The Healthiest Varieties of Dried Fruit

Not all dried fruit is created equal. Some varieties are even sweetened with sugar or unnatural sweetening products. When shopping for dried fruits, it’s important to look for the most natural version of the fruit itself — with no added ingredients or even the use of unnatural drying processes. Traina Foods, a family-owned and operated company that has been slowly and purposefully sun drying their fruits on wooden trays since 1926, offers tips on finding the healthiest varieties of dried fruits.

Naturally Sweet

Dates have enjoyed a resurgence beyond traditional holiday baking and gift giving with the popularity of vegan and paleo style diets that restrict or limit the use of refined and artificial sugars. Dried fruits are a fantastic way to add natural sweetness to anything from smoothies to salads without adding processed ingredients. Dates are extremely versatile, can be used in both sweet and savory dishes and can even be pureed to take the place of sugar in baking recipes.  

Calories Count

When it comes to counting calories, dried apples, peaches, cranberries and apricots seem to come in on the lower end in terms of calories per serving. It’s very important to pay attention to serving sizes when counting calories and enjoying dried fruit. Since the water has been removed from dried fruit, it’s much easier to “overeat” these flavor packed morsels in comparison to their whole fruit counterparts.

The Fiber Facts

Dried fruits tend to be high in fiber, which balances the fact that they can be high in calories. When a food is high in fiber, it keeps the body feeling fuller longer. So while 200 calories may seem like a lot for a small serving of dried fruit, those 200 calories are likely to be enough to keep the body fueled for hours, even during athletic training, or a long hike or bike ride. Figs, dates, prunes and apricots are some of the most fiber-rich dried fruits. Keep in mind that fiber is also an important part of keeping the digestive system moving smoothly, but may need to be added in small increments if one is used to a low-fiber diet.

Regardless of the style of diet one adheres to, naturally sun dried Traina Foods dried fruits fit the bill for a nutritious snack, a way to add flavor and fiber to any meal or a quick on-the-go way to fuel the body before, during or after a fitness adventure. With an array of individual packages as well as blends, there are endless ways to enjoy Traina Foods dried fruit!