Like most health-consious moms, I set rules about eating candy but I also don’t like to deprive my kids. At home they get one treat per day. When we’re out at a birthday party or a friend’s house, I don’t want them to feel like they’re missing out, so I’m more lenient. But even with their one treat at home; I try to encourage candy that’s a little healthier, for example, dark chocolate-covered raisins, organic cookies, etc. UNREAL candy offers replicas of popular candy and candy bars, but the difference is that their products are all-natural without harmful ingredients such as corn syrup, food colorings, preservatives, etc. And the taste? Let’s just say I am now a convert.
I received samples of UNREAL candy for a playdate I was hosting (stay tuned for a post about it). The kids, as expected, grabbed the candy without question. The moms, on the other hand, were a little more inquisitive. They were surprised to find out there’s a healthier alternative to popular candy that tastes just like the original and many were interested in the ingredients and what makes UNREAL healthier. Here’s what my husband and I thought of the candy (note: I am not including my kids’ comments since they loved everything and didn’t try to compare them to other candy):
UNREAL candy has numbers, rather than names, to identify each kind. In terms of nutritional value, the UNREAL versions takes the cake: less sugar, calories, fats and carbs than their counterparts, plus higher protein and fiber. There are no artificial ingredients, corn syrup, preservatives, partially hydrogenated oils and GMO’s. Editor’s Note: Keep in mind this is NOT health food or diet food, but a healthier version of popular treats.
UNREAL5 is their version of Milky Way. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of Milky Way, not sure why, maybe it’s the corn syrup. But these I loved this version. The chocolate coating just tasted rich and more chocolatey, a little like Belgian chocolate. My husband loved it and said it tastes like a Twix bar without the cookie part. I am not one to argue.
UNREAL8 is the Snickers bar version. While it doesn’t taste exactly like snickers (probably because this version has less peanuts than Snickers) it’s still delicious and a far better option when you’re craving something sweet and filling (and don’t want fruit, which the UNREAL site openly recommends).
UNREAL41 is the healthy alternative to M&M’s. I’ve always thought M&M’s were a kids’ candy: just a lot of sugar in the form of colorful little dots. This version was a huge hit with the entire family; the quality of the chocolate just tastes so much better. And food coloring is replaces by beetroot juice, turmeric root extract and purple cabbage juice. As you can see in the picture above, the colors are gorgeous. Hard to imagine they’re all naturally-derived.
I didn’t try UNREAL54 and UNREAL77, the healthier versions of Peanut M&M’s and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, respectively. Truthfully, I’ve been avoiding Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups because they contain TBHQ, which is a preservative liked to ADHD or hyperactivity in kids. Since these are no preservatives in UNREAL77, I cannot wait to try it and see if it’s as delicious as the ones I’ve tried. (Something tells me it is).
Find Unreal on Amazon or their website.
I was not compensated for this post. I received samples.
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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been l been living in New York City for twelve years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 6, 4 and a baby) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.
[…] Everyone enjoyed great food: pizza bagels, fruit skewers and candy from UNREAL (check out my review of them here). […]