Looking for a healthy treat that can curb your sugar cravings? Grab some healthy fruit snacks! These snacks are often low in calories, fat-free, and can even contain some vitamins and minerals. Kids love these sweet treats as well, and they're a great way to enjoy sweets that sneak in a little bit of fruit.
You might be craving some right now, right? Don't miss out on Stretch Island's Fruit Leather Snacks Variety Pack! These fruit leathers don't contain any added sugar and are crafted with pure juice concentrate and purée to deliver a natural taste. There are more yummy fruit snacks on our top 9 list, too. You'll want to check out the buying guide at the end as well since it's packed with useful tips to help you choose a healthy product and was reviewed by a registered dietitian.
Andrea Marincovich (aka The Realistic Dietitian), is a registered dietitian and macros nutrition expert. She helps individuals reach their weight, body composition, and specific health goals through nutrition. Andrea specializes in altering diets in order to meet the needs of each client, such as: macro-centered, keto, paleo, Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, diabetic, renal, cardiovascular, IBS/IBD, and GERD diets.
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Table of Contents
Now comes the fun part: deciding which product to purchase! In this guide, we'll break down various criteria that will help you track down the healthiest and yummiest fruit snacks, like what ingredients to look for.
Fruit snacks can be made from artificial flavors, natural flavors, purees, juice concentrates, or whole fruits. So what are the differences between them?
Obviously, products made purely from flavorings, whether artificial or natural, are void of nutrients existing naturally in fruit. They're often synthesized in laboratories, and they may contain chemical solvents and preservatives. They might deliver a fruity taste but won't give you any nutritional benefits.
So choose products made with purees, juice concentrates, or whole fruit instead! They are made from real fruit, such as apples, bananas, grapes, or strawberries, but the processing methods might be a bit different. Juice concentrates are basically fruit with all the water removed.
Fruit purees are fruits that have been cooked until they turn into a creamy consistency. And since purees are often refined, they no longer contain peels, stems, or pulp. There are also products made from whole fruits as well, which are probably the healthiest option out there.
However, keep in mind that the process of producing juice concentrate might lead to a result with less natural flavor, nutrition, and color. Therefore, to make up for the lack of taste, some manufacturers tend to add processed sugar and artificial flavors, and you definitely want to avoid that!
So, we recommend picking out fruit snacks that are made of simply fruit puree and concentrate.
Healthy fruit snacks often have no artificial additives, colorings, or preservatives. While there has been no conclusive evidence that food additives are harmful to most people, they might still cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea or hyperactivity.
For example, food dyes like red 40 and yellow 6 might trigger hyperactivity due to maldigestion in sensitive children.
We also suggest taking caution with high-fructose syrup. Many manufacturers love this processed sweetener since it's cheaper and tastes sweeter than sugar. As a result, products containing high-fructose corn syrup tend to have higher sugar content and might lead to type 2 diabetes, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome if overconsumed.
Plus, the environmental footprint of this ingredient is also quite concerning. Corn production is one of the major factors leading to climate change; it involves using fertilizers and pesticides, which causes water pollution and takes nutrients away from the soil.
Fruits contain natural sugars, and they usually come with healthy elements like fiber. Therefore, they absorb slowly into the bloodstream and won't cause an immediate spike in your blood sugar.
However, many snacks are loaded with added sugar that's void of nutrients and seeps in your body rapidly. So this sugar will immediately increase your blood sugar levels!
Still, it's totally fine to consume added sugar in moderation. According to the American Heart Association, women should only consume six teaspoons of sugar (25 grams) per day, while men should limit sugar to nine teaspoons (37.5 grams).
In case you're highly concerned about artificial sugar, try to look for products crafted from fruit without any added sugar. But no matter how good natural sugar is compared to artificial sugar, you should still consider the overall amount per serving.
If additives and preservatives are your main concerns, you might want to opt for products that are certified organic by reputable entities such as the USDA. Usually, those that have certified organic seals are proven to meet strict standards concerning the production processes.
Certified organic snacks are made from ingredients grown and manufactured without fertilizers, pesticides, harmful preservatives, colors, and flavors. They also don't contain any GMO ingredients.
While looking at different healthy fruit snacks, you'll also find many products with a non-GMO project verified label. This label is a guarantee that the snacks contain no genetically-modified ingredients.
Some people are concerned that GMO foods can negatively impact health, but there has been no concrete evidence proving the toxicity of GMOs. Still, by choosing non-GMO snacks, you'll be able to avoid most chemical fertilizers and preservatives that are often used.
Welch's fruit snacks are one of the most well-loved snacks of all time! These munchies are crafted with real fruit and are loaded with vitamins A, C, and E. They're also certified gluten-free! These snacks also come in convenient single-serving packets so that you can enjoy them anywhere.
Some people complained that they didn't receive the number of bags as advertised. Meanwhile, many reviewers were addicted to these fruit snacks. They tasted so yummy that hardly anyone could resist eating just one pouch.
