The poll had kids from ages 8 to 14 choose their favorite item to receive in a series of matchups and the candies with the top win percentages are perennial favorites! Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups had the best score, winning 75.9% of matchups. That’s followed by original M&Ms, the Milky Way bar, the classic Hershey’s chocolate bar and a Kit Kat. While chocolate dominated the favorites list, gummy bears snuck in for the sixth place spot. Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s Pieces, Peanut M&Ms and Twix bars rounded out the top 10.
The candy kids are least excited to receive? Black licorice. It only won 16% of its matchups and the poll found that kids prefer almost anything else, including beef jerky, an orange or even sugar-free gum! And if you want to go the healthier route, data revealed the fruit snacks are a big hit in the pre-teen set, which won out over many candies on the list.
YouGov conducted the poll of 703 U.S. kids quite recently, between September 22 and October 1. Now you know how to stock up as you head to the store before Halloween festivities. Just leave the black licorice on the shelf!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of Yaroslav Shuraev, Pexels
Do your favorite local candy store a solid and stock up on delectable delights from their aisles this Halloween. And if you’ve already bought your give-away stash, we suggest sneaking over to treat yourself from one of these Atlanta sugar shacks. Keep reading for our favorite Atlanta candy stores, below.
Collier Candy Co.
iStock
Inside Ponce City Market, this sweet shop with a vintage feel—right down to the squeaky floorboards—has an impressive collection of old-fashioned confections (remember Boston Baked Beans?) alongside some more interesting options.
Even Sweeter: Feeling adventurous? Try the Seattle Chocolate Company's milk chocolate truffle bar.
Ponce City Market 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Online:colliercandy.com
Chef Brulee’s chocolate store offers 38 of the most beautiful, delicious artisan chocolates you will ever taste. You have to try them all, but if you can only pick one, don't miss out on the leopard-dusted creamsicle chocolate.
Even Sweeter: They make custom cakes, so if you're in the market, make a trip to the store to see what they can do.
1140 Alpharetta Street #500 Roswell 404-953-0369 Online:chefbrulee.com
This whimsical candy store makes homemade gummy bears—everything from pineapple to grapefruit and even champagne for the grown-ups. Decadent truffles, old-fashioned soda and other candies can be purchased to satisfy your sweet tooth. Kids will love peering into the glass display to pick out their favorite pieces. Lolli & Pops carries sweet treats from around the world and some made locally.
Even sweeter: Pick up a gift tin for your friends with a sweet tooth. It makes the perfect hostess gift.
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE Perimeter Mall 770-551-7120 Online:lolliandpops.com
Sugar Factory Atlanta
iStock
Sugar Factory’s 800-square-foot Midtown Atlanta retail confectionary features a signature floor-to-ceiling candy wall with more than 500 types of sweet treats, including a selection of novelty and bulk candy like the brand’s world-famous Couture Pops. Completing the confectionary, the café will offer coffees, hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, homemade specialty rainbow doughnuts and pastries, in addition to homemade gelato and ice cream.
Even sweeter: Check out the gummy bear chandelier before you go.
1080 Peachtree Street NE Midtown 470-428-4395 Online:sugarfactory.com
Remember Creme Savers? The creamy swirled hard candy that you secretly loved to find in your grandparents’ treat dish? After a 10 year hiatus, two of the most popular flavors are back!
Back in the day, you could find this candy in multiple flavors, including tropical and dessert swirled blends. And Grandma’s house wasn’t the only place to enjoy it, since you could purchase whole bags or rolls at the store, as well as spinoffs like flavored yogurt and JELLO. Now you’ll be able to buy two of the top flavors once more: Strawberry & Creme and Orange & Creme.
Each piece is individually wrapped, as all proper hard candy should be. One taste of those fruit and creme swirls will likely bring on the nostalgia, big time. And like many good treats of the early 21st century, they’re sugar free.
Iconic Candy teamed up with Mars Wrigley to reformulate the original flavors and bring back Creme Savers. You can find them at Big Lots stores in 47 states starting in mid-September. No word on if we can look forward to other flavors…yet.
It’s the ultimate summer dessert, an occasional bribe, a sweet treat snuck from the freezer at midnight—it’s safe to say we’re obsessed with ice cream (as are our kids). We’ve rounded up a list of the best ice cream shops in every state (plus D.C.) so you can satisfy your sweet tooth all summer long. Keep reading to get the scoop on the ice cream parlors that should be on your radar.
1. Alabama: Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream With cones, floats, splits and old-fashioned sodas, Matt’s Homemade Alabama Ice Cream has something for everyone. Try a scoop of one of Matt’s specialties, like the Creole praline or red velvet cake—you'll be glad you did.
2. Alaska: Hot Licks Homemade Ice Cream During the summer months, Hot Licks is a must. Their ice cream is made in-house in 40-quart batches, and with local flavors like cranberry and wild blueberry, it’s some of the best Alaska has to offer.
