Dried fruit- good or bad?

katerskate
katerskate Posts: 13
in Food and Nutrition
Eating just a handful of dried apricots and dates sends me over my sugar allowance :-( But if I'm not going over my calorie goal, can it be that bad? I mean, doesn't it just come down to calories in/calories burned? Plus- sugars in dried fruit are surely healthier than in cakes/biscuits etc. I'm not diabetic..I don't go crazy with it but I love my dried fruit so much I don't want to give it up!
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Replies

  • agrafina
    agrafina Posts: 128 Member
    Nope. If you like it, and it fits your goals, don't worry about it. I ignore the sugar allowance since pretty much all I get is from fruit or dairy and I'm always over anyway.
  • nobel99
    nobel99 Posts: 62 Member
    sugar is added after the drying process. sigh...I love it too!
    http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/dried_fruit.htm
  • weird_me2
    weird_me2 Posts: 716 Member
    Going over the sugars isn't bad if you are under your calorie goal, but the sugars from dried fruits aren't really any different from the sugars from cake or cookies, etc, it's just that they come with vitamins from the fruit. If you like them, make them work and you can always do what I do - stop tracking the sugars. A piece or two of fruit will put you over.
  • agrafina
    agrafina Posts: 128 Member
    sugar is added after the drying process. sigh...I love it too!
    http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/dried_fruit.htm

    It depends on the fruit (per the link). You have to read labels and make sure it says unsweetened.
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    Going over the sugars isn't bad if you are under your calorie goal, but the sugars from dried fruits aren't really any different from the sugars from cake or cookies, etc, it's just that they come with vitamins from the fruit. If you like them, make them work and you can always do what I do - stop tracking the sugars. A piece or two of fruit will put you over.

    I may just do that- I feel like the sugar allowance here is very small! I'm thinking surely it is included in carbs anyway..?
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Dried fruit is high in sugar - fact.

    If you dont have a problem with that sugar figure, then fine.

    But don't be seduced by the "it's fruit, it must be healthy!" idea.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    Going over the sugars isn't bad if you are under your calorie goal, but the sugars from dried fruits aren't really any different from the sugars from cake or cookies, etc, it's just that they come with vitamins from the fruit. If you like them, make them work and you can always do what I do - stop tracking the sugars. A piece or two of fruit will put you over.

    I may just do that- I feel like the sugar allowance here is very small! I'm thinking surely it is included in carbs anyway..?

    Yes, sugars are carbohydrates and are subset of carbs on nutrition labels. So, they're counted in the total. They can be tracked separately, which is useful if you have a medical reason for limiting sugar intake. Barring a medical condition you're fine just sticking to your macro, micro, and calorie goals.
  • huango
    huango Posts: 1,007 Member
    careful to brush/floss well because dried fruit is a big culprit of cavities.

    My gf is totally "granola" and so she only gave her kids dried fruit for snacks. Well, 2 of her kids had a ton of cavities.
    Dentist confirms.

    so now I give DF sparingly to my kids and make sure they brush/floss well.
  • CitizenXVIII
    CitizenXVIII Posts: 117 Member
    Like others said, some fruit is sweetened when dried. Don't know why, seems excessive to me.

    Besides that, dates are super duper high in sugar, enough that people actually refine granulated sugar from dates. It's said that you can eat anything that you can fit in your allowances, but there are so many better fruit options for those calories.
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    Going over the sugars isn't bad if you are under your calorie goal, but the sugars from dried fruits aren't really any different from the sugars from cake or cookies, etc, it's just that they come with vitamins from the fruit. If you like them, make them work and you can always do what I do - stop tracking the sugars. A piece or two of fruit will put you over.

    I may just do that- I feel like the sugar allowance here is very small! I'm thinking surely it is included in carbs anyway..?

    Yes, sugars are carbohydrates and are subset of carbs on nutrition labels. So, they're counted in the total. They can be tracked separately, which is useful if you have a medical reason for limiting sugar intake. Barring a medical condition you're fine just sticking to your macro, micro, and calorie goals.

    Thank you! having just started I've been feeling a bit restricted by the nutrient tracker, like I shouldn't be eating as much fruit as I usually do, or that it's either fresh or dried in a day, not both, to stay under the limit..
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    We have a dehydrator and we make our own. No added sugar, no preservatives. Just dried fruit.

    So. Good. It tastes better than candy.
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    Like others said, some fruit is sweetened when dried. Don't know why, seems excessive to me.

