Best Fruit Snacks Reviewed and Rated
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It can be difficult to supplement your diet with healthy snacks that taste good. There is a plethora of unhealthy foods and snacks available at the grocery store, but these are not what you want to be feeding yourself, or your family. Obesity is at an all-time high, especially in America, and unhealthy diets are a major reason why. By eating snacks that are loaded with empty calories and unsatisfying fats and carbohydrates, you may be suscepting yourself and your family to a lifetime of being overweight and unhealthy. Being obese increases your chance of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and some forms of cancer. Luckily, there are snacks out there that are both good tasting, and healthy for you – to help protect those you love most from the dangers of obesity.
Fruit snacks have been a popular treat for many years. While there are many healthy fruit snack options (and this guide will include these), there are also fruit snack products available that are jam-packed with added sugars and unhealthy preservatives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of picking up a fruit snack at the grocery store and believing that it’s healthy, simply because it has the word “fruit” in its title. However, it’s important to be a smart consumer, and to always read the back of the box and check out the nutrition label. Companies have been known to put in harmful chemicals and unhealthy additives that make their fruit snacks less healthy than they appear. This guide is going to go over the best fruit snacks that are currently on the market to help keep you and your family healthy and satisfied.
Our Top 3 Picks
- Annie’s Organic Bunny
Our rating- Certified Organic
- Price: See Here
- Stretch Island Original
Our rating- Good Value
- Price: See Here
- Tasty Organic Fruit
Our rating- Delicious Variaty
- Price: See Here
Why are fruit snacks a good snack option?
When it comes to purchasing snacks for you and your family, it’s about picking an option that is healthy and full of good ingredients. Popular fruit snack brands that are available at the grocery store can basically be candy in disguise, and can have as much added sugar as your child’s favorite candy bar. Search for fruit snacks that are free of artificial flavors and colors, and you can find a tasty snack that is full of vitamins and minerals. Many times children (and sometimes adults) don’t like eating fruit as it is, which is why fruit snacks are a great snack alternative. By being presented in tasty morsels, many children that would not eat fruit otherwise, enjoy eating fruit snacks.
Organic fruit snack options that are free from GMOs and other harmful substances are available; you just have to know where to look. This guide is going to help those who have been looking for healthy fruit snack options but cannot seem to find them. We’ve provided a wide range of fruit snack options below, so there is sure to be one that you and your family enjoys.
10 Best Fruit Snacks
1. Annie’s Organic Bunny
If you're looking for a yummy snack for you and your family that is free of an preservatives, artificial colors or flavors or high-fructose corn syrup, then these snacks from Annie's Organic are made for you. Also vegan-friendly and gluten-free, these are great for those who are on more restricted types of diets. You can give these snacks to your children without having to worry about disrupting the digestive system of those who have gluten allergies, or those who do not consume any animal products.
By being offered in a variety of different flavors, your family is sure to enjoy them regularly, without getting bored. The fun bunny-shape of the fruit snacks also adds to its appeal, and makes it fun to enjoy for the whole family.
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Gluten-free and vegan
Certified organic
Great source of vitamin C
Variety of flavors
Fun shape
None
2. Stretch Island Original
Every one of these fruit leather strips contain a half serving of actual fruit. Fruit puree is used to make these fruit strips, which means that the formulation contains no added sugar of any sort. These leathers are not made with artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, so you can feel safe giving these to your family to enjoy. The fruit leathers come pre-wrapped, which makes them convenient to grab and go.
One package comes with 30 fruit leathers, which makes this a great value for the price. Include one of these in your child's lunch, or grab one for yourself to enjoy at work, as these fruit leathers are suitable for all ages.
Individually wrapped
Excellent source of fruit
Good value
Great for both kids and adults
Children may need time adjusting to its look and texture
3. Tasty Organic
They are GMO-free and do not contain any high-fructose corn syrup. What they do contain, however, is a wide variety of fruit, such as strawberry, grape, cran-raspberry, pomegranate-passion fruit, cherry and blueberry. This means that there is a flavor out there for you that you're going to enjoy. Instead of giving your family an unhealthy snack that is filled with unnatural ingredients, give them these fruity snacks that are organic and guilt-free.
These snacks are perfect for including in your children's lunchboxes or backpacks as a snack during school. You will feel good knowing that your child is getting a fruit snack that is free from any harmful ingredients.