3. Arizona: Sweet Republic From the local Arizona milk and cream to the slow-roasted bananas, everything here is made with care. And with rotating flavors like Meyer lemon, peaches ‘n’ cream and peaberry espresso, you’ll want to come to Sweet Republic again and again to try them all. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
4. Arkansas: Loblolly Creamery Loblolly Creamery is a must-stop the next time you’re in Little Rock. Folks in the know love their salted caramel and Little Rocky Road. Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible, from fruit to lavender.
5. California: Fentons Creamery Founded in 1894 in Oakland, Fentons has been a Bay Area favorite ever since. The ice cream is made in small batches (there’s a production tour for curious kids!), and the menu has decadent sundaes to satisfy any dessert connoisseur.
6. Colorado: Little Man Ice Cream With a distinctive shop in the shape of an ice cream cone, Little Man serves up nostalgic flavors that your whole crew will love (not to mention some awesome vegan options). And for every scoop of ice cream purchased, Little Man matches that scoop with a donated scoop of rice, beans or other essentials to a community in need.
7. Connecticut: Arethusa Farm For the ultimate in ice cream, you really can’t beat Arethusa Farm. Fresh milk is brought from their dairy cows a few miles away to make classic flavors like butter pecan, strawberry and pistachio.
8. Delaware: Woodside Farm Creamery The Woodside Farm was established in 1796, but their ice cream operation didn’t get started until 1998. They’ve been a Delaware favorite ever since, offering up flavors like dirt (that’s gummy worms and Oreo cookies in chocolate ice cream) and cake batter. Say hi to the cows after enjoying your scoop.
9. Florida: Azucar Ice Cream Company Be sure to scope out this sweet shop in Little Havana, where you'll find great flavors like platano maduro and rum cake with walnuts.
10. Georgia: Leopold’s Ice Cream Leopold’s Ice Cream was founded in 1919, and the shop still has old-school charm—the black marble soda fountain, wooden back bar and telephone booth come from the original location. The ice cream is just as delicious as ever, with classic flavors like butter pecan alongside unique seasonal picks like spicy mocha.
11. Hawaii: Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts In addition to regular scoops and cones, Bubbies’ specialty is mochi ice cream—a scoop of ice cream that’s wrapped in a layer of chewy mochi (a soft, sweet paste made out of rice). It’s a refreshing treat that’s sure to be an instant family favorite.
12. Idaho: Goody’s Soda Fountain You won’t regret a visit to Goody’s Soda Fountain—with their massive banana splits and ice cream sodas, there’s no way you’ll leave hungry. They also offer homemade chocolates if you’re in the mood for something different.
This fun ice cream spot was launched almost 100 years ago, but now they have four locations! Their ice cream trucks can also be found all over the city, and the spot on Navy Pier is especially fun for visitors. They have tons of flavors, plus ice cream cakes and even donuts.
14. Indiana: The Chief Ice Cream On a hot summer’s day, you can’t beat a visit to The Chief. Grab a scoop of peanut butter or toasted coconut and head out back to the picnic tables to gobble it up—delicious!
15. Iowa: Heyn’s Premium Ice Cream It’ll be love at first bite when you visit Heyn’s—the ice cream is made with 14% buttermilk fat content, giving it an extra oomph of creaminess. And with flavors like monster mash (vanilla ice cream with cookie dough, peanut butter and M&Ms) and blueberry cheesecake, you’ll keep coming back for more.
16. Kansas: Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream Sylas and Maddy’s takes hand-crafted ice cream to the next level. They use an entire watermelon in every batch of watermelon sherbet, and their pie flavors (think apple pie, key lime pie) contain an entire pie in each bucket of ice cream. Get your scoop in a homemade waffle cone to up the tasty factor.
17. Kentucky: The Comfy Cow The Comfy Cow is serious about making awesome ice cream, and you’ll be able to tell when you sample their flavors. Whether you go for brown butter peanut brittle or cookie monster dough, you won’t be disappointed.
13301 Shelbyville Rd., Ste. 106 Louisville, KY
Additional locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana
18. Louisiana: Creole Creamery You’ll love the old-school look of New Orleans’ best ice cream parlor, and with rotating flavors like lavender honey and chocolate malt chip, they’ve got something for everyone. If you dare, take the challenge to finish an enormous Tchoupitoulas sundae and earn a spot in their Hall of Fame.
19. Maine: The Dairy Corner With more than 70 ice cream flavors to choose from in addition to frozen yogurt and sorbet, it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone at The Dairy Corner. Bring your treats outside to the picnic tables and chairs to enjoy them in the sunshine.
20. Maryland: Scottish Highland Creamery Founded by an Edinburgh native, the Scottish Highland Creamery is a must visit, loved for their super fresh ice cream made with local ingredients, fresh milk, cream and flavorings imported from Italy. Order the Mexican vanilla or the Italian lemon cookie and prepare to be amazed.
21. Massachusetts: Toscanini’s Ice Cream Located around the corner from MIT, Toscanini’s has been serving up amazing ice cream to college kids, locals and tourists alike for more than 30 years. Try one of their inventive flavors like B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, and brownies) or sour cherry sorbet.
22. Michigan: Moomers Homemade Ice Cream This family-owned shop is a real winner, with more than 160 flavors made right in-house (20 of which are available each day). The coolest part? The shop overlooks their dairy farm, meaning you can watch the cows while you gobble up your ice cream.
23. Minnesota: Cup and Cone This understated hidden gem serves a generous helping of soft serve in a kiddie cone or cup for just .70 cents and that's just one of the things locals love about the Cup and Cone. The lines can go for over a block in the summer but they are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. most day so you can usually find a time to grab a treat. The owners donate proceeds to a special frozen treat (different ice cream treats are featured each month) to the local food shelf, and the Cup and Cone provides gainful summer employment for some of the sweetest local youth.
24. Mississippi: Area 51 Ice Cream Area 51 prides itself on using only the freshest seasonal produce—from the local farmers market, no less—for its ice creams. The end product is innovative flavors like blackberry goat cheese, green tea latte and salted dark chocolate.
25. Missouri: Betty Rae's Ice Cream Newly re-opened under new owners, Betty Rae's still offers unique flavors like Lavender Honey, brown butter & toasted pecans and blood orange creamsicle.
26. Montana: Big Dipper Ice Cream On a summer evening, there’s nothing better than a visit to Big Dipper. Relax at their picnic tables while you devour a scoop of their raved-about huckleberry ice cream on a homemade waffle cone.
27. Nebraska: Ted & Wally’s An Omaha classic, Ted & Wally’s has been selling their 18% butterfat ice cream since 1984. They’ve got classic flavors like Dutch chocolate alongside more experimental rotating batches like watermelon gazpacho and butter mochi.
28. Nevada: Dylan's Family Ice Cream This mom-and-pop shop is a kid’s ice cream dream. In addition to colorful flavors like circus animal cookies, rainbow sherbet and birthday cake, they’ve got an area with games and a chalkboard just for the little ones.
29. New Hampshire: Jordan’s Ice Creamery With a huge selection of homemade ice creams, frozen yogurts and sugar-free options, there’s something for everyone at Jordan’s. Try their blueberry pie ice cream (made with Maine berries!) or the coffee heath bar.
30. New Jersey: Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream Cool off with a scoop or two of seriously delicious ice cream at Cliff’s. From butterbeer to s’mores to peach melba, the rotating list of flavors will keep you coming back for repeat visits.
31. New Mexico: I Scream Ice Cream I Scream Ice Cream is heaven for the little ones—after you’ve polished off a scoop of cotton candy or raspberry chocolate chunk, head to the back of the store to check out their collection of vintage memorabilia, toys, and games. Go ahead, play a game on the Ms. Pac-Man machine or play dress-up with their collection of masks.
32. New York: Ample Hills Creamery New York has enough amazing ice cream parlors to keep your sweet tooth satisfied and then some, but our top pick goes to Ample Hills for their hands-on approach. Their ice cream is pasteurized on site, and almost all their mix-ins are made in-house from scratch. Try The Munchies (pretzel-infused ice cream with Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and M&Ms) or Snap Mallow Pop (marshmallow ice cream with Rice Krispie clusters).
33. North Carolina: The Parlour After operating out of a converted school bus for two years, The Parlour opened their Durham shop in 2013, and they’ve been serving up delicious 18% butterfat ice cream ever since. Try one of their well-loved, inventive flavors like salted butter caramel, blueberry buttermilk (made with local NC berries) or rosemary olive oil.
34. North Dakota: Pride Dairy The only small-town creamery remaining in North Dakota, Pride Dairy is a must-visit shop. They still use the same basic recipe from when the creamery started producing ice cream in the 1940s, offering tried-and-true flavors like strawberry cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter and rhubarb-strawberry.
35. Ohio: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams You can count on Jeni’s for inventive and delicious flavors—think gooey butter cake, brambleberry crisp, wildberry lavender and Bangkok peanut. You’ll love the smooth taste (thanks to the buttercream base); all their ice creams are made without synthetic flavorings, dyes and off-the-shelf mixes.
36. Oklahoma: Roxy’s Ice Cream Social Grab a simple scoop or a cookie ice cream sandwich at this Oklahoma City hot spot. Their small-batch ice creams are a local favorite, offering classic flavors like cookies 'n' cream alongside a rotating menu of specialties like bananas foster and graham cracker.
37. Oregon: Salt & Straw At Salt & Straw, you’ll find crazy unique flavors year round. Whether you’re in the mood for Meyer lemon buttermilk with blueberries, goat cheese marionberry habanero or cinnamon snickerdoodle, you’re going to leave satisfied.
838 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, OR
3345 SE Division St. Portland, OR
2035 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR
Additional locations in Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco
Penn State's dairy research started in 1865, and with that came the creamery. They offer dozens of flavors and their world-famous 12 steps to perfect ice cream are legendary. A visit to the area is not complete without a stop at the Creamery.
