Fruit: A Healthy, Economical Snack

It is recommended that children eat 5 to 13 servings of fruit and vegetables daily. Fresh fruits and vegetables lower the risk of heart disease, some cancers, high blood pressure, plus they contain vitamins A and C and fiber. The average cost of serving fresh fruit is 25 cents per serving as compared with 69 cents to 80 cents for chips and candy (US Department of Agriculture).

What fruits are good for you? Fresh fruits are good for you, dried fruits and frozen fruits. For an occasional snack, 100 % fruit juice popsicles can be substituted for a serving of fruit. Avoid fruit leathers! Fruit Roll-Ups, Farley's Fruit Snacks, Sunkist Fruit Gems, Starburst Fruit Chews, Mamba Fruit Chews, Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews, GummyBears...
http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy. These snacks are high in sugar. Eat them wisely. You should also avoid juice as a substitute for your fresh fruit servings. Juices are high in sugar content as well.

Latesha Gilmore
Student, UF Medical School