Hello there! How many fruits and vegetables have you eaten today? Have you tried eating dried fruit with no sugar added? Having enough fruits and vegetables is important for your overall health and wellness. While some may consider dried fruit to be a bit odd, it can be a great addition to your diet.
Many people associate dried fruits with a sweet taste. However, there are many ways to prepare dried fruits that do not include added sugar.
Some of the most common dried fruits available contain antioxidants and/or other nutrients such as vitamin A, calcium, or magnesium. They also make excellent snacks because they are high in fiber.
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What are the Types of Dried Fruit with No Sugar Added?
Different people like different dried fruits for various reasons. Some love adding them to their snacks or eating them alone as a snack. Others may not like how tart some dried fruits can be so they cannot eat too many.
Some prefer one type of dried fruit over another. For example, someone who does not like raisins might dislike cherries because they both have a little bit of tang in them.
There are several varieties of dried fruit available at most grocery stores.
The difference is usually just what sugar has been added to it and whether or not it is salted. Sometimes, companies add salt to make the food more delicious and/or popular.
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How can I use dried fruit in my cooking?
While many people drop dried fruits with sugar when they are done baking or making recipes, you do not have to!
Many foods that include dried fruits as an ingredient also do not add sugars or glucose versions of the dry fruit used.
Certain types of dried mangoes, for example, may be sweet enough on their own without any added liquid. They will depend more on the type of mango used and your taste whether it is very sweet or not.
Dry cranberries work similarly in some dishes, such as baked goods like oatmeal cookies or pretzels with chocolate chips.
You just need to find a balance between adding enough so it does not disappear and using too much where the texture becomes hard and/or salty over-sweet flavors become overpowering.
There are several brands of unsweetened dried berries and apples available at most grocery stores these days. Check your local health food store, vitamin supply house, or Amazon to search them out.
Some brands remove the natural sugars that come from the plant source and instead add artificial sugars or glucose to balance out the product. This is sometimes done for cost reasons as well.
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Health benefits of dried fruit
While some people may consider dried fruit to be a form of dessert, this popular snack can actually be a powerful tool in your diet!
Dried fruits are often packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help keep you healthy. They’re also low in calories, making them a great choice if you want to lose weight or just maintain your current weight.
There are many types of dried fruits available at most grocery stores. Some of the more common ones include raisins, apricots, oranges, and cranberries.
However, some varieties of dried fruit contain no added sugar. These specialties include berries like blueberries and strawberries, as well as cherries.
They may even be referred to as natural sweeteners due to their high content of carbs.
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Dried fruit and your health
Having enough fruits and vegetables is important for overall wellness, but sometimes people get stuck in a rut because they are not hungry for fresh produce.
That’s totally okay! We all need to give our bodies time to ask for more of some foods and be comfortable with what we have of others.
Dried fruits are a great alternative if you want to add some variety to your diet. They can make a nice addition to your daily snack or meal plan.
Many people don’t know what whole grains are, nor do they know how healthy they are. A lot of them contain sugar that doesn’t necessarily go well with most people.
A few types of dried fruits that aren’t binged onto too much sugar are apples, bananas, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, and figs. All of these berries and fruits can be enjoyed alone or added to snacks and meals.
They are also used in recipes as an ingredient. People agree that drying out food helps preserve its nutritional value so it will taste good later when you eat it.
Nutritionists suggest keeping a stock box of dried fruits at home so you are never short.
Dried fruit sandwich
A dried fruit sandwich is one of the greatest health snacks you can make at home. Almost any kind of dried fruit will work here, but if you like chocolate, try adding some raisins and plain coconut milk to your mix!
Dates are my favorite because they taste the most like candy. They are also an excellent source of vitamin B, which helps keep your skin healthy and aids in red blood cell production, so they aid in strong bone growth as well.
I recommend having a few dates every day to start with, then gradually increasing how many you eat until you’re eating them every day.
Dried fruit and cheese
Another healthy snack you can have is a mixture of dried fruits and cheese! Many grocery stores offer a variety of different dried fruits that are great additions to your diet.
Dried berries like cranberries, blueberries, or strawberries are perfect additions to most diets because they are low in sugar. They also pack a big punch in vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and potassium.
You can add them to yogurt, and salads or use them in baking recipes or as a topping for vegetables or toast. They’re easy to keep in stock at home since you can either buy them in bulk or grab a few pieces when you find them!
Another option is dry mango chunks which have become very popular in India. Mango is an excellent source of vitamin A and lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
What’s Your Favorite?
Dates are my favorite. What is your favorite dried fruit with no sugar added? Please share it in the comments below. I’ll wait!
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