Buying guide for Best fruit snacks
Fruit snacks are the heroes of every kid's packed lunch, but people of all ages appreciate these fruit-inspired candies. The sweet snacks can give you a needed midday boost and please the whole family. Luckily, fruit snacks are available in myriad flavors and varieties.
Before you add a box of fruit snacks to your cart, you should consider some factors. For example, what's the sugar content? You may wish to protect your little one's teeth from cavities by opting for a lower-sugar brand. You may also consider whether or not you want an organic brand, the quantity you need, and the form they’re packaged in. The more common, popular fruit snacks are tiny, fruit-sized gummies, but you can buy strips of fruit leather, too.
Key considerations
Fruit snacks are named such because fruit juice or concentrate is one of the ingredients. While earlier fruit snack recipes were derived from dried fruit, the majority of today's fruit snacks are not. Some fruit snacks can be a healthier alternative to regular candy, but if you're searching for something healthy, you're better off eating whole fresh fruit.
Flavor
Some of the most popular fruit snacks include several flavors in one packet. As you might expect, all the flavors are fruit inspired. Popular flavors include orange, cherry, grape, and watermelon. Fruit snacks with a particular theme — tropical, for example — may include more exotic flavors like guava, mango, or fruit punch. A berry theme will stick with raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry flavors. If you’re a loyalist to one flavor, don’t worry, you can still find single-flavor fruit snacks. These are typically in common flavors like grape or strawberry.
Expert tip
Fruit snacks are portable and easy to throw into a school lunch box, and kids tend to love them, so they're a good snack to keep on hand.
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Organic
In recent years, there's been a surge of organically made fruit snacks. Organic fruit snacks may include natural sweeteners like organic cane sugar and ingredients like organic carnauba wax. The best organic fruit snacks should include a higher percentage of fruit concentrate in the ingredients. Even if the sugar content isn’t that low, you’ll be consuming organic ingredients with natural preservatives.
Sugar
Despite their name, it goes without saying that fruit snacks are, indeed, candy. They all include some sugar: 10 grams per serving, on average. Some organic fruit leathers primarily consist of organic fruits and veggies. These still have sugars, of course; the difference is that it is naturally found in the fruit.
Fortified
Quite a few fruit snacks are fortified with vitamins, particularly vitamin A and vitamin C, both of which are commonly found naturally in fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A supports various biological processes, such as regenerating skin cells and supporting vision. Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant that improves iron absorption. It’s present in many of the body’s fibrous tissues, such as in the gut and cartilage. Fruit snacks may contain anywhere from 15% to 40% of the daily recommended amount of each vitamin.
Expert tip
Fruit snacks are great to have before sports practice or a workout class, and even as a halftime treat. The sugar in them provides quick carbohydrates that can be used as fuel during activity. During long bike rides, I typically throw some fruit snacks in my bag because these easy-to-digest snacks give me a quick burst of energy when I need it.
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Features
Vegan
A number of gummy candies are made from gelatin, which is derived from the collagen of animal parts. Pigs and cows are common sources of gelatin. However, more and more brands are opting to use vegan substitutes, such as agar, derived from red seaweed. It is a good source of calcium, iron, and fiber. Its texture is very similar to that of gelatin; as a result, you’ll find it in vegan fruit snacks. These fruit snacks would also be suitable for those who abstain from cow or pig products because of religious obligations.
Fruit leathers
Fruit leathers, also known as fruit strips, are made from fruit juice or concentrate. As the name indicates, fruit leathers have a chewy texture. Like gummy fruit snacks, fruit leathers are individually wrapped: there’s one strip per serving as opposed to several candies in a pouch. Many consider fruit leathers to be more healthful than fruit snacks since they contain more real fruit and tend to be less sweet.
Did you know?
In organic fruit snacks, organic cane sugar is a common substitute for high-fructose corn syrup. Some researchers believe that the body processes high-fructose corn syrup differently and that it increases one’s chances of obesity-related problems. However, there isn’t enough conclusive evidence to show that there’s a major difference between the two sugars.
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Fruit snack prices
On the whole, fruit snacks are a cheap and satisfying treat. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1.50 to $15 for a box of fruit snacks. Variations in price depend on whether or not the fruit snacks are organic, how much natural fruit is in the ingredients, and the quantity of product.
Inexpensive
Under $5, you may be hard-pressed to find organic fruit snacks. There are still a number of different flavors to choose from, though they likely include little fruit product and aren’t packaged with an organic label. Some fruit snacks in this range might even have higher sugar content. Boxes typically include 6 to 10 individually wrapped pouches.
Mid-range
If you’re set on the healthiest fruit snacks possible, your options are plentiful in the $5 to $10 range. Several of these fruit snacks are organic and/or vegan and include fortified vitamins. Quantities in this price range are bigger, too. Even for some organic brands, there are boxes that contain 20 pouches or so.
Expensive
The only reason to spend more than $10 on fruit snacks is if you’re purchasing in bulk. Boxes with 24, 36, or 48 individually wrapped snacks can set you back as much as $15. But if you have lots of kids in your household, it’s likely more cost-effective to buy lots of fruit snacks at once.
Expert tip
For some picky eaters who struggle to eat fruit, fruit snacks can provide a helpful way to “chain” food and eventually work up to eating blueberries, oranges, and other fruit.
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Tips
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Store fruit snacks in a cool, dry place. This will keep them fresher longer.
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Be careful about giving fruit snacks to very young children. Consult a pediatrician before feeding fruit snacks to children under the age of two. Fruit snacks can be a choking hazard, not to mention that sugary snacks aren’t the best thing for young teeth.
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Look closely at the ingredients label. One pouch of fruit snacks can contain 10 grams of sugar. For children, limit consumption to one pouch per day.
FAQ
Q. Do fruit snacks include dairy?
A. We recommend checking the ingredients label to be sure. In general, the majority of popular fruit snacks exclude dairy, but some of them are processed in facilities that also process dairy, soy, and/or nuts. That will be indicated on the label, too.
Expert tip
Since these are small servings, they are typically not complete snacks. I would recommend including a cheese stick, trail mix, or other protein addition to the fruit snack pack.
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Q. Can fruit snacks expire?
A. Fruit snacks should have a “best by” or “consume before” date printed on the box or the individual packets. Note that expiration dates aren’t necessarily set in stone for fruit snacks. A “best by” date lets you know that the quality, texture, and appearance of the fruit snacks can begin to degrade once they’re past the date listed.
Q. Are fruit snacks harmful to dogs?
A. Fruit snacks for humans aren’t recommended for any pets. A few sugar-free fruit snacks won’t hurt your dog too much, but more can result in stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea for your canine friend.
