The Healthy Alternative To Halloween Candy You Need To Make This Fall

As someone who prefers chowing down on chocolate bars and candy corn way more than nibbling on celery and carrots, I know how real the struggle is at this time of year for those of us with a sweet tooth.

You can't walk into the grocery store without being bombarded by bags of candy, or being tempted by cute fall-esque baking items.

In fact, you don't even have to go anywhere to be tempted by fall treats. You simply have to open up one of your many social media accounts and BAM: Your timeline is flooded with delicious homemade pies and cakes that your friends are only too eager to share.

I get it. In fact, I struggle with it.

I want to bake cookies and cakes, and make homemade lattes, but I know I'll eat way too much of it all and I'm not trying get my “winter bulk” on.

While some days I'm successful at ignoring my cravings, there have been a few more instances than I like to admit where I've run from my house late at night to grab a piece of cheesecake from the nearest open store. Or grabbed a candy bar when checking out. Or ordered desert at a restaurant while everything in me screamed not to.

Luckily, I found the perfect alternative to satisfy my ever-raging sweet tooth: chocolate peanut butter bites.

These chocolate peanut butter bites taste like any regular peanut butter cup, but they're filled with loads of nutrients. Why squash your sweet tooth if you can satisfy it, guilt-free?

These healthy, protein packed bites are loaded with old-fashioned oats, peanut butter and flax seeds. They will not only fill you up with wholesome deliciousness -- they'll curb your appetite.

I eat one peanut butter bite for both my mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, and consequently I resist any and all temptation to dip into the candy jar. Kudos to me.

These chocolate peanut butter bites are super easy to make and require absolutely no cooking. Yup, that's right! They're perfect snack for college students and young adults (like me) who are looking for a quick (and easy) way to whip up something that doesn't take a lot of time or effort.

My favorite part about these bites is that the ingredients are fresh. They're not the same as simply buying a prepackaged bar loaded with refined sugar and preservatives; rather, they're a healthy alternative to name-brand health snacks that aren't all that healthy.

If you're like me and hate throwing money away on over-priced "health" snacks I should mention that they're extremely cost-efficient.

The ingredients can be found at almost any grocery store if you don't already have them stored away in your pantry. On top of that, once you have the ingredients, you can make at least five batches with them.

So here's what it takes:

• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup ground flax seeds
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Simply combine all five ingredients in a bowl, mix them together and then place the bowl in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.

Once they're cool, roll the ingredients into balls. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week, or longer if you choose to freeze them.

Sounds easy, right?

You can even change them up if you want. Try adding some chai seeds and coconut flakes, or dark chocolate chips instead of regular chips. You can also add in cranberries, ground up almonds and cocoa powder.

Have fun with them and put in items that will satisfy your sweet tooth since everyone's sweet tooth is different.

Give this snack a try this fall and it might just become your new Halloween (and year round) go-to snack.