Try as I might to control it, I have a terrible sweet tooth that frankly makes me wonder why haven’t developed Type 2 diabetes yet. In hopes of sparing my children from this curse, I’ve always tried to steer them away from junky, sugar-laden sweets in favor of healthier stuff. Yes, I’m a total hypocrite. Unfortunately, it’s gotten a lot harder since they’ve started school. Every birthday party and holiday is an excuse to sugar the kids up with cupcakes (covered with that nasty bakery icing) and then send them home with a buttload of candy. Suddenly the healthy stuff I’d always given them was more like a punishment than a treat *sigh* Since they’re now fully aware of the appeal of candy, I’ve tried not to make it out to be some forbidden fruit because I know that will backfire. Instead, I let them have it in moderation and only after they’ve eaten something healthy. Searching for not-totally-unhealthy candy, however, has been a bit of a challenge (particularly because it has to peanut-free) but I recently picked up a bag of YummyEarth organic lollipops and it’s the smartest thing I ever did. They taste awesome because they’re sweetened with organic fruit extracts, they’re colored with cool things like organic carrots and pumpkin instead of chemicals, they’re peanut-safe (also gluten, wheat, soy and tree nut-free) and the ones I got have 75% of the daily recommendation of vitamin C. So to recap…I can bribe my kids with give my kids these little YummyEarth lollipops and they’re totally psyched, getting a lot of vitamin C and best of all, NO high fructose corn syrup. Oh, and as a total bonus? They satisfy mommy’s sweet tooth, as well. WIN.

Find It Here: YummyEarth

Looking for kid-friendly snacks made from real food instead of multi-syllabic chemicals you can’t even pronounce? Well, there is nothing fake about this first snack! With a ½ cup of 100% fruit and no added sugar in each bar, Dakota Gourmet’s Real Fruit Jerky are the real deal and they’ll have you  happily waving goodbye to those artificial fruit roll-ups things. But even better, they are 100% tree nut, peanut, dairy, wheat and gluten-free, making them a tasty, healthy AND safe treat for kids with those types of allergies.

Find It Here: Peanut-Free Planet

Looking for the perfect companion for your morning coffee or your kid’s yogurt cup?  Made from 100% whole wheat flour, pumpkin puree, applesauce, blueberries and flaxseed meal, PistachiOats Blueberry cookies are wholesome, tasty and heart-healthy!

Find It Here: PistachiOats Blueberry Cookies

When heading to the park, a walk, or long car ride a snack becomes a necessity in my world. Sometimes, I even share them with my 3 yr old (ha!) which is why I like to make sure, if I am not packing homemade treats, that I buy quality organic and natural snacks.  Thank goodness companies are hearing the cry for wholesome snacks that are not loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other artificial additives I can hardly pronounce. Here is a rundown of a few sure-to-satisfy goodies.

If you prefer a little crunch and salt in your snack, then Happy Herbert’s offers over 30 fun-to-eat snacks. Happy Herbert’s Organic Spelt Mini Pretzels are a crunchy and tasty alternative to conventional modern wheat pretzels.

Find It Here: Happy Herbert’s

Or maybe you are the fruit and veggie type person? That’s cool and lucky you, Sensible Foods offers a line of Crunch Dried snacks. Each bag is fat free, 100% natural, gluten and GMO free and nothing but fruit or veggie. Choose from flavors such as 100% Organic Sweet Corn, Cherry Berry, or Apple Harvest. Don’t be surprised if your kids mistake them for candy instead of something healthy. We won’t tell if you wont!

Find It Here: Sensible Foods

Finally, I know there are parents out there saying, “Hey, my kid is allergic to peanuts. What about us?”  Well, a mother in 2005 started a company for that very reason.  Nonuttin’ Foods is a family-run business producing 100% peanut-free snacks, including granola bars. Nonuttin’ Foods maintains very high standards for making sure their products do not come in contact with anything nut-related which means parents of peanut-allergic kids can dole them out, worry free!  As an added bonus, all three of the aforementioned companies are involved with giving back to the community and providing an environmentally-friendly workplace. Happy snacking!

Find It Here: Nonuttin’ Foods

Stumped about what to stick in that cheery holiday sock (assuming coal is not an option)? Then Glee Gum just might be the green alternative you need to reward all the sweet-toothed members of your family—from the young to the young-at-heart on your “nice” list. According to the folks who make Glee Gum, not only is their gum gluten-free and vegetarian, but the chewy goodies (emphasis on good) provide employment to chicleros in Mexico and Central America who sustainably harvest the natural gum base, or chicle, to help create Glee Gum products. I was also delighted to learn that this gum contains no artificial preservatives or sweeteners such as aspartame or saccharin. You can choose from traditional flavors including peppermint and spearmint or try tangerine or triple berry. If your children are older than mine, you might also love Glee’s three “Make Your Own” kits, which allow you to cook up a lesson on teamwork, math, and chemistry, with a dash of rainforest ecology-nomics, all while testing tasty recipes for chocolate, gummies, or chewing gum! Mmmm…it’s educational and tasty!

Find It Here: Glee Gum

Imagine taking a beach vacation somewhere. Mmmm, nice. Now imagine having the peace of mind that your accommodations are not only designed with eco-awareness, but also designed to vastly decrease your exposure to the chemicals and toxins typically found in furniture, flooring, paint, water, linens etc. which is especially ideal for people who suffer from chemical sensitivities. At CleanStay Non-Toxic Vacation Rentals on Pawley’s Island, South Carolina, you don’t need to use your imagination — all of the beds and furniture have been treated and off gassed to protect you from harmful chemicals and formaldehyde, all quilts, blankets, linens, and towels are 100% cotton and all cookware is safe and non-leaching. Other eco and health friendly features include:

• Tile & Hardwood Throughout
• Whole House H20 Filtration System
• Air Filtration System
• Non-Toxic Water Based VOC Free Paint & Sealers
• Grocery store nearby with organic & gluten-free products

Additionally, guests are asked to please refrain from the use of tobacco, toxic fragrances, chemicals or harmful cleaning products while at CleanStay. Now, we haven’t actually patronized CleanStay but we still think it sounds pretty awesome, especially for folks who really need to stay away from nasty chemicals and of course, we’d totally love to visit for purposes of, you know, doing an in-depth review. Subtle, aren’t I?  ;)

Find It Here: CleanStay Non-Toxic Vacation Rentals

Rice crispy treats have to be one of the all-time favorite desserts from my childhood. The gooeyness, the crunchiness, the rice crispiness of it all….Where was I? Oh yeah. There’s one downside. The marshmallows you get at the store are often made with artificial flavors and corn syrup and they’re typically not organic. That’s why I’m over the moon about the new Envirokidz Organic Crispy Rice Bars. They contain absolutely nothing artificial, they’re gluten free, trans fat free, low sodium, and they’re USDA organic. Plus YUM — they’re good! They also donate 1% of their sales to towards endangered species and environmental causes, which is cause to celebrate, no? The other cause to celebrate? You Your kids get to enjoy rice crispy treats again but this time? Without the artificial junk and that’s no easy feat these days!

Find It Here: Envirokidz

Win It! We’re giving away two boxes of Envirokidz Organic Crispy Rice Bars to two winners each! Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter “EK54” as the giveaway name and provide the answer to this question: What is your favorite Envirokidz Crispy Rice Bar flavor? U.S. and Canadian residents eligible. Enter by 9/15/08. Contest closed. Congrats Grace C. and Marion B.!