth is seriously necessary at times — and we believe in moderation and balance over restriction any day — but watching your added sugar intake is an important part of healthy living.

White table sugar may be delicious, but there is actually no nutritional need for it. While you may get a quick dose of energy from table sugar in the form of a blood sugar surge, you'll subsequently experience that drastic drop in energy or classic “sugar crash,” which can lead to symptoms like hunger, irritability, fatigue, headaches and more. Research shows that consuming too much of the sweet stuff can increase chronic inflammation and even raise the risk of serious health problems like diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease. Since table sugar is void of any nutrition, it contributes added empty calories to the diet.

But there are some lower-sugar options that are a better choice when you are craving something sweet. Registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab, along with a panel of taste testers, evaluated dozens of treats to bring you the best of the best in terms of nutrition and taste. Here are the best healthier candy alternatives of 2022.

You can read more about how we evaluate healthy candy alternatives, as well as everything you need to know about added sugars, at the end of this article.

These seriously delicious gummy worms, bears and rings are vegan and have only 3 grams of sugar and 60 calories per bag. They're made without sugar alcohol and inulin, and they pack a lot of fiber into each bag (but our dietitians say because of the high fiber, it's best to limit yourself to just one bag a day). One tester's comment: "The sour worms were my favorite! Great consistency and flavor. I like that they're so low in sugar and calories too."

Nutrition facts (per bag of sour gummy worms): 60 calories, 0 total fat, 90 mg sodium, 37 g carbs, 18 g fiber, 3 g total sugar, 3 g added sugar, 0 g protein

A staff favorite, these whole fruit gummies are made with fruit and vitamin C – that's it. They are free from added sugars or artificial coloring, and each yummy pouch has one whole serving of fruit. Plus, they're vegan and organic. “Love these!" said one of our testers. "They have the same consistency as a candy fruit snack. Loved how chewy they were, and the mango flavor had a great sweet taste. My 5-year-old liked them too!” Nutrition facts (per pouch): 60 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 6 g total sugars, 0 g added sugars, 0 g protein

Smart Sweets have no sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners or added sugar. No fake colors either: The vivid hues come from fruit and veggie juices! This choice is also high in fiber, so our dietitians say it's best to stick to no more than one bag a day. Enjoy remakes of your childhood favorites like sweet fish, peach rings, sour watermelon candies and more. "I generally don’t like non-sugar products, but I didn’t taste any 'fakeness' in these candies," a tester said.

Nutrition facts (per pouch, Sweet Fish): 100 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 42 g carb, 13 g fiber, 3 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 0 g protein

Another staff favorite, our editors and analysts love the great variety of products and thoughtful ingredients from Unreal. Our nutrition pros especially appreciate the use of fair trade chocolate and that the candies are free from sugar alcohols. They are all Non-GMO Project-verified too. There are dark chocolate coconut bars, peanut butter and almond butter cups (some of which have crispy quinoa for a nice crunch), dark chocolate quinoa gems and more.

Nutrition facts (per dark chocolate coconut bar): 70 calories, 5 g total fat, 4.5 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 8 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 3 g total sugars, 3 g added sugars, <1g protein

This better-for-you take on the classic crispy chocolate wafer uses fair trade chocolate and is free from artificial flavors or colors. They're just as delicious but without the corn syrup and hydrogenated oils of some other candies, and they have about 30% less sugar than the traditional stuff. The hint of sea salt is the perfect complement to the gourmet chocolate. Each individual pack comes with two wafers.

Nutrition facts (per package): 200 calories, 14 g total fat, 8 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 45 mg sodium, 19 g carb, 3 g fiber, 14 g total sugars, 14 g added sugars, 2 g protein

These dairy-free caramels (made with creamy coconut milk) have no corn syrup and are USDA organic too. Each piece has only about 2 grams of sugar — plus they're gluten-free with no artificial ingredients. And they have that wonderful sweet-and-salty thing going for them. Testers raved about them, with one saying they were "addictive — and vegan!"

Nutrition facts (per three pieces): 60 calories, 2 g total fat, 2 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 80 mg sodium, 9 g carbs, <1 g fiber, 7 g total sugars, 7 g added sugars, 0 g protein

This brand of organic, allergy-friendly sweets is free of the top eight allergens and contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial dyes. The fun flavors include pomegranate, mango, strawberry and watermelon, and they're organic, gluten-free, kosher and vegan. “My kids love these," said one tester, "and I feel good about giving the pops to them since they have no artificial dyes.”