119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building University Park, PA 16802
39. Rhode Island: Brickley’s Ice Cream With more than 45 flavors to choose from on any given day, Brickley’s has classic flavors that everyone in your family will love. Get your scoop on a homemade waffle cone and sit back and enjoy the huge portions.
40. South Carolina: Sweet Cream Company With a constantly rotating menu, on any given day at Sweet Cream Company, you’ll find ingenious flavors like white chocolate lavender, blueberry crumble and cranberry thyme sorbet. You can also snag a cookie ice cream sandwich—of course, the cookies are made from scratch in-house too.
41. South Dakota: Leones’ Creamery Leones’ Creamery is a small-town staple with some seriously delicious and unexpected flavors: think blueberry goat cheese, vanilla black pepper and rhubarb. Since the menu is constantly changing, you’ll want to come back again and again.
42. Tennessee: Clumpies Ice Cream Co. Opened by the son of a third-generation candy maker, Clumpies has been a Chattanooga favorite since 1999. Try one of their signature flavors like coconut almond chunk or raspberry sorbet, or go for a specialty like sweet corn blueberry or vegan peanut butter Oreo.
43. Texas: Lick Honest Ice Creams This Austin hot spot takes honest to heart when making their ice cream—they source milk and cream from a family-owned dairy in central Texas, and their seasonal offerings let the freshest local ingredients shine. Try an old standby like Texas sheet cake or get adventurous with lemon lavender or loquat margarita.
44. Utah: Rowley’s Red Barn Located right on a farm, Rowley’s is totally worth the trip. They’re famous for their home-grown cherries, so the cherry cheesecake or cherry chocolate chip is a must-try. Or go for an apple cider slush—icy hand-pressed apple cider that can be mixed with vanilla ice cream.
45. Vermont: Creemee Stand Of course Ben & Jerry’s is Vermont’s most famous ice cream empire, but Creemee Stand is another local favorite. With rave-worthy soft serve and hard scoop ice creams, they’ve really got something for everyone. Try their signature maple soft serve, made with fresh Vermont maple syrup.
46. Virginia: Island Creamery Since 1975, Island Creamery has been serving up delicious treats to locals and tourists alike on beautiful Chincoteague Island. Sample the muddy butter (chocolate ice cream with nutter butter cookies and peanut butter swirl) or the cantaloupe—you’ll be an instant fan!
47. Washington: Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream When it comes to ice cream, we’re all about fresh and local, and Molly Moon’s fits the bill. 90% of their ingredients are locally sourced, from milk and cream to honey and fruit. The result is drool-worthy flavors like cherry chunk, honey lavender and cookie chunk that your whole crew will love.
48. Washington D.C.: Ice Cream Jubilee Started by a corporate lawyer turned ice cream mogul, Ice Cream Jubilee is a must-visit the next time you’re in the District. You’ll love their outside-the-box flavors like snickers snickerdoodle and Thai iced tea.
49. West Virginia: Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream For almost 20 years, Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream has been serving up old-fashioned treats that locals and tourists alike love. In addition to the classics like mocha almond and black raspberry, you’ll find a rotating selection of seasonal flavors like lavender honey and lime orange pineapple.
50. Wisconsin: Sassy Cow Creamery Head to Sassy Cow for some of the creamiest, freshest ice cream around. You can gaze at the grazing cows as you chow down on your ice cream, and you can also pick up delicious milk and cheese there while you’re at it. Hunker down with a yummy scoop of blueberry cheesecake or caramel chunk.
51. Wyoming: Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream Huckleberry ice cream, anyone? You’ll find it and lots more at Moo’s, a Wyoming favorite serving up rave-worthy treats. With a rotating menu of 24 flavors, there’s definitely something for everyone in your crew.
Summer means lots of adventures that are sustained by healthy, power-packing snacks. That’s why we’ve gathered up power bites that will be a hit with tiny tummies everywhere—and fuel the whole family on your next great adventure. Featuring energy-boosting ingredients and great flavors, these snack balls are easy to whip up for all your on-the-go needs. Click through our gallery to find the recipe you want to try.
When it comes to these Banana Bread Energy Bites from Running with Spoons, the magic number is five. There are just five ingredients and they take just five minutes to make—which all adds up to a quick and tasty snack for all your family adventures. Get the recipe here.
If your hiking snacks could use a bit of fall flavor, look no further than these Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Energy Balls from The Healthy Maven. They’re made with pumpkin puree and are easy to customize for every pint-sized taste. Plus, they don’t need a food processer to whip up—sweet! Get the recipe here.
Nope, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. These Golden Raisin No-Bake Energy Bites may look like luscious truffles but they can definitely hold their own in the “healthy snack” category. Sporting natural sugars, healthy fats, omega 3s and fiber, these sweet bites can carry you through family treks, road trip munchies, and beyond. Get the recipe here.
What’s the best way to start the day? These Raspberry Coconut Breakfast Balls from Feeding Finn! These little bites of goodness have zero refined sugar and a healthy dose of protein via ground almonds. Plus, little connoisseurs will love that eye-catching color. Get the recipe here.
