SmartSweets is a woman-owned candy brand that started in Canada and positions itself as a healthier alternative to traditional sweets. Their primary marketing focus is on offering candies that are lower in sugar and calories while maintaining a similar taste and texture to regular candy. While SmartSweets may be lower in sugar than traditional candies are they a healthy option for people with diabetes? Let’s dig into the details in this SmartSweets review!
Please note, this blog post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own! Some of the links below contain affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may get a small commission at no cost to you.
SmartSweets Ingredients
SmartSweets have changed their formulation several times but are currently sweetened with Stevia leaf extract. They do not contain any sugar alcohols.
Below is list of the SmartSweets Ingredients in the Sweet Fish (spoiler alert – this was both my favorite and my husband’s favorite of the 4 flavors we tried).
SmartSweets and Diabetes Management
As you know, carbohydrates cause the blood sugar to increase which means that indulging in sweet treats without majorly spiking your blood sugar can feel impossible. That’s where SmartSweets come in. These candies, made with sugar alternatives aim to satisfy your sweet tooth without the drastic fluctuations in blood sugar.
Due to their low sugar and high fiber content satisfy your sweet tooth, fill you up, and play nicely with blood sugars.
However, it’s essential to remember that while the ingredients in SmartSweets will likely have less of an impact your blood sugar than regular candy, portion control and mindful consumption is still crucial.
SmartSweets vs. Alternatives
We compared the nutrition facts of SmartSweets peach rings to regular peach rings. The serving size for the SmartSweets Peach Rings is the entire bag while the serving size for the regular peach rings is 3 pieces.
If you are comparing apples to apples with equal servings, one serving of SmartSweets peach rings contains 130 calories, 40 grams total carbohydrate, 6 grams fiber, 3 grams sugar, and 0 grams added sugar while the same amount of the regular peach rings contains about 180 calories, 44 grams total carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 34 grams sugar, and 34 grams added sugar.
Are SmartSweets Healthy?
So, you are probably wondering, are SmartSweets healthy? This is a tricky question to answer.
SmartSweets aren’t necessarily a health food. While they do contain less sugar than traditional candies which makes them a great alternative for people with diabetes, they are still processed treats. They rely on artificial sweeteners and other additives to achieve their taste and texture. While we would consider them to be a better option than regular candy in terms of blood sugar impact, they should not serve as the core part of a healthy diet.
As with any snack, moderation is key, and it’s essential to consider the overall nutritional value of your diet alongside occasional SmartSweets consumption.
Where to Buy SmartSweets?
You can find SmartSweets at online retailers such as Amazon or Thrive Market or at most local grocery stores or convenience stores. Thrive Market often offers various promotions and generally is the best price I have found. You can use this link to join Thrive Market. Trust me, it’s worth it! My family is obsessed with Thrive Market and we get tons of our snacks there.
if you are looking for a specific variety, check out the SmartSweets store locator here.
SmartSweets Review
So let’s get into my SmartSweets review in terms of price, nutrition, and most importantly taste!
Taste
My husband (who does not have diabetes and is a lover of all things candy and sweets) and I did a taste test of 4 of the SmartSweets products – the Sweet Fish, Peach Rings, Sour Blast Buddies, and Watermelon Lollipops.
When I asked my husband what he thought about the taste of SmartSweets compared to regular candy he said “They are good enough for me, if you bought it, I’d eat it!” This is high praise coming from a candy connoisseur!
I also enjoyed the taste and texture of SmartSweets. As someone who has been eating sugar-free candy since a 9 year old with type 1 diabetes in the 90’s, SmartSweets are a HUGE improvement over what used to be available!
In terms of taste and texture, we both enjoyed the sweet fish the most followed by the peach rings and then the sour blast buddies. I was not a huge fan of the lollipops but that could just be because I am not a lollipop lover.
While I enjoyed these gummy candies, I tend to be more of a chocolate lover than a gummy candy person. If chocolate is more your jam make sure to check out the Mama-Betes post about the best sugar free chocolate!
Nutrition
I like the fact that SmartSweets are sweetened with Stevia and that they do not contain Sugar alcohol. They seem to take feedback seriously and have made several formulation changes over the years to improve their taste, texture, and nutrition profile.
My husband and I did not have any unfortunate GI side effects after consuming these as we have with other sugar-free products in the past.
I dosed a little bit of insulin for our taste test and my blood sugar actually went low about an hour and a half later, so I probably did not need any extra insulin for the small serving I ate.
Price
This is the kicker! At around $3.29 per bag (which is technically one serving), SmartSweets are not cheap. These are not something I will enjoy all the time but I do plan to treat myself to a bag here and there when a candy craving strikes!
Conclusion
In conclusion, SmartSweets are a tasty, lower sugar candy alternative that even candy lovers will enjoy. The flavor and texture are similar to the real thing. I believe that SmartSweets have their place in a diabetes-friendly diet and I will definitely continue to enjoy them from time to time!
Remember, we always recommend consulting with your dietitian or healthcare provider for personalized nutrition advice.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram at @mamabetesblog for more exclusive content, recipes, and more, including actual footage of the SmartSweets taste test!
Great article and content!
Thank you!