Nutrition facts (per two pops): 45 calories, 0 g total fat, 0 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 mg sodium, 11 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 8 g total sugars, 8 g added sugars, 0 g protein

This brand is another staff favorite: You can hear the cheers when samples of their chocolate-covered almonds and cashews arrive at our offices. Now the company has branched out into these low-sugar dark chocolate peanut butter cups which are made with a simple list of ingredients you can pronounce and are free from stevia. One tester said that they had the "perfect amount of peanut butter and are super satisfying." That's thanks to the 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein per two-cup serving.

Nutrition facts (2 cups): 150 calories, 12 g total fat, 6 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 75 mg sodium, 13 g carb, 3 g fiber, 4 g total sugars, 4 g added sugars, 4 g protein

Who's going to argue with the magic combo of caramel, almonds and dark chocolate? These gluten-free and grain-free treats are low in sugar and low carb as well, making them popular in the keto community. Testers raved about the great flavor pairing and gooey-ness, and our experts love that a serving packs in 8 grams of filling fiber.

Nutrition facts (per piece): 110 calories, 9 g total fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 5 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 17 g carbs, 8 g fiber, <1 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 2 g protein

JoJo's dark chocolate bars are covered with nuts, fruit and more for a great texture and flavor combination with a dose of healthy fats and antioxidants. They have no added sugar and are free from gluten and soy and are fortified with hemp protein making them a super satisfying sweet treat. They have a simple ingredient list that comes together with a crunchy deliciousness you can feel good about eating.

Nutrition facts (per bar, Raspberry Almond Pistachio): 160 calories, 16 g total fat, 9 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 60 mg sodium, 13 g carb, 3 g fiber, <1 g total sugars, 0 g added sugars, 4 g protein

A winner in our taste tests and a favorite among our experts, these Hu chocolate bars are extremely high quality and free from sugar alcohols and emulsifiers. Each bite feels so decadent and satisfying but is made with premium wholesome ingredients that you can feel good about eating. Plus, the bars are USDA organic, Non-GMO Project-verified, certified gluten-free and certified vegan, too. "Seriously the best chocolate I have ever had," a tester raved.

Nutrition Facts (Almond Crunch, 1/2 bar): 180 calories, 12 g total fat, 7 g sat fat, 105 mg sodium, 13 g carb, 3 g fiber, 8 g total sugars, 8 g added sugars, 3 g protein

Made with 85% cacao and premium ingredients like organic cocoa butter, organic coconut and organic almonds, these little treats are the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Our experts love that a two-bar serving only has 3 grams of added sugar but packs in 3 grams of both fiber and protein for a satiating treat. Plus, the snaps are free from artificial and natural flavors.

Nutrition facts (per two bars): 180 calories, 15 g total fat, 9 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 5 mg sodium, 6 g carb, 3 g fiber, 4 g total sugars, 3 g added sugars, 3 g protein

Alter Eco is known for its organic, low-sugar fair trade chocolate in earth-friendly packaging, and this assortment of 60 truffles contains no gluten or artificial sweeteners. They're USDA organic and made with incredible Ecuadorian chocolate. Our nutrition pros also like that the wrappers are plant-based and compostable. Testers described them as the "perfect sweet treat, rich and creamy," and loved the compostable packaging aspect.

Nutrition facts (per piece): 80 calories, 6 g total fat, 4.5 g sat fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 5 g total carb, 0 g fiber, 4 g total sugars, 1 g protein

All sugars are simple carbohydrates that provide the body with a quick and easy source of energy. Some occur naturally, meaning they are part of foods — fructose, for example, is in fruit and root vegetables, and lactose is in dairy products. Because of where they occur, naturally occurring sugars come bundled with lots of good-for-you nutrients like vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Added sugars, on the other hand, are ones food manufacturers put into products to improve flavor or extend shelf life. While they have the same molecular makeup as naturally occurring sugars, added sugars are primarily found in heavily processed foods and drinks which tend to be nutrient-poor. They also don’t fill you up or offer other nutritional benefits, so it’s easy to eat way too much overall.

In the standard American diet, top sources of added sugar include soda, candy, cakes, cookies, pies and fruity drinks like ades and punches. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar daily for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men.

Registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab evaluated dozens of treats to find the best of the best in terms of nutrition and taste. Our pros looked for lower-sugar options that are made with thoughtful ingredients, prioritizing picks that are free from artificial flavors and additives. We even recruited real-life testers to help analyze flavor profiles, textures and more.

Stefani Sassos is a Registered Dietitian with an extensive knowledge of food labeling and nutrition requirements on food products, rigorously evaluating hundreds of claims for products that apply for the Good Housekeeping Seal. Growing up with a family in the restaurant business, Stefani was able to combine her nutrition expertise with culinary skills taught to her by her mother and grandmother. She's passionate about finding great tasting products that provide a healthier alternative but don't sacrifice on quality.