If you want to give your snacks a tropical twist, Peas & Crayons has just the thing: Key Lime Pie Energy Bites. Thanks to freshly squeezed lime juice, these bites are a cool combo of sweet and tart—and they taste oh-so-similar to Key Lime Pie Larabars. Get the recipe here.
Psst! Here's a little secret, courtesy of Love to Be in the Kitchen: you can get a fix of your favorite cookie in the form of these Monster Cookie Energy Bites. The kid-pleasing ingredients include peanut butter, chia seeds, honey, and mini M&Ms—which means that you’ll have to keep an eye on your little monsters to make sure these snacks don’t disappear all at once. Get the recipe here.
Here’s the scoop on these Cranberry Coconut Energy Bites from Life Made Sweeter: the irresistable sweetness comes from dried cranberries and bananas, they’re packed with protein, and toddler chefs can help make them. Plus, if you sub in gluten-free oats, these snacks can easily be a tasty gluten-free treat. Get the recipe here.
What’s up, Doc? These Carrot Energy Bites from Vegan Heaven feature a dream team of just five ingredients—including everyone’s fave orange veggie. They also check a lot of other snacktime boxes: vegan, sugar-free, nutrient-rich, and easy to make. We guarantee your wascally wabbits will love ‘em. Get the recipe here.
Good news! Eating Bird Food has cracked the snacking code with these Cherry Larabar Balls, which have the same great taste as their inspiration. They clock in at only 10 minutes of prep work and only require five ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Get the recipe here.
You may never look at quinoa the same once you try these Almond Quinoa Energy Balls from MJ and Hungryman. With a dash of figgy sweetness and protein via almonds and quinoa, these are just the kind of “smart snacks” that will see you through hikes, errands, and everything in between. Get the recipe here.
The genius of these Apple Cinnamon Cookie Energy Bites from Kristine’s Kitchen Blog is that they taste like cookies but have a whole lot more going for them: fresh apple, almond butter, oats, and cinnamon-y goodness. The only question is how long they’ll last. Get the recipe here.
Got a kiddo with a nut allergy? No worries! Lexi's Clean Kitchen has you covered with these delish Nut-Free Power Bites. These snacks are loaded with sunflower seeds and sunbutter, making them an awesome way to get a mid-hike protein boost. Bonus: they’re easy to mix up—no food processor needed! Get the recipe here.
Even if you begin your cruise vacation with the best of intentions, making healthy choices can be a challenge. The nightly dessert menu and 24-hour pizza and ice cream can get the best of even the most diligent efforts. So indulge. Enjoy. But find balance on your vacation with these simple tips for eating healthy on a cruise ship.
Cruises are one of the least expensive and most fun trips you can take with your family! One of the best parts about cruising is the food: the endless, decadent, bountiful array of dining options, enough to make your head spin and your stomach rumble! And moreover, food is included in the price when you book a cruise, so you have to get your money’s worth, right?
With so many restaurants and eateries on board to choose from, it’s easy to see how people can over-indulge. Cruise ships are notorious for offering lavish feasts at all hours of the day and night. And it wouldn’t be a true cruising experience if you didn’t partake a little. But with some easy tips you can make healthy choices that won’t leave you feeling left out of the fun.
Eating Healthy in the Dining Room
Every cruise ship has a formal dining room, where you can dress to the nines and enjoy a three-course meal nightly. Now I can tell you to order broiled fish instead of fried or steamed veggies instead of fries, but that’s Basic Healthy Eating 101. So here’s the deal.
Cruise lines have responded to requests for healthy choices by offering vegetarian, vegan, low-fat, gluten-free and sugar-free options in their main dining rooms. Your best tip for eating healthy in a cruise ship dining room is to introduce yourself to your waiter on the very first night and let him or her know your needs. Since you will likely have the same server throughout your trip and service is a cornerstone of any great cruise, they’ll remember your preferences.
Ask your server to be sure the kitchen staff is aware of your requests. Opt for healthy food choices and don’t be afraid to ask them to hold the sauce, the butter or whatever decadent thing they’re cooking with that night.
Don’t Be Shy
But don’t deprive yourself either, find a balance—have the juicy steak, but maybe opt for extra carrots instead of the mashed potatoes. Don’t miss out on the cheesecake, but maybe on a couple of nights try the sorbet instead. And if you’re going to have the omelet and pancakes for breakfast, maybe just a small salad for lunch. You get the idea!
All Hands on Deck
Most cruise ships offer food and snacks poolside for guests to enjoy during the day. While burgers and BBQ are the norm, Carnival Cruises stepped it up a notch with their Blue Iguana Cantina, located on the Lido Deck.
My son and I recently cruised aboard the Carnival Inspiration with a girlfriend and her kids. And I have to be honest…the Blue Iguana was my favorite place to grab a bite. If it didn’t close each day at 6pm, we probably would have had dinner there most nights, too!
