If you’re trying a whole-food-only diet like Whole30, fruit is an obvious choice for a snack. but while fruit crisps, chips, and dried fruit may sound like nutritious snacks, the reality is that some can pack in more sugary calories than a Snickers bar! In today’s Love it, Like it, Hate it, we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on the best and worst of seemingly healthy fruit snacks!
LOVE IT!
Fresh Fruit | any & all, but especially berries of all types
Frozen Fruit | especially berries + cherries – note: read ingredients to ensure no sugar added
Freeze-dried fruit “chips” | nothing but real fruit and occasional add-ins like cinnamon.
LIKE IT!
Dried fruit, no sugar added
Dense in sugary calories, with 100 calories and as much as 26 grams sugar per quarter-cup serving. Ideal for those looking to gain weight, who need to squeeze even more calories into their diet.
Fruit Leather | e.g. Stretch Island
Fruit purees & juice concentrates; no sugar added.
HATE IT!
100% fruit juice | all natural, but most still have more calories ounce-for-ounce than a soft drink
Craisins | Extremely calorie dense; added sugar. 130 calories and 26 grams of sugar in every quarter-cup handful.
Banana Chips | Made with added oil and sugar, each half-cup serving packs in 182 sugary calories.
Dried fruit with food dyes | Check labels, you’ll be surprised at how many have artificial food dyes + added sugar.
Nearly all gummy fruit chews | Even those marketed as ‘made with real fruit juice’ since as little as 10% fruit juice.
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