Dried Fruit

These sweetened banana chips make the perfect snack for both little and big fingers. Portable, delicious and a healthier alternative for a quick afternoon snack.

Country of Origin: Phillipines

Ingredients: Organic bananas, organic coconut oil, organic sugar.

Dried Strawberries

These chewy & sweet dried strawberries are so good, they taste like a lolly! 

Country of Origin: China

Ingredients: Strawberries, sugar, sunflower oil, citric acid

Organic Dried Apricots

Apricots make more than just a killer jam. These guys are tasty, full of nutrients, health benefits and are extremely versatile. Lets have a look (spoiler: they're good for your eyes) as to what they really bring to the table.

Country of Origin: Turkey

HEALTH BENEFITS:

• Apricots are high in antioxidants, specifically carotenoids
• Good for the eyes
• Helps protect the liver
• Helps reduce inflammation
• Great for digestion & gut health

NUTRITION:

Apricots also bring to the table:

• Vitamin A, potassium & Vitamin E
• Copper, iron & niacin
• Manganese, magnesium & Vitamin B6

1 cup of dried apricots contains:

313 calories, 81.4g of carbohydrates, 4.4g of protein, 0.7g of fat, 9.5g of fibre.

RECIPE:

No-Bake Apricot Almond Coconut Energy Bites

Author: The Real Food Dieticians

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ cups raw almond
• 1 cup dried apricots
• ½ cup shredded coconut 
• 2 Tbsp. almond butter
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. nutmeg
• pinch of sea salt
• 1-2 Tbsp. water (if needed – add 1 tbsp. at a time)
• For a citrus twist, add ½ tsp. orange zest and juice from ½ an orange

Instructions: 

1. Line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor except for the water. Process on low speed for several minutes stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
2. Ingredients will start to come together after a few minutes. If you feel the dough is too dry add 1 Tbsp. of water at a time and continue to process until ingredients start to stick together (see photo above for visual examples).
3. Transfer the dough to the loaf pan and press down firmly into the bottom of the pan. Top with coconut shreds (pressing them lightly into the surface) then place the bars in the fridge for 30 minutes or freezer for 10 minutes.
4. After chilled, remove bars from pan. Cut into 8 bars or squares.
5. Store bars in refrigerator.

Organic Coconut Chips

These organic coconut chips or flaked coconut are pure and ready to add flavour and nutrients to your baking and breakfasts!

Country of Origin: Phillipines

Ingredients: Organic Coconut

Country of Origin: USA

Ingredients: organic cranberries, organic apple juice, organic sunflower oil

Organic Currants

Currants are a dried, teeny tiny seedless red grapes. They are sweet, tangy and great for your baking, jams, relishes and more. They're full of the good stuff too! Think iron, fibre, antioxidants and more.

So whats the big difference between currants, raisins and sultanas? Glad you asked, we were confused too. There are a few differences between these fruits, but lets keep it simple.

Raisins are dried white-flesh grapes. Sultanas are from golden-coloured dried grapes. And currants are actually tiny little grapes dried up. They're about 1/4 of the size of a normal grape and they're hard to find!

HEALTH BENEFITS:

What are they good for?

• Lower cholesterol levels with all that fibre, which regulates the blood sugar and limits the cholesterol in the bloodstream.
• Good on the eyes! The special antioxidants in these guys help protect the retinas and helps repair damaged cells. 
• Cavity-fighter, naturally! These guys have been found to have five different naturally occurring compounds that help protect from bacteria & tooth decay.

NUTRITION:

Currants have a variety of nutrients that can be found here:

• Vitamin B6, Thiamine & Niacin
• Potassium, Iron & Copper
• Manganese, Riboflavin & Vitamin C

Country of Origin: Australia

Ingredients: Australian organic currants

Organic Dried Figs

What do you think of when you think of figs? I think of cheese boards and delicious salads. But did you know that figs have a ridiculous amount of health benefits? They are the super fruit and super delicious.

Country of Origin: Turkey

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Figs have such a wide variety of nutrients that benefit many areas of the body. Lets dig a little deeper:

• They're a natural cancer fighter. Some studies have shown that some elements of figs are actually toxic to certain cancer cells. 
• Figs and their extracts have been used to treat a wide range of illnesses and diseases including respiratory, reproductive and more. 
• They're super high in antioxidants (polyphenols), especially dried figs. 
• Figs help the digestive system, may assist with weight loss (they keep you full), and help to prevent heart disease, all thanks to the high levels of fibre and potassium. 
• They're essential to the ultra healthy Mediterranean diet

NUTRITION:

Did you know that the nutritional value of figs actually increases after they've been dried? Check out all they have to offer:

• Manganese, Vitamin K & potassium
• Magnesium, calcium & copper
• Iron, phosphorus & Vitamin B6
• Thiamine, riboflavin & zinc

100g of dried figs contains:

249 calories, 3.3g of protein, 63.9g of carbohydrates, 0.9g fat, 9.8g fiber

RECIPE:

Fig & Almond No Bake Energy Bites

Author: Wellplated

Ingredients:

• 15 dried figs
• 10 pitted dates
• 1/4 cup almond butter
• 3/4 cup oats 
• 1/4 cup ground linseed 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Its just too simple. Blend & roll!

Organic Goji Berries

This dried fruit is considered a 'super berry' for its anti-inflammatory & anti-oxidant super powers. Its widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for greater health, energy, vitality & stamina. 

Goji berries have a mild, tart taste like a cranberry, but with a sweet aftertaste. They are great to add into your dishes without changing the flavour, and are an easy, (very) healthy snack for little fingers. 

HEALTH BENEFITS

Much research has been done behind goji berries and their ability as a 'happy food.' They have shown to:

• Assist with greater feelings of well-being
• Improve neurological traits and depression/anxiety
• Support better gut health
• They may also improve heart health

USE IT!

Goji berries are mild, yet sweet & sour. They make a great addition to your cereals, slices and loafs, and energy balls.

NUTRITION

Goji berries are packed with:

• Vitamins & trace minerals
• Phytonutrients, antioxidants 
• 18 amino acids
• Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron & fibre

1/4 cup of Goji berries has:

100 calories, 0g of fat, 3g of fibre, 13g of sugar, 4g of protein.

RECIPE

Vanilla Goji Berry Balls

• Author: Deryn Macey
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 12 balls
• Category: Snack
• Cuisine: Vegan, Raw

Ingredients:

Dates are a sweet tooth's best friend. This fruit originates from the date palm and has been around for thousands and thousands of years. Dates are a popular staple in the whole foods diet as they are a natural sweetener that is jam packed with nutrients.

USE IT!

Dates are most commonly used in baking, smoothies or as a snack to combat a pesky sweet craving. They are great for kid-approved bliss balls, bars and cookies.

Dates come in many forms, but pitted dates and medjool dates are the most common. Pitted dates have a longer shelf life and can be stored in the pantry. Find one of our favourite recipes below!

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Dates are surprisingly nutritional little guys. They are rich in fibre as well as:

• B-vitamins, magnesium, calcium & potassium.
• Powerful antioxidants
• Iron, manganese, copper & sulfur.

Feeling sluggish? Chew on a date for a quick energy fix. Digestion a bit slow or too fast? Dates can help get those intestinal juices flowing and balance that bowel. Battling inflammation? Dates can help lower inflammation with their friend and ours, magnesium. 

While dates have some impressive nutritional content, they are high in natural sugars to should be consumed in moderation. One date has 66 calories, 18g of carbs, 16g of sugar, and 2g of fibre.

RECIPE:

Healthy No Bake Bars

• 2 cups of pitted dates
• 3/4 cup of cashews
• 1/4 cup of nut butter of choice
• 1/2 coconut flakes
• 2 tablespoons of cacao powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt

Mix ingredients together in a high powered food processor. Line a square tray with parchment paper and press mixture in until firm. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Raisins aren't just for kids anymore. These quiet achievers are a great source of energy, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals. They're budget friendly and can make quite a few rounds in the kitchen. Win-win!

HEALTH BENEFITS:

Don't be fooled by their size, raisins have a great roster for themselves. If consumed in moderation, raisins have been shown to be good for many things, including:

• Raisins have a fancy phytochemical that stop the growth of two bacterias that cause cavities & gum disease
• High in fibre = good for the guts
• Research supports raisins as a healthy snack for type 2 diabetics
• High in cancer-preventing antioxidants

NUTRITION:

While high in natural sugars, small amounts of raisins are very beneficial to the healthy diet. Raisins are high in:

• Antioxidants (cancer fighters), polyphenols & flavonoids 
• Potassium, Iron & vitamin B6
• Magnesium, calcium & vitamin K

40g of raisins yield: 129 calories, 0.2g of fat, 1.6g fibre, 25.4g of sugar

USE IT!

Raisins are most popularly eaten as a snack, but are also enjoyed in breads, breakfast mueslis & blends and baking. Your options are endless!

RECIPE:

A family classic, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

• 1 cup (100g) quick oats 
• ¾ cup (90g) whole wheat or gluten-free* flour 
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120mL) maple syrup
• ¼ cup (40g) raisins

Directions:

Proudly a product of Australia

Ingredients: Organic Sultanas

Sour Cherries

These sweet and chewy cherries have a mouthwateringly sour tang. They’re so delicious, guys. Satisfying that sweet craving with a favorite dried fruit! 

Country of Origin: USA

Ingredients: Cherries, sugar, sunflower oil