The Blue Iguana Cantina serves made to order burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas for breakfast and lunch. All of the ingredients are fresh and there is a toppings and salsa bar so you can customize to your taste. Chicken or fish tacos with lettuce, salsa, beans and guacamole are a delicious and healthy mid-day meal.
Cruise the Buffet
Buffets offer you the opportunity to eat as much or as little and as healthy or unhealthy, as you want! So bring along your appetite and the willpower to make wise choices and you’ll be fine.
Salad bars as great places to fill your plate with veggies, fresh fruit, meats and cheeses. I took a Disney Cruise with my son last year and were delighted to find one of the best spreads of healthy choices at their buffet we’ve ever seen at sea.
Another area at the buffet that tends to have healthy options is the international foods section, where there may be a chef cooking stir-fry to order. Get lots of vegetables and ask the chef to go easy on the oil. You can also typically find steamed vegetables and a carving station at your ship’s buffet—opt for sliced turkey or lean roast beef and go easy on the gravy, which is often loaded with salt.
Hit the Juice Bar
We’re seeing juice bars more and more on cruises. Although these are typically one of the few items you’ll have to pay extra for, you may find it worth the splurge for a healthy snack!
Many ships are also adding frozen yogurt options alongside their infamous soft serve ice cream machines. When we sailed on the Disney Wonder, the frozen yogurt machine was the definitely the healthy snack of choice each day.
Cruise the Ship’s Casual Eateries
More relaxed than a formal dining room but a bit more fancy than poolside dining, more and more ships are embracing the notion of casual eateries on the board. And the good news is, they tend to offer lighter fare, while not skimping on flavor.
Celebrity Cruises has the AquaSpa Café. This casual eatery near the Solarium pool area on Solstice-class ships is ideal for light bites. Breakfast options include smoothies, yogurt parfaits, eggs and fresh fruit. For lunch, healthy choices include a watermelon and feta salad, steamed salmon and grilled chicken.
That is just one example. Many ships now have light fare eateries and some even feature sushi bars, which may or not come at an extra fee depending on the cruise line.
I am a travel writer, wife, mother and believer in all things happy and healthy. I created my family travel website, CaliforniaFamilyTravel.com, to share the best tips, destinations and experiences in California and beyond for active, healthy families.
Sugar-free, oil-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, fruit-filled, paleo—whatever your definition of a healthy birthday cake (and smash cake) fit for a first birthday, we’ve found a recipe you’ll love. Bonus: They taste good enough for grown-up guests. Read on for 18 first-birthday cake ideas that are both smashing and smashable.
Feast your eyes on this! This sugar-free cake, from Jasmin Shannon's Lemons for Days blog, is a stunner both in looks and health profile. The banana cake replaces sugar with maple syrup and packs in almond meal, flax meal, and shredded coconut. The filling is a chocolate ganache made with avocado, cacao powder and almond milk and sweetened with Medjool dates. It's all topped with a blueberry cream that includes cashews and coconut milk. Check out her Instagram for more recipes and health & wellness content.
Dairy free and gluten free, this coconut and raspberry smash cake from Healthy Little Foodies replaces refined sugars and sweeteners with dates, bananas and berries. It also sneaks in chia seeds, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, iron and calcium. Whipping coconut cream with vanilla makes a rich, tasty frosting.
Organic cinnamon applesauce is the secret ingredient that adds sweet spice to both the cake and frosting in Oh Everything Handmade's healthy first birthday cake. The applesauce and bananas make added sugar unnecessary. The cake also features whole wheat flour and egg whites, and the frosting base is cream cheese.
Free of butter and refined sugar, this cake is made from whole wheat flour and gets its sweetness from banana, maple syrup and applesauce. And you can thank frozen blueberries and heavy whipping cream for the lovely lavender color. The cake is sized for two 4.5-inch spring form pans, but alternately could make about seven cupcakes. Get the recipe at Kristine's Kitchen.
Another cake without refined sugar, this one plenty of sweetness from good-for-you ingredients such as dates, raisins and shredded coconut. Get the full scoop on this carroty concoction at Things for Boys. The recipe is perfect for a 6-inch round cake with enough left over to make a few cupcakes for immediate family.
For kids with food allergies, this cake from Baby Led Weaning Ideas has you covered. In addition to a vanilla cake recipe that's solely free of sugar, there's a variation that's also free of dairy, eggs, gluten, soy and nuts. Both can be modified to include strawberries or chocolate. And there are lots of tips and suggestions (and even a video!) to help you bake the perfect cake.
Who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate? This healthy cake from Hello Bee is made with whole spelt flour (you can also use whole wheat) and has a yummy, fudgy flavor despite not having added refined sugar. The frosting is made from cream cheese, honey and peanut butter, and you can sub Greek yogurt for the cream cheese (the recipe tells you how).
Free of gluten and refined sugar, this cake is super moist and has a Greek yogurt-based frosting. Hearty oat flour and sweet honey come together in a flavorful cake with a fresh fruit garnish that your child might be so busy nibbling on, they'll forget they're supposed to be smashing the cake. Find the recipe at Yummy Toddler Food; Sarah Crowder from Punctuated with Food created this cake.
No added sugar, butter or oil, but there is chocolate! This moist, rich cake from The First Year get its crowd-pleasing taste from chocolate chips, bananas, Greek yogurt, honey, peanut butter and cocoa powder. Party on, chocolate lovers!
These paleo cupcakes are free of oil, dairy, grains and nuts but packed full of fiber-rich coconut flour. Detoxinista dreamed up these applesauce cupcakes topped with unsweetened coconut whipped cream that party guests young and old will enjoy.
This chocolate vegan cake with vanilla frosting from Kitchen of Eatin' is free of dairy and eggs but full of flavor. Natural ingredients like unsweetened almond milk, apple cider vinegar, evaporated cane juice, coconut oil and unsweetened cocoa powder make the cake tasty and rich. The frosting isn't sugar-free, but it is healthier thanks to coconut milk and coconut oil.
Your baby will marvel over the beautiful colors in this healthy, no-bake cake alternative. Use your child's favorite fruits for a sensational, and Pinterest-ready, dessert. Catherine over at Weelicious shows you how to make this Fruit Tower Cake.
Apple Spice Cake with Maple
Simple Bites
Loaded with 2 cups of chopped apples, this Apple Spice Cake has no processed sugar and is sweetened with maple syrup and brown rice syrup. To create the gorgeous ombre sugar-free frosting, color your cream cheese frosting with varying amounts of beets and strawberry puree.
Cheerios Cake
Posh in Progress
If cake decorating isn't your specialty, look no further than a Cheerios box for a fun decor idea your child will love. The whole-grain oats cereal has much less sugar then traditional candy toppings, and it lends a whimsical touch to your cake. Try this yummy Sugar Free Cake with cream cheese frosting from Stacey at the blog Posh in Progress. Then open a box of Cheerios and get creative!
Tickle your tot's sweet tooth with this low-sugar carrot cake with cashew cream frosting from Becky at the Vintage Mixer. The tasty frosting is made by blending raw cashews, coconut oil, honey and vanilla and is perfect for smearing all over your happy baby's face.
Blueberry muffins meet birthday cake! If your child is a blueberry fan, make this beautiful Blueberry Velvet Cake with cream cheese frosting, courtesy of Tanya at I Heart Chocolate Milk. Use a sugar substitute to make a sugar-free version of this recipe. And if you don't want to use artificial coloring, add a little blueberry puree to your cake batter or choose an all-natural food coloring.
Banana Cake with Greek Yogurt Frosting
Hello Bee
Familiar flavors create a cake your child will love to nibble while smashing. This banana cake from Sarah at Hello Bee combines bananas with maple syrup and tops them with a sugar-free Greek yogurt frosting sweetened with honey. Color your yogurt frosting with a fruit puree of your choice.
Pound cake is the perfect choice for your smash cake (get it?). This Vanilla Pound Cake from Naturally Sweet Recipes is free of gluten and dairy but full of vanilla, protein and healthy fats. The ombre frosting is colored pink with strawberries. This recipe makes enough for a smash cake plus a larger cake for grown-ups.
Note: Babies under age one shouldn’t consume honey. So if you choose a recipe that uses honey, don’t serve it to younger guests.
It will get messy, but that makes for the best photos! Make sure to capture all the first birthday moments—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
Make some bunny’s day! Hershey’s is all ears when it comes to what people want in their Easter baskets. There are more Hershey’s chocolate bunnies to choose from this year than ever before.
The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Pip Bunny is all ears when it comes to what candy lovers want, so the brand is introducing everyone’s favorite milk chocolate bar, now in an adorable bunny form with break-apart ears. This bunny is ready to be the center of any basket! These bunnies are available nationwide, for a limited time, in a standard 4.25 oz. box ($4.39).
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Build-A-Bunny allows you to build your own bunny for a fun and delicious activity kids and grown-ups alike can enjoy. These bars are available nationwide, for a limited time, in a standard 4 oz. bar ($1.49).
If you are looking for something other than chocolate to round out your basket, Ice Breakers Strawberry Lemonade Duckling has you covered. In honor of the season, Ice Breakers brand is introducing their ice cubes sugar-free gum with a sweet and sour Strawberry Lemonade twist. The adorable duck packaging makes these pieces of gum the perfect complement to any Easter basket. This treat is available nationwide, for a limited time, in a standard 2.6 oz. bottle ($3.39).
Spokin’s Holiday Gift Guide is packed with exclusive discounts and a roundup of special offers. Find holiday-themed products from our Verified Brands, allergy-friendly baked goods and gourmet treats—even a cooking class membership. Get your holiday shopping done or treat yourself. #selfcare
3. Partake Food’s Vanilla Sugar Cookies
Spend more time watching Elf and less time baking with these vanilla cookies with festive sprinkles. Save 15% with code “SPOKIN15” on purchases of $29.99+. Orders over $29.99 (after discount) also receive free shipping.
