Satisfy Your Late-Night Sweet Tooth With These Sugar-Free Treats

Be honest: How often do you catch yourself taking late-night trips to the fridge to appease your sweet tooth? Yeah, we thought so (because we totally do it, too!). But what if you could embrace those nighttime cravings by replacing your usual snacks with healthy sugar-free treats that still taste like the most indulgent of cheat meals.

Healthy snacks don’t have to be tasteless or boring. But neither do your late-night snack sessions have to consist of sugary junk food. A happy medium of healthy and tasty does exist, even for moonlit munching.

Here’s what to look for in your healthy sugar-free treats, as well as a few of our favorites that you don’t have to feel guilty about snacking on before bed.

Identifying Healthy Sugar-Free Treats

Just because a label says “sugar free” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy — or that it will taste good. The truth is that sugar isn’t necessarily the villain it’s often painted to be. The real enemies are added (refined) sugars and other processed foods.  

Fake is fine when it comes to hair, designer bags, and certain body parts (hey, you do you!), but for the foods that fuel your body, all natural is best. For the healthiest sugar-free treats, stick to minimally processed or whole foods that already contain moderate amounts of natural sugar, and you’ll be much happier and better off.

5 Healthy Sugar-Free Treats for Late-Night Cravings

It’s easy to talk the talk (and while we’re at it, we’re thinking of running a marathon and finally updating our phones), but real change happens when you take action. Here are five healthy sugar-free treats that will keep that sweet tooth happy and are easy to make — so you have no excuse to open that tub of ice cream tonight.

Outstanding Foods Satisfy Your Late-Night Sweet Tooth With These Sugar-Free Treats


— Baked sweet potato fries: Sweet potato fries require a bit of prep time, but the payoff is well worth the effort. Not only are sweet potatoes comfort-food delicious, but they’re also chock-full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and more

— Vegan, sugar-free dark chocolate: Yes, you read that right — this list of healthy sugar-free treats includes chocolate! But not just any chocolate. Look for at least 70% cacao: The higher the cacao content, the greater the health benefits and the less likely it contains dairy or added sugar. 

— Air-popped cinnamon popcorn: It’s time to do away with the archaic idea that popcorn has to be dripping with butter or slathered in caramel to be tasty. There are healthier ways to enjoy popcorn: Try air popping your own corn and dusting it with some cinnamon for a sugar-free hint of sweetness.

— Bananas: In addition to other health benefits, bananas contain nutrients like magnesium and tryptophan that promote better sleep, making them the perfect late-night sugar-free treats. And they’re naturally sweet, too — two birds, one stone, and all that. 

— Outstanding Puffs: Our puffs are addictively delicious and highly nutritious, with five flavor profiles to satisfy any craving. Kansas City BBQ has just 1 gram of added sugar — enough to please that sweet tooth — and 7 grams of plant-based protein among other outstanding vitamins and minerals. 

The key to choosing sugar-free treats over processed ones is being prepared before the cravings strike. Not only do you need to have healthier options in the house, but they also need to be easily accessible. Otherwise, your monkey brain will take the path of least resistance and grab a few (*cough* pack of) cookies instead.

Sugar-Free Doesn’t Have to Be Boring

When choosing sugar-free treats, it might also help to approach from a different angle. Instead of thinking about what you can’t have or should avoid, focus on the high-quality ingredients you’re reaching for, the delicious flavors you’re about to enjoy, and how good they’re going to make you feel.

Shopping for sugar-free treats today? Find Outstanding Foods snacks in stores near you.