Dried Fruit Decisions

I enjoy dried fruit and often snack on dried fruit as a sweet treat and use dried fruits in recipes. Normally I have a variety of dried fruit on hand. Right now that is not the case as I have worked through quite a bit of what I had around the house.  

Dried fruit is shelf stable so it is something people should be purchasing to have around the house since we have been encouraged to refrain from shopping as much as possible. Dried fruit is a fiber filled addition to a person's diet. We have to be careful to purchase the healthy options and not to have too much of a good thing!

Dried fruits can be helpful for people who are looking to lose weight. High fiber dried fruits include: apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins.

As you plan your next purchase, what are the things you should consider when purchasing dried fruit? Of course, you will take into consideration personal preferences and any dietary restrictions/needs that you have, but are there any other considerations that should be taken? I did a little research and have come to some conclusions.

When to buy organic...

If a fruit is on the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen List, it is a good idea to purchase ORGANIC dried fruit as well as fresh fruit.  Therefore, spend the extra money on organic dried strawberries, nectarines, apples, grapes (raisins), peaches, cherries, and pears.

Watch out for added sugars...

According to Harvard Health, it is suggested that people read labels. Fruits have natural sugars but many manufacturers add sugar when packaging dried fruit.

What about sulfur dioxide added to some dried fruits?

Sulfur dioxide is a preservative used in many dried fruits and other foods. According to Livestrong, people sensitive to the preservative can have asthma or difficulty breathing after consuming sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is used to prevent rotting and to help the fruit maintain its color. In the 1980s the FDA banned sulfites from fresh fruits and vegetables, but not packaged foods.