All About Smart Sweets
Smart Sweets was founded in 2016 by Tara Bosch, a young entrepreneur looking for tasty candy alternatives that were low in sugar and high in nutrition. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Smart Sweets aims to fight the global sugar epidemic by providing sweet treats made with natural, non-GMO ingredients and minimal sugar.
As a certified B Corporation, Smart Sweets is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices that benefit employees, the community and the environment. Their candies are made in a zero-waste facility powered by clean energy.
With their bright packaging and fun candy shapes, Smart Sweets markets towards millennials and Gen Z consumers who want to make healthier choices without sacrificing flavor. The brand has amassed a large social media following and is promoted by major influencers and celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian.
Smart Sweets Candy Nutrition
Smart Sweets has significantly less sugar than regular candy, using natural alternative sweeteners to keep the flavors sweet while cutting calories, carbs and sugar. Here‘s how their nutrition stacks up:
- 60-80% less sugar than comparable candy
- 3-5 grams of sugar per serving
- 100-120 calories per serving
- High in fiber – 9-13g per serving, about 30-50% DV
- No artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or colors
The main natural sweeteners used are allulose, stevia, monk fruit and soluble corn fiber. These have fewer calories than sugar and do not spike blood sugar. The fiber adds bulk and satisfaction.
The Sweet Pros of Smart Sweets
Here are some of the biggest benefits I found from eating Smart Sweets candies:
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Curb Sweet Cravings – They satisfy a sweet tooth thanks to their sweet taste and candy-like textures. The pre-portioned bags prevent overeating.
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Low Glycemic Impact – With very little sugar, Smart Sweets don‘t cause sharp spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels. Even diabetics may be able to enjoy them in moderation.
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High in Fiber – Each serving provides 30-50% of your daily fiber needs, which is rare in sweet treats. This boosts digestion and gut health.
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Allergen-Friendly – Most Smart Sweet products are free from common allergens like gluten, nuts, dairy and soy. The vegan gummies are gelatin-free.
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Fun Flavors – While not as varied as traditional candy, Smart Sweets offers fun fruity flavors like peach, raspberry, cherry and more in chewy gummies and sour soft candies.
Potential Downsides to Consider
While Smart Sweets candies beat out conventional candy in many ways, here are some things to keep in mind:
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May Cause GI Issues – Too much fiber at once can cause gas, bloating or diarrhea in sensitive people. Start with 1-2 pieces to see how your body handles the ingredients.
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Not Diabetic-Approved – While low-glycemic, some diabetics report blood sugar spikes. Check with your doctor before incorporating Smart Sweets as a daily treat.
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Limited Selection – With around 10 different candies, most in gummy form, Smart Sweet has fewer options than a whole candy aisle. Selection may be narrow for some.
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Price – At over $3 per bag, Smart Sweets costs almost 3 times as much as similar-sized mainstream candy bags. The natural ingredients come at a premium cost.
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Taste – While many love the taste, some find the alternative sweeteners make Smart Sweet taste slightly different than remembered childhood candies. The taste may take some adjusting for candy purists.
Smart Sweets Product Lineup
Smart Sweets offers a mouthwatering array of tantalizing low-sugar candies. Let‘s look at some of their top temptation:
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Fruity Gummy Bears – Chewy rainbow bears in juicy flavors like peach, raspberry and lemon. 4g sugar, 25 bears, 110 calories.
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Sweet Fish – Fan-favorite fish shapes bursting with sweet wild berry flavor. Colorful and vegan-friendly. 3g sugar, 100 calories.
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Sour Blast Buddies – Puckered-up Buddies pack a sour punch in flavors like cherry, orange and blue raspberry. Fat-free and non-GMO.
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Red Twists – Sweet and tangy red twists replace strawberry candy with a fraction of the sugar. Vegan and made with real fruit juice.
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Peach Rings – Juicy peach gummy rings with a deliciously tender texture that Peach Ring aficionados will love. Real peach puree.
With new product launches each year, from frosty NERDS to juicy Bloom Gummies, Smart Sweet gives classic candy a healthy, low-sugar transformation.
Do Smart Sweets Actually Taste Good?
Considering the significantly lower sugar content, many people wonder – do Smart Sweets actually taste good? Or do they taste like sad, sugar-free knockoffs?
The answer according to 1000s of reviews is a resounding YES – Smart Sweets candies do taste delicious and satisfy strong sweet cravings! The impression is they taste very close to classic candy store sweets.
"These are a lifesaver for my sweet tooth! I can enjoy a whole bag and not feel guilty."
Fans rave about the intense fruity flavors and sweet taste, with just a subtle difference from the high-sugar versions. Some say they like Smart Sweets EVEN BETTER than classics like Haribo and Sour Patch.
Of course taste is subjective, but the overwhelmingly positive response speaks for itself. As long as you don‘t expect an exact sugar-based replica, most find Smart Sweet‘s flavors crave-worthy and delicious.