Other buyers, especially those struggling with managing their weight, also appreciated that this product contained a variety of vitamins while being fat-free and quite low in calories.
These fruit snacks from Annie's Homegrown come in an adorable bunny shape and are the ideal choice if you want to boost your vitamin C intake. This product is certified organic by the USDA, so you know there are absolutely no artificial flavors or additives.
On top of that, these are made with real juice concentrate! There are two flavors for you to enjoy: berry and strawberry.
These snacks were a staple in the pantry of many reviewers, and kids were absolutely smitten with them. They said that they aren't overly sweet at all and have a soft, moist texture similar to gummy bears. Vegans also enjoyed these snacks as they use pectin, not gelatin.
Worried about artificial additives and added sugar? These fruit snacks are a great healthy alternative that even has vitamins and minerals.
Each strip is crafted with only two to five ingredients, depending on the flavor. Each service contains a quarter cup of real fruit puree, and there is no added processed sugar or artificial preservatives. These strips are also convenient to take on the go as they're individually wrapped.
However, a few buyers thought the texture was a bit too dry for their taste. Still, many reviewers called these snacks their absolute favorite, as they offer a healthy way to enjoy a fruity treat. People also found them filling even though they're low in calories. The assortment of flavors was great as well.
Suddenly craving something sweet but don't want to jeopardize your diet? These fruit rolls from BEAR might fit the bill! They're crafted with real fruit and contain no added sugar. Following a gluten-free or vegan diet? This product works as well.
Some buyers didn't like the jerky-like texture and added that it tasted too dry. Nevertheless, for many reviewers, these fruit snacks were an irresistible treat that didn't make them feel bad afterward.
All of the sugars in this product are naturally occurring, and there were no artificial preservatives or additives that gave people side effects. And due to the clean ingredients of this product, most parents felt good about giving them to their children. On top of that, reviewers loved the cute cards included in the packs.
If you're allergic to ingredients such as peanuts, tree nuts, soy, dairy, or gluten, these yummy gummies might be for you. They're free from eight major allergens! They are made from real fruit juice without any artificial flavor or dyes, too.
According to some reviewers, the texture was a bit hard to chew. Regardless, many people, particularly kids, were absolutely in love with the yummy taste of these treats.
They further mentioned that the gummies didn't taste cloyingly sweet or have an artificial after taste. Plus, various reviewers appreciated that they are organic and contain no artificial stuff.
These fruit snacks from Black Forest are made from 7.9 percent real fruit juice and include grape, apple, lemon, and cherry flavors to satisfy your sugar cravings.
All of the vibrant colors actually come from plant-based sources, including carrots, turmeric, and radishes. What further sets these gummies apart from others is the liquid center that will burst in your mouth! Kids will enjoy them, for sure.
However, a few people noted that the gummies stuck to each other. Some also found that the juice filling burst out and made a mess inside the packaging.
Luckily, many reviewers were addicted to these yummy snacks and mentioned that they didn't taste that sugary. People couldn't get enough of the juicy liquid filling, and they were pleased that the calories per serving are quite low. Even picky eaters devoured them!
These treats from Plum Organics are crafted with organic fruit puree and concentrate. They contain only seven grams of sugar in total and are free from any artificial additives. The small size and soft texture make these treats ideal for toddlers.
Most reviewers couldn't get enough of these munchies and further added that their little ones also enjoyed them. There seemed to be no issues with swallowing either as the thickness was just right, and the texture of the gummies was quite soft.
In search of fruit snacks that are healthy for toddlers? We've got an ideal option for you! These fruit chews from Sprout are organic and made from fruit, veggies, and crispy brown rice. Plus, they are small enough to be eaten in one bite, so your little one can easily pick them up and is less likely to choke.
Plus, they contain no added sugar or anything artificial, so you can rest assured about their quality and feed them to your children without worry.
According to buyers, their toddlers approved of these healthy and yummy snacks. The texture is soft and chewy, but the brown rice adds a nice crunch. Many parents noted that these snacks made it easy to get veggies and fruits in their children's diets. Since they came in a bite-size shape, toddlers could easily self-feed without any mess!
You won't find anything as simple and wholesome as this organic fruit treat! It's crafted with only one ingredient and contains no added sugar or unhealthy additives. Each strip is made from half of a pineapple compressed using a special method to preserve all the freshness and flavor.
Many reviewers were smitten with this snack and said it tasted just like pineapple with no off-putting aftertaste! Another plus point was that it's naturally sweet without any added sugar. Besides, they liked that the texture wasn't tough at all.
If you love munching but are conscious about your health, we have some healthy snacking options that will help you stay on track. Whether you're craving some sweet treats or savory ones, we've got you!
Want to check out more options? Not all of these are healthy, but looking at the popular products on Amazon might give you some ideas.
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