I have the biggest sweet tooth. But being a type 1 diabetic + loving sugar = a complicated relationship. If you’re about to say, “Just have something sugar-free,” I’d like to stop you right there. No, I absolutely will not. Why? Because most sugar-free candy tastes like sh*t. (And I know the diabetic community can back me up on this.) Ever since I was diagnosed, I’ve really tried to find alternatives to my fav foods, but alas, nothing came close to a bag of Swedish Fish. That is, until I tried Sweet Fish from SmartSweets.

One bag has 3g of sugar, it’s plant-based/gluten free/vegan, and it tastes delicious. But what really sold me was the fact that my blood sugar never spiked after eating them—a problem many diabetics face with candy. Intrigued and wanting to know more about the tasty treats, I chatted with founder Tara Bosch (she/her), who shares how the company actually stemmed from the relationship with her grandmother. “We were inseparable, and one of my favorite memories is chatting with her over bags of candy. However, I began to notice the negative toll of the excessive sugar,” she says.

“But I didn’t want to sacrifice our love of candy, so at 21 years old, I dropped out of college on a quest to create a delicious, better-for-you candy. I bought a mold off Amazon and started testing out my own low-sugar recipes. I did my research by looking into food journals to find alternative ingredients that could replace things like corn syrup, a common ingredient in most gummy candy. I started selling these gummies door-to-door and introducing people to my creation. The following summer, my gummies were being sold in grocery stores across Canada. Fast-forward to today, and SmartSweets is now sold in over 130k stores across the US and Canada!”

I’m not even surprised that this brand blew up. People love something sweet, especially when that something sweet allows you to grow and nourish your relationships with treats rather than trying to cut them out. And Tara agrees: “We all have different foods that bring us joy! I think it’s important to not cut out the ones you love—but find what works best for you and your body. There are so many brands out there recreating treats to meet the needs of groups that otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy them because of lifestyle, health, or dietary reasons. These newer options ultimately create joy for everyone.”

She’s so right. The other options that bring me a ton of joy include the Sourmelon Bites, Sour Blast Buddies, and Red Twists—all so stinkin’ good! Turns out, Tara’s got a few favorites of her own. “A fav of mine is the first product I ever made, which was the Fruity Gummy Bears. They’re a classic! Another one I’m loving at the moment is our Caramels. They’re creamy, plant-based, and perfect to keep in my bag to enjoy on the go. Plus, they’re great to melt into your coffee for a caramel latte!”

Ok, everyone stop what you’re doing, get some SmartSweets Caramels, and try that ASAP.

Sweet you later 🍬,
Chloe Trout, associate editor