    Besides that, dates are super duper high in sugar, enough that people actually refine granulated sugar from dates. It's said that you can eat anything that you can fit in your allowances, but there are so many better fruit options for those calories.

    I know..but i don't want to cut out everything I love from my diet! I've quit the biscuits I used to snack on, so a few dates will surely have a much less harmful impact on my diet than they did..without me having to completely restrict myself from treats
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    careful to brush/floss well because dried fruit is a big culprit of cavities.

    My gf is totally "granola" and so she only gave her kids dried fruit for snacks. Well, 2 of her kids had a ton of cavities.
    Dentist confirms.

    so now I give DF sparingly to my kids and make sure they brush/floss well.

    Heh, well I've avoided any cavities so far (and this is after years of snacking on sugary biscuits!) so fingers crossed I can keep that up :-)
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    I like to rehydrate the fruit in booze :)
  • cherrilovee
    cherrilovee Posts: 194 Member
    As long as you make it work with your calorie goals it should all work out. On a day that you want to eat dried fruit, take a longer walk. I'm sure you can make it work. It's not really about what you eat, it's more about portion control. Good luck on your weight loss goals!
  • Bianca42
    Bianca42 Posts: 310 Member
    Dried cherries are pure evil. I can't eat just a handful and before I know it the entire bag is gone. LOL
  • agrafina
    agrafina Posts: 128 Member
    deleted because I forgot to quote (like a dork)
  • agrafina
    agrafina Posts: 128 Member
    I like to rehydrate the fruit in booze :)

    mmmm, boozy dried fruit.....
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    Very high in sugar, but also high in fiber. You have to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    doesn't it just come down to calories in/calories burned?

    Bingo
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Eat it and stick to your goals. When I eat dried fruit I try to visualize it in it's original form so I have an idea of how much fruit I'm really eating.
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    Good in my opinion becasue I love it, but HAS MORE CONCENTRATED SUGAR than when it's fresh.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Ah my downfall would be "Dried Philippine Mango" from Costco. I can EASILY kill a bag in a day. Probably why I don't get it that often.
    Just be aware of how much you eat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    I eat a serving of dried apricots and pitted dates everyday - along with a serving of Talenti gelato. Enjoy the dried fruit and don't worry about it as long as your weekly calorie goals are being met.
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    Good in my opinion becasue I love it, but HAS MORE CONCENTRATED SUGAR than when it's fresh.

    And the stuff sold in the store has ADDED sugar as well for some unknown reason.

    Like I said I dehydrate my own fruit and it is fanfreakingtastic. A million times better than what you get in the store.
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    I like to rehydrate the fruit in booze :)

    mm yes please!
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    Good in my opinion becasue I love it, but HAS MORE CONCENTRATED SUGAR than when it's fresh.

    And the stuff sold in the store has ADDED sugar as well for some unknown reason.

    Like I said I dehydrate my own fruit and it is fanfreakingtastic. A million times better than what you get in the store.

    I always check the ingredients and the stuff I buy doesn't seem to have any added sugar.. (in fact the only ingredients are the fruit itself?) But I would love to make my own. Someday!
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    Good in my opinion becasue I love it, but HAS MORE CONCENTRATED SUGAR than when it's fresh.

    And the stuff sold in the store has ADDED sugar as well for some unknown reason.

    Like I said I dehydrate my own fruit and it is fanfreakingtastic. A million times better than what you get in the store.

    I always check the ingredients and the stuff I buy doesn't seem to have any added sugar.. (in fact the only ingredients are the fruit itself?) But I would love to make my own. Someday!

    Interesting because a lot of the stuff I see in the store has added sugar.

    (Dehydrators aren't that expensive and they are the BOMB! In addition to making our own dried fruit we make jerky and our own marinades for it and it is so. GOOOOOD!!!)
  • katerskate
    katerskate Posts: 13
    Interesting because a lot of the stuff I see in the store has added sugar.

    Weirdly I haven't seen much *with* added sugar! i guess it depends on the fruit- cranberries etc probably have more sugar added to counteract the sourness, i'm guessing.
    (Dehydrators aren't that expensive and they are the BOMB! In addition to making our own dried fruit we make jerky and our own marinades for it and it is so. GOOOOOD!!!)


    wow sounds great! ideally I'd homemake my food as much as possible, but I'm a student so kitchen space/availability is an issue at the moment, sadly :-(
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    If you like it, eat it, so long as you're weighing the dried fruit. I find fresh fruit more satisfying, personally.

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