Organic and GMO-free
Delicious variety of flavors
Pleasant texture
Pricey
4. Veggie-Go's Organic
If you're looking for a snack that contains an entire serving of fruit and veggies in each package, then these snacks from Veggie-Go's are for you. Another great benefit to these snacks is that they are also vegan and gluten-free. By being able to quickly pack a snack for your child or for yourself that contains one whole serving of both fruits and veggies, you are ensuring that you and your family are getting important vitamins and minerals throughout your day.
Other healthy ingredients include protein, calcium, fiber and fat that is healthy. Customers who have purchased these snacks say that they are delicious and that they have a hard time not eating them and instead giving them to their children since they are that good. They also love that the packaging is so colorful and kid-friendly.
Full serving of fruits and vegetables per package
Non-gmo, organic
Good source of nutrients
Fun packaging
None
5. Nature's Bandits Organic
Real fruits and vegetables go into these fruit stix made by Nature's Bandits. Their formula also contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. High-fructose corn syrup is also not included in these fruit stix. Aside from being both certified organic and gluten-free, these fruit stix are also GMO-free and kosher.
These snacks contain 12 grams of sugar per serving and have between 50-60 calories per serving. This makes their sugar and calorie amounts on the lower side of the spectrum when it comes to fruit snacks. Their price, however, is slightly on the higher side.
Non-GMO, kosher
Certified organic
Vegan and gluten-free
Fruits and veggies included
Pricey
6. Nothing But the Fruit
These fruit snacks from Nothing But the Fruit are made with 100% fruit. Each pouch contains an entire serving of fruit, and is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free. They do not contain any artificial preservatives or flavors, and also do not have any refined sugar.
Customers say that they love the flavor and that it's an easy way to get their children to eat a serving of fruit. These snacks come in a variety of different flavors, such as Concord Grape and Raspberry Chia. This allows you to switch up your snacking routine by changing flavors every so often.
These are a little more expensive than other options available, so test them out first to make sure that you like them before investing in a big package of them.
Great source of fruit
No artificial flavors or colors
Vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO
No refined sugar
Expensive
7. Black Forest Triple Layer
Black Forest is a popular brand when it comes to buying healthy snacks for your family, and these triple layer fruit snacks are no exception. Made with real vegetable and fruit juice, these fruit snacks are a source for 100% of your daily vitamin C suggested intake. If you have children or other family members with dietary restrictions in your life, it's a good thing to note that these snacks are gluten-free. This company prides itself on getting food to you that is always fresh, and getting it to your quickly.
Those who have purchased these fruit snacks say that the taste is delicious, and that they are always happy with them. Some customers have noted that the bag size is a little small, however, and they wish that the bags contained more fruit snacks.
Great value
Made with real fruit & vegetable juice
Good source of Vitamin C
Gluten-free
Not vegan
Small bag size
8. YumEarth Organic
YumEarth offers organic snacks for those who are looking for a snack that is gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, nut-free and USDA certified organic, at a lower price point than most other options. This brand cares about providing their customers with snacks that are full of healthy foods, and are not made with any high-fructose corn syrup. Artificial dyes will also not be found in these fruit snacks, so you do not have to worry about upsetting those that have unnatural food dye allergies. Aside from the previously mentioned harmful ingredients that are not included in these, there is also no soy, wheat, shellfish, or egg.
One of the few downsides is that each package only contains a small amount of fruit snacks. However, since the price is so low, this is to be expected.
Gluten-free, non-GMO, certified organic
Dairy-free, nut-free
Good value
No high-fructose corn syrup
Small amount of snacks per bag
9. Crispy Green Freeze-Dried
Freeze-dried fruit is a great snack alternative to those looking for a sweet and tasty treat. By using a freeze-drying process, all of the vitamins and minerals are preserved in these snacks, removing the water and leaving only the fruit. These snacks also do not contain any unnatural preservatives or additives, and are non-GMO, paleo, all-natural, gluten-free and vegan.
Customers enjoy the flavors of these fruit treats, and also like how healthy they are for them and their family. Some customers can't get past the texture, however, so it'd be best to try these snacks out first before buying a large amount.
Only contains fruit
Non-GMO, vegan, paleo
No preservatives or additives, all-natural, gluten-free
Texture can be difficult for some
Pricey
10. Clif Kid ZFRUIT Organic
Fun shape
Non-GMO, certified organic
Excellent source of vitamin C
Gluten-free, nut-free
14 grams of sugar per serving
Benefits
Buying a fruit snack that is both delicious and healthy comes with many benefits. By being able to supply you and your family with all-natural, organic sweet treats, you are cutting out unhealthy, over-processed desserts, such as cookies and ice cream. When your child is looking for something that is a little on the sweeter side, hand them one of these tasty and nutritious fruit snack options. Let’s explore some more benefits of having healthy fruit snacks on-hand.
Eat More Nutrients (Without Even Knowing it)
Fruit snacks come jam-packed with minerals and vitamins (especially vitamin C) since the healthy ones are made almost entirely up of the fruit they are trying to emulate. By being able to snack on a healthy fruit snack instead of an over-processed bag of potato chips, you are filling your child (or yourself) up with beneficial nutrients, instead of empty carbohydrates and refined sugar. Plus, most healthy fruit snacks taste delicious since they use the sugar that comes naturally in the fruit they process, so both you and your family will be happy and satisfied.
Boost Your Energy Levels
Everyone knows that mid-afternoon feeling, when all the energy from your breakfast and lunch has been used up and you’re starting to feel lethargic. By snacking on a healthy fruit snack, you can boost your energy levels and give your body something to work off of. Fruit snacks can raise your blood sugar levels and keep your from feeling exhausted. Low blood sugar is one of the major reasons why you start to feel tired, so reach for some healthy fruit snacks to prevent this from happening.
Use as an Exercise Recovery Method
If you’ve been strenuously working out for a period of time, or if your child has been participating in a physical activity (such as sports practice) then giving them a healthy fruit snack can replenish all of the stores of energy that have just been burned. Recovery of the muscles after a tough workout is super important, and healthy fruit snacks included in this guide can be used to give your muscles what they need. Plus, these fruit snacks are extremely convenient, since they are grab-and-go style, so you won’t have to think twice while you’re getting ready to hit the gym, or the soccer field.
Criteria for Evaluation
Many different health food companies (and less healthy snack food companies) have made fruit snacks that are available to you for purchase. There are so many different types out there, that it can be extremely difficult to know which one is best for you and your family. Just because a fruit snack has a fun and bright package, doesn’t mean that it’s best for you, and it’s important to pick one based off of information, rather than looks. This is why we have reviewed and tested all of the healthy fruit snack options on this guide for you; to take the guesswork out of finding the right fruit snack. Below, we’ve listed all of the criteria for evaluation we used when picking out which healthy fruit snack options were going to go on this guide, to give you a sense of what was important to us as consumers.
Quality of Ingredients
We also looked for fruit snacks that contained high amounts of vitamin C. This is a vitamin that your body needs to function optimally, and can help children grow-up healthy and strong. Having a full daily allowance of vitamin C in its formula helped push some fruit snack products higher up on our guide.
Non-GMO and Certified USDA Organic
The fruit snacks on our guide are mostly all certified USDA organic and do not contain any GMOs. Having a snack that is certified organic means that you are feeding your family a snack that has seen fewer pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. These can all be very harmful and can cause your family to develop health problems. Instead of giving the ones you love fruit snacks that are not certified organic, you can give them the fruit snacks we’ve included on this guide.
If a fruit snack says that it is non-GMO, it means that it does not contain any genetically modified organisms. Organisms that have been genetically modified have been created in a laboratory setting and have been experimented on with unnatural products and chemicals. These fruit snacks on our guide are mostly all non-GMO, which means that you are not giving yourself or your family any food that is unnatural and dangerous for your body.
Delicious Flavor
Aside from being nutritious, a high-quality fruit snack also has to taste great. The all-natural fruit snacks on this guide were all rated very highly on Amazon, and had a plethora of customer reviews that praised their taste and texture. Children can be difficult to please, so it’s important to have a fruit snack that they like to eat. We also looked for fruit snacks that came in a wide variety of flavors, so that your family wouldn’t get bored of eating the same flavor time after time. The fruit snacks that were rated highly for their taste and healthy ingredients made their way to our fruit snack review guide.
Favorable Company Reputation
It’s important to buy a fruit snack product from a company that is reputable, and that has a solid customer base. The fruit snack products on this guide are all manufactured by companies that have made their customers happy time and time again. Many of the companies listed on this guide will also offer money-back guarantees if you are not happy with their fruit snack product.
Customer Reviews and Satisfaction
We’ve carefully looked at all of the customer reviews for each of the fruit snack products we’ve listed on our review guide. Customer reviews can give you a great idea of whether or not a fruit snack product is right for you and your family. The snacks on this guide have all been highly rated by consumers, which means that you are going to receive a snack product that is of a high-quality. We’ve also eliminated fruit snacks that received bad ratings from their consumers, so you do not have to waste your time trying out fruit snacks that do not taste good, have unpleasant textures, or contain ingredients that can cause damage to you and your family.
Safety of the Product
Purchasing a fruit snack product that is safe to consume and healthy for you is of the utmost importance. The fruit snacks on our buying guide have all be inspected for their safety, and have been deemed safe for human consumption. A lot of the products also are safe for those with dietary restrictions to consume. Children with nut allergies can eat a lot of the fruit snack products listed on this review, as many of them do not contain nuts in their ingredients. (It’s always best to read the nutritional label and consult with your doctor before feeding your child a new fruit snack, however.) By offering you all-natural fruit snacks that are safe, you can choose which one fits you and your family’s needs best without having to worry about harmful side effects.
FAQs
Q) Why should I purchase an all-natural fruit snack?
There are many fruit snack options available for purchase that are not all-natural. These are usually more appealing to consumers because they are often quite a bit cheaper, and kid-friendly. However, it is important to stay away from these fruit snacks, as they are full of refined sugar and empty calories. Some of these fruit snacks can have as much sugar as a candy bar. Instead, purchase one of the all-natural fruit snack options we’ve listed on this guide. These only contain sugar from the fruit they are processed from, and are typically USDA certified organic and non-GMO.
Q) What makes all-natural options a good snack option?
If your purchase one of these fruit snacks on our guide, then you’re going to have a nutritional snack that is always on-hand for you and your family. Nutritious fruit snacks are full of vitamin C and are also delicious. While eating whole fruits is another fantastic snack option, what makes fruit snacks so great is how convenient and easy they are to pack for on-the-go. If you’re heading off to soccer practice, or if you’re going to the gym, throw a fruit snack into your bag and take it with you for an energy-boosting, nutritious snack.
Q) What should I look for in a fruit snack?
When picking out a fruit snack product, there are a few labels to look for. Purchase a fruit snack that is non-GMO, and certified USDA organic. These labels are going to let you rest easy knowing that you are not feeding yourself or your family any harmful ingredients or unnatural additives. Some other labels to look for if you have dietary restrictions are vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free. Purchasing fruit snacks with these labels will allow your children to take the fruit snacks to school without causing harm to any other children with food allergies (such as those with nut allergies.)
Q) Should I keep my fruit snacks in the refrigerator?
Typically, no. Fruit snacks do not need to be kept in the refrigerator. As long as the snacks are kept in a room temperature, dry place (such as a kitchen cupboard), they should keep their flavor and texture. Each fruit snack product will have more specific instructions on how best to store your fruit snacks.
Q) Can eating these snacks be harmful to my teeth?
Since even all-natural fruit snack products contain sugar in them (from the fruit itself) it does have the potential to cause cavities. Fruit snacks also have the added disadvantage of being sticky, which can coat the teeth in a sugary mixture for long periods of time. That being said, as long as you brush your teeth when you get done with your fruit snack, you will be able to protect your teeth from the sugar. (The same goes for any sticky, gummy product, such as gummy vitamins.)
Q) Where can I purchase all-natural fruit snacks?
All of the all-natural fruit snacks we’ve included on this guide can be purchased on Amazon. The benefit of purchasing a fruit snack online is that you can read customer reviews and know if the product you’re purchasing is a quality product ahead of time. All of the fruit snacks included on this review guide have been well-received by consumers and are tasty and nutritious.
Q) Are they vegan safe?
Depending on the fruit snack you are purchasing, it may or may not be safe for vegans to eat. Most of the fruit snacks we’ve included on this guide are vegan. If you are vegan and you are picking out a fruit snack, look for one that has the vegan label, or one that does not have gelatin listed in its ingredient list.
Q) Are fruit snacks a good option for those with dietary restrictions?
Many of the fruit snacks we’ve included in this review guide are safe for those with dietary restrictions to eat. Aside from the vegan options, there are also many options that are gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free. Not only does this mean that they are safe to give to those with food allergies, but they are also safe for your children to take to school and eat around other children with food allergies.
Q) Do these snacks have any artificial flavors and/or colors?
If you choose to purchase fruit snacks at the grocery store, you may be purchasing snacks that are full of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. This may be harmful to those children who may have allergic reactions to certain dyes, like red 40 for instance. The all-natural fruit snacks on our guide do not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and are instead colored and flavored with all-natural fruit and vegetable products.
Q) How old should my child be before I give them one?
This is a great question that depends on personal preference and your pediatrician’s medical advice. Some mothers will wait until their children are around the age of three before giving them fruit snacks, while others will wait longer. It is best to talk to your child’s doctor and decide together on an appropriate minimum age for your child.