How many of you dread the temper tantrum that follows after telling your children they can't have candy? Instead of just telling them "no", encourage them to eat something healthy and sweet instead. This not only helps prevent the awaited temper tantrums, but it also encourages your children to form healthy eating habits both now and down the road. Here is a compiled list of alternative snacks to give your children in place of unhealthy candy.

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10 Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is a great alternative to the sugary candies your children like to eat. When fruit is dehydrated it becomes more concentrated with nutrients and natural sugars causing the dried fruit to taste sweeter and raw fruits. You can purchase or make almost any kind of dried fruit. Ask your kiddos what their favorite fruit is and let them try it in its dehydrated form. We bet they will be asking for this tasty treat next time they want a sweet snack.

9 Energy Bites

Your kids will love these energy bites and we will let you in on a little secret… they are healthy for them too. You can make various types of energy bites to cater to you and your children’s liking. Most energy bites start with wholesome ingredients like oats, dried fruit, nut butter, and seeds. You can add any variety of other ingredients if you would like. These energy bites are packed full of protein and fiber to help fuel your children’s bodies for the day.

8 Homemade Popsicles

You might be tempted to give your children the store-bought popsicles as a treat, but homemade popsicles taste just as good and they can be as healthy as you make them. With homemade popsicles, you get all the benefits of fruit without the added sugar. To make these popsicles, blend your fruit with juice, water, or milk, and then pour your blend into a popsicle mold. Pop these bad boys into the freezer until the center is fully frozen and then take them out for your kids to enjoy. If you feel like you want to make your homemade popsicles sweeter, use healthier alternatives to regular sugar like honey or agave nectar.

Related: 10 Popsicle Recipes For Those Hot Summer Day Cravings

7 Sugar-Baked Chickpeas

Trick your kids into loving chickpeas by coating them in sugar and baking them in the oven. Chickpeas, otherwise known as garbanzo beans are rich in fiber and protein and promote good heart health. This is the perfect snack to make for your kids. You can pack them in their lunch, or they can eat them on the go. This tasty little snack is the perfect replacement for crunchy candy.

6 Homemade Fruit Leather

Do your children love Fruit Roll-Ups? Do you as an adult love Fruit Roll-Ups? Making your own homemade fruit leather is the perfect healthy alternative to the highly unhealthy Fruit Roll-Ups bought at the store. There is no added food dye for color and they are made out of real fruit and sweetened and flavored with honey and lemon juice. Let homemade fruit leather become a staple candy alternative in your household.

5 Avocado-Chocolate Pudding

What recipe isn’t good with avocado in it? This delicious avocado chocolate pudding tastes just like the real thing but it’s better for you! Next time your kids ask you for some chocolate pudding whip up this tasty treat. All you need to do is blend avocado with cocoa powder and a healthy sweetener of your choice and you have a smooth, rich chocolate pudding.

4 Homemade Honey-Roasted Nuts

There are several varieties of nuts out there, but these homemade honey-roasted nuts make for a killer snack. This is the perfect candy replacement snack to give to your child that is requesting something salty and sweet. This healthy treat is sure to please your kiddo’s tastebuds!

3 Frozen Fruit

Frozen fruit opposed to raw fruit has loads of nutrients preserved in them from being frozen. Frozen fruit also lasts longer than raw fruit meaning more opportunities to for using them as a healthy snack. Fruits like grapes, strawberries, and bananas taste amazing when frozen. They also take on a sweeter flavor than their raw counterpart. This icy snack is the perfect alternative to candy.

2 Baked Apples

Baked apples may not be as healthy as some of the other snacks listed today, but they still are a suitable alternative to candy. Simply dice up some apples and cover them in coconut oil and cinnamon. Bake your apples and then top them with a healthy homemade granola mix. This scrumptious treat is perfect for curbing sweet candy cravings. Your kids will ask you to make this sweet treat over and over again.

1 Trail Mix

Trail mix is has a variety of healthy ingredients and it is a wonderful snack to feed your children. Make this trail mix as healthy as you want by using ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, granola, seeds, and coconut shreds. If you want to reward your kids with a small amount of candy, add ingredients like M&M’s and chocolate bites to your mix.

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