Need a snack but want something not processed and not unhealthy? You’ve gotta try the snack of champions: fruit leather!
When your kids run out the door or come home, make sure you always have a healthy snack to send with them or awaiting them. When I was growing up, I loved anything that was chewy, sweet, and colorful. My favorite snack was fruit roll ups. Sadly, as many of you have read over the years, companies label children's snacks as natural but then fill those snacks with processed sugars, preservatives, and additives. Fruit snacks from the supermarket can also get costly, so why not make your own at home? All you need is one base ingredient, fruit!
So what exactly is fruit leather you ask? Well, fruit leather is a natural, sweet treat that uses fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables by pureeing them and then dehydrating them. You can make your own delicious fruit leather strips at home with seasonal and local ingredients. {oehzeu6v}
You can even hide the healthy ingredients in the mixture that your kids would be reluctant to eat such as beets, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Sometimes, I add chia seeds to my fruit leathers. If your kids don't have any issues with texture, then throw in a tablespoon or two. Chia seeds are high in fiber, protein, and essential fats. This is a wonderful superfood to give your children for their health and development.
These fruit roll-ups can be made ahead of time and placed in an airtight container in the fridge. They can last up to two weeks (if the kids don’t eat them all before then!). There are so many variations you can do.
