Boost your energy with a handful of nutrient-rich dried fruit

A handful of dried fruit can provide the energy and nutrients we need to get through that dreaded three o’ clock slump. Packed with dietary fibre, vitamins, and healthy carbohydrates, these handy grab-and-go snacks are also the perfect pre-exercise fuel.

From bananas to apricots to blueberries, you can dry pretty much any fruit. Specific varieties boast different health benefits, such as vitamin K-packed prunes, which may reduce our risk of type 2 diabetes, and flavonoid-rich blueberries, which may improve brain function.

A word of warning, though: drying fruit reduces its water content, thus upping its sugar concentration. Therefore, it’s important to exercise portion control when snacking on dried fruits.

Also, store-bought dried fruit can often contain added sugars and sulphites, so read the labels and try to avoid these additives. Drying your own fruