- Dried Fruit

I like a few dried fruits, but personally I’d just as soon go for the hydrated bulky stuff more often than not. So, this is for all the folks who are thinking about getting into dried fruits and especially for those who have received a fruit hydrator as a gift and have not even opened the box!

Dried fruits make excellent wholesome treats to be enjoyed as a snack or as part of any meal. During the dehydration process the nutrients in the fruit become concentrated so you don’t miss out on any of the wholesome goodness. Once dried, you can freeze the fruit in portions and just take out what you need. Also, it will last for about a year with out refrigeration if you store it in an air-tight container at room temperature. A little soak in water prior to use will put a little juicyness back into it.

Be very, very sure to do your portion control research on dried fruit! While some feel that it’s an alternative to fresh fruit, keep in mind that it’s very concentrated and ideally it should be enjoyed sparingly since it's loaded with fructose: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose

How much fructose you consume with dried fruit depends on which type of fruit you have and how much. But, know that dried fruit has more fructose per serving over whole fruit simply because it's, yes I'll say it again - concentrated! Did you know that sulfur dioxide is often commercially used to keep many dried fruits from becoming discolored during the dehydration process? Many commercially dried fruits also have a lot of added white sugar to enhance the taste. As with all foods, be sure to read the nutrition labels before you buy.

When you dehydrate your fruit at home you’ll know that you’re getting the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit. And doing so just may work for your family If you’re looking to break the habit of adding sugar or less than natural sweetners to your morning oatmeal, shredded wheat or whatever cereal. A little dried fruit on top can go a long way towards adding a lot of natural sweetness and flavor. Also, if your family simply has a tough time getting fruit into their diet, dried fruit may be the perfect way to get the nutrition value of many fruits into the belly via small infrequent sweet and chewy doses.

More scrumptious ways to add dry fruit to your meals? Add it to yogurt, ice cream, sorbet, salads and trail mix. Of course eating it alone works too! So, enjoy some dried fruit and be sure to get out there and get walking!