Health Benefits of Smart Sweets
Replacing candy high in refined sugar, corn syrup and artificial additives with Smart Sweet‘s low-cal candies offers several benefits:
Supports Blood Sugar Balance – With 3-5 grams of sugar instead of 25-30g in regular candy, Smart Sweets help stabilize blood sugar rather than cause sharp blood sugar spikes. This makes them gentler on your pancreas and metabolism. Those with diabetes can enjoy them in moderation without blood sugar crashes later.
Aids Digestion & Gut Health – Each Smart Sweet serving packs a substantial amount of fiber, which normal candy completely lacks. Fiber feeds healthy gut bacteria to support digestion and regularity. The high fiber content makes these candies prebiotic.
Controls Cravings & Hunger – The fiber and protein provide lasting satisfaction, while the sweet taste kills a candy craving. This helps control overeating. The pre-portioned bags prevent you from mindlessly devouring a whole bag of candy.
Lowers Inflammation – Candy high in sugar and synthetic ingredients can trigger inflammation linked to insulin resistance, weight gain and chronic disease over time. The anti-inflammatory effects of fiber in Smart Sweets counter this.
Provides Antioxidants – Many Smart Sweet products like the peach rings contain real fruit purees, giving them a natural antioxidant boost lacking in mainstream gummy candies. Antioxidants fight free radical damage in your cells.
Are Smart Sweets Keto-Friendly?
With around 36-42g of total carbohydrate and 24-32g of net carbs per bag, Smart Sweets may fit into a keto diet in very limited amounts, but should not become a daily go-to treat on keto. A few pieces can curb a sweet craving without throwing you out of ketosis. But restrain portion sizes to keep net carbs low.
Where To Buy Smart Sweets
Smart Sweet candies can be purchased directly through their website SmartSweets.com, on Amazon.com or at a rapidly growing number of grocery and big box stores like:
- Whole Foods Market
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Kroger
- Albertsons
- Safeway
- Target
- Walmart
- Costco
- Sam‘s Club
Smart Sweets continues to expand distribution worldwide, so check your local health food and candy aisles. You may spot their bright bags popping up in more spots soon!
Current Smart Sweets Discount Codes
Want to save on your candy cravings? Here are some current deals and discounts for Smart Sweets:
- Sign up for emails and get 10% off your first order
- Spend $100+ sitewide to qualify for 15% off
- Buy 3 bags, get the 4th free
- Check Amazon for occasional coupon codes and flash sales timed to holidays and special events
Smart Sweets FAQs
Let‘s answer some frequently asked questions about Smart Sweet candy:
Are Smart Sweets vegan?
Most Smart Sweets are vegan, with the exception of the Sour Gummy Bears which contain pork gelatin. All other gummies and jellies use pectin instead.
Are Smart Sweets gluten-free? Yes, all Smart Sweet products are certified gluten-free, making them safe for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance.
Do Smart Sweets expire?
Unopened Smart Sweet bags expire 9-12 months from the production date if stored properly away from heat and moisture. The expiration date is stamped on the back of each package.
Can diabetics eat Smart Sweets?
While lower in sugar than other candies, Smart Sweets may still impact blood sugar levels. Some diabetics report spikes after eating them. It‘s best for diabetics to enjoy Smart Sweets occasionally in small portions if tolerated. Check with your doctor.
Do Smart Sweets have Xylitol?
No, Smart Sweets are free from xylitol. Instead, they are sweetened with non-glycemic natural sweeteners like allulose and stevia which don‘t have the same risk of insulin spikes and drops.
What sugar alcohol is used in Smart Sweets? Smart Sweets does not contain ANY added sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol or mannitol.
Healthy Candy Alternatives
If Smart Sweets aren‘t your jam, consider these other low-sugar candy options:
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YumEarth Organic Lollipops – Available in indulgent flavors like strawberry and chocolate, these pops are sweetened with organic tapioca syrup and cane sugar. Just 5g net carbs makes these a tasty keto treat.
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ChocZero Chocolate – Trade sugar for monkfruit chocolate made using premium single-origin cacao beans for a rich taste and smooth texture rivalling the world‘s finest chocolatiers. Keto, paleo and soy-free friendly.
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Smartsweets Smartsours – Smartsweets offers an array of sours, smartfish, worms and frogs bursting with tangy sweet-and-sour sugar comparable to Sour Patch Kids. A delicious fraction of the sugar at just 2g per serving!
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PEZ Candy and Dispensers – PEZ makes sugar-free compressed tablet candy versions of classic dispenser flavors like sour cherry, lemon and orange. These nostalgic sweets are naturally sweetened.
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Pirate‘s Booty Fruity Booty – Crunchy puffed rice and corn snacks in favorite flavors like Strawberry Banana. With 4g fiber and 3g protein, Fruity Booty gives a healthy twist to crispy fruit snacks.