4. Liv Nut Free Crumb Cake
Save yourself cleaning the kitchen with this crumb cake made in a peanut and tree nut-free facility. 15% off with code “Spokin”.
5.Mo’Pweeze Bakery Personalized Elf on the Shelf Cookies (6)
The only thing better than elf-themed cookies? Getting their names iced on them! 10% off Elf cookies with the code “SPOKIN” through 12/20/20 on their site. 1 use per user, cannot be combined with other offers.
7.A La ModeGinger Cookies Brown Sugar Ice Cream
Ship a box of pure joy: seasonal flavors of ice cream made in a nut, egg, and sesame-free facility. Check out their new dairy-free options! Free pint of Ginger Cookie with any purchase of a 6-pint bundle with the code “SPKGIFT”.
8. Trio Fudge Bucket of Fudge
Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a bucket of rich and creamy nut- and sesame-free fudge?
9. That’s It Fig & Sea Salt Truffles
These luxe little sea salt fig truffles contain only 3 ingredients! 10% off with code “spokint10” expiring 12/13/20 at the end of the day.
10. Drizzle Kitchen Cooking Class Membership
One of our favorite allergy-friendly chefs, Kendra, has launched new allergy-friendly Drizzle Kitchen memberships! It makes a great gift for yourself or someone looking to improve their cooking and includes members-only tutorial videos and recipes, a monthly group zoom cooking class, weekly emails, and more. 20% off with the code “SPOKIN20”. To send as a gift, sign up using the recipient’s name and email address.
16.No Whey! Foods Safe Santa
The ultimate stocking stuffer: a top 8-free chocolate Santa and adorable chocolate presents.
17. Sweet Loren’s Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Enjoy the smell and taste of warm, fresh-baked cookies without picking up a whisk! 15% off first time orderson their site with the code “Spokin15” and 10$ off subsequent orders with the code “Spokin10”.
18. 88 Acres Seedsonal Edition Bundle
Fuel their present wrapping and online shopping with a box of energy-filled bars in the warm flavors of the season.
21. Baked Cravings Gourmet Popcorn Combo
This trio of gourmet flavored popcorns has salty AND sweet covered. 15% off all new online orders with the code “cravings15” on their site.
24. Undercover Dark Chocolate & Peppermint
Perfect for your wellness junkie: chocolate-covered quinoa crisps with a peppermint twist.25% off all orders with the code “classified” on their site through 12/31/20.
Spokin is a modern platform and app connecting people managing food allergies to resources including food, restaurants, hotels and more. Users have personalized experiences based on allergies & location. With 55,000+ reviews across 79 countries, Spokin helps the allergy community share and connect. The Spokin iOS app is free on iTunes.
This holiday season, kiss the canned cranberry sauce of your youth goodbye and make a homemade cranberry sauce instead. Using real cranberries lets you adjust the sweetness levels yourself, and you can spice it up with new and interesting flavors. Plus it’s not just for the turkey—use the leftovers in everything from yogurt to waffles to smoothies. Scroll down to see our favorite recipes below.
Chef Ryan Rendano offers up a wonderfully spiced version of cranberry sauce that only takes 20 minutes to make. We love that the recipe includes lemon and orange, some of the best winter produce around. Get it here.
Maple Cranberry Sauce
This easy cranberry sauce from The View from Great Island takes just 15 minutes to make, is made with just two ingredients, and has the perfect amount of tartness. Get the recipe here.
Keep it simple with this easy recipe from Eat Within Your Means. It’s sweetened with apple cider and maple syrup instead of sugar and makes a perfect alternative to the canned stuff. To get the recipe, click here.
This refreshing take on cranberries from Kevin Is Cooking turns the traditional sauce on its head. Instead of cooking the cranberries, they’re blitzed up with orange and mixed with cherry jello to make a yummy relish. Cross your fingers for leftovers—this will taste fantastic on those day-after-Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. To grab the recipe, click here.
This paleo sauce from Anya’s Eats is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The cranberries are complemented by fresh orange juice and ginger. Just a touch of maple sugar ensures that the berries’ bright flavor shines through. Get the recipe by clicking here.
Step outside the box by making this flavorful chutney from Magnolia Days. Not only will it taste great with the turkey, but you can also pair it with cheese and crackers for an easy appetizer. With apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and jalapenos, this sauce is bursting with bold flavors. To grab the recipe, click here.
Instead of using sugar to sweeten the sauce, this recipe from Dad with a Pan uses fresh mango chunks—yum! Tropical fruit on the Thanksgiving table is definitely something we can get behind. Click here to get the recipe.
The secret ingredient in this recipe by 2 Aussie Travellers is balsamic vinegar—it cuts the bitterness of the cranberries while adding some depth. The thicker, chunkier texture keeps the cranberries closer to their natural state, unlike some of the more jelly-like sauces. To get the recipe, click here.
Pears, cinnamon and ginger come together to help create this sauce from Veggie Inspired. Your whole family will love the warm fall flavors. Get the recipe by clicking here.
