Many so-called “all natural” fruit snacks are no healthier than candy. For example, manufacturers of popular brands of fruit roll-ups and fruit gummies claim that their products contain real fruit juice, but the amount of fruit juice they contain is usually minimal. Furthermore, the fruit juice is “real” but it’s nothing more than concentrated apple or grape juice, which is made up of mostly carbohydrates and sugar.

Look for Fiber-Rich Natural Fruit Snacks

In order for all natural fruit snacks to be considered worthy enough to replace fresh fruit, they must be made with real fruit flesh, which contains plenty of dietary fiber. Don’t automatically believe a label that says “all natural.” Read the nutrition information on the back of the product label very carefully so you can make sure that the fruit snack actually contains pure fruit, dietary fiber, and other important nutrients.

Avoid Fruit Snacks That Contain Additives

Avoid purchasing fruit snacks that contain additives. Fruit snacks that contain artificial flavorings, preservatives, dyes, and added sugars are simply not as healthy as products that only contain pure fruit. In order to be considered truly natural, fruit snacks have to be as close to the real thing as possible. So, if you look at a fruit snack’s product label and see a lengthy ingredient list, beware.

Not All Fruit Snacks Are Bad for You

Contrary to popular belief, not all fruit snacks are bad for you. Many processed fruit snacks on the market have given fruit snacks a bad name, but the truth is that plenty of healthful options are also available. Natural fruit snacks that don’t contain additives and that are made with 100% pure fruit are as nutritious as fresh fruit. They make great snacks that you can take with you when you’re on the go because they are easy to carry, require no spoon to eat, and don’t make a mess.

The most important thing to remember when you’re shopping for healthy fruit snacks is that you shouldn’t believe everything the label says unless the nutritional information and ingredient list on the product label back those claims up. Natural fruit snacks, such as pure fruit bites and squeezable fruit pouches, are readily available, so as long as you read labels carefully and educate yourself about which ingredients are healthy and which are not, you’re sure to find a healthy snacking alternative to fresh fruit that’s just as good as the real thing.

To help everyone in your family make healthier snack choices, toss out all the junk food in your house and then stock up on healthy fruit snacks and other nutritious snack foods. Healthy fruit snacks taste great and are so fun to eat that your family probably won’t even notice that all of the junk food in the cupboards is gone.