Are Dried Fruits Healthy Snacks or High Sugar Treats?

Drying is an effective method of food preservation. Bacteria need water to break down food so removing the water preserves the fruit. These are then used as snacks or as ingredients in baked desserts. The question is, are they really healthy or simply high-sugar treat?

The caloric content of a serving of dried fruit is approximately twice that of its fresh equivalent. This is largely because dried fruits are just a fraction of the size of the fresh ones. One can very easily consume a handful of dried mangoes, not realizing that it is equal to 3-4 pieces of fresh mangoes. The dried variety is not a filling because of its zero water content. And yes, many dried fruits are cooked in sugar, jacking up its caloric content even further. This is true even for raisins, a staple of trail mixes. So the rule of moderation should still be followed, in this case even more strictly. If you want to indulge in dried fruits, a piece might be more than enough.