Although I maintain a relatively clean diet, I have an uncontrollable, killer sweet tooth. Because of this, I’m always on the hunt for healthier dessert options that still satisfy me. I stumbled upon Alyssa’s Healthy Oatmeal Bites in the bakery section of a Florida supermarket, nestled between various sugary packages of cupcakes and brownies. They are gluten free, dairy free, soy free, non-gmo, high fiber, and have no added sugar. They even have a vegan version.
Two cookies contain three grams of fat, 90 calories, and only two grams of sugar. While examining the package, I thought that there was no way these could taste good. I purchased them anyway, because why not?
These Cookies are Life Changing
They're delicious. The cookies are chewy and moist, with chunks of dried fruit in every bite. They literally melt in your mouth. They taste like a classic oatmeal cookie, minus all of the sugar and fat. To put things into perspective, two oatmeal raisin cookies from Tate's Bake Shop contain 12 grams of sugar.
I ended up inhaling the entire package of six Alyssa’s Healthy Oatmeal Bites (I literally couldn’t help it), which just reached the same sugar content as the Tate’s cookies. Better yet, not one gram of sugar in Alyssa’s cookies is refined or added, and they still taste really sweet.
So What Makes These Cookies So Sweet?
Alyssa’s Healthy Oatmeal Bites are sweetened with something called Inulin, which, in the case of Alyssa's cookies, is isolated from chicory root fiber. Inulin is a carbohydrate and a prebiotic. Not to be confused with a probiotic, a prebiotic is highly fermentable by our gut bacteria. It is often used as an additive in various foods due to its moisture-enhancing properties and naturally sweet taste. Inulin is even sold as a low-calorie sweetener. It’s also commonly used in high fiber protein bars.
After ordering more cookies (I can't live without them now), I came across the company's story on the website. Based out of Florida, their goal was to create a cookie that was delicious and healthy, without unnecessary additives and preservatives. They also offer sampler packages, and almond cookies that are just as delectable as the oatmeal bites.
Shark Tank's Mark Cuban Approves
Additionally, Alyssa's Cookies struck a deal with Shark Tank's Mark Cuban, who loves Alyssa's Cookies himself. In his testimony on the website, Cuban calls them his "craving killers," stating that he "live[s] off of them."
I can't help but agree with him. Instead of loading up on chocolate chip cookies in my dining hall, I prefer scarf down two—or more, usually more—of Alyssa's Healthy Oatmeal Bites to satisfy my sweet tooth. I'm absolutely obsessed, and I don't think I'll ever stop stocking up on these bad boys.