Nature’s Candy
As the weather cools and the holiday season gets closer, something sweet just seems to hit the spot.
But satisfying your sweet tooth doesn’t always have to mean reaching for candy.
Dried fruit is nature’s candy – and we believe there’s no reason to change what nature made. That’s why our organic dried fruit has no added sugar. Fruit is sweetened by the sun when as it hangs on the tree. Nature did the sweetening, so we don’t have to.
Fruit contains naturally occurring sugars, but those sugars come packaged the way nature intended, alongside fiber and naturally occurring nutrients.
That makes it very different from eating something made primarily from refined or added sugars. When you enjoy whole or dried fruit, you’re not getting sugar in isolation. The fiber in the fruit helps slow digestion and changes the way that sweetness is delivered to your body.
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A Little Sweet Goes a Long Way
One thing to remember with dried fruit is that it’s concentrated.
Think about sitting down to eat a whole apple. Once that apple is dried, it may only amount to roughly a small handful of apple slices.
That makes dried fruit an easy way to enjoy something naturally sweet without needing a big serving.
A few slices can be the perfect little treat.
In fact, dried fruit as a treat has a special place in our hearts.
Our Grandma always kept a jar of dried fruit on the counter at her house for us to grab from whenever we visited. It was her healthy version of a candy bowl, and we loved it. There was something so simple and special about reaching into that jar for a little sweet treat.
It’s a memory we still love, and a taste that takes us right back to her kitchen.
Maybe Grandma was onto something.
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Fruit + Dark Chocolate? Yes, Please.
If you want to make your dried fruit feel a little more indulgent, pair it with a piece of rich dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is naturally rich in polyphenols, beneficial compounds found in plants that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They help protect our cells from oxidative stress and have been associated with supporting heart and metabolic health.
In other words, good-quality dark chocolate isn’t just delicious. It also brings some pretty impressive plant compounds to the snack table.
Sweet dried fruit, rich dark chocolate, maybe a handful of nuts? That’s our kind of candy bowl.
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Build a Better Sweet Snack
Want to make that sweet snack a little more satisfying?
Pair your dried fruit with a source of protein or healthy fat, like nuts, seeds, nut butter, cheese, or full-fat yogurt.
Adding protein and fat can slow digestion and help create a steadier blood sugar response while keeping you satisfied longer.
A few combinations we love:
• Dried apples + almond butter
• Dried bananas + walnuts
• Dried French plum + dark chocolate + nuts
• Dried pears + cheese
• Full-fat yogurt + chopped dried fruit
Simple. Sweet. Satisfying.
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Heading Into the Holidays
October is the beginning of a season filled with treats, gatherings, baking, and plenty of sweets.
And we’re all for enjoying the season.
But between the Halloween candy, holiday desserts, and celebrations, it’s nice to remember that some of the simplest foods can satisfy that craving too.
Take a little inspiration from Grandma Martino’s healthy candy bowl and keep a jar of dried fruit on the counter, ready for whenever you’re craving a little something sweet. It’s a simple tradition, a naturally sweet treat, and one we think is worth bringing back.
Tuck dried fruit into lunchboxes, add it to a fall grazing board, enjoy a few pieces with dark chocolate after dinner, or simply grab a piece from the jar as you walk through the kitchen.
Sometimes the best traditions are the simplest ones.
This season, get your sweet fix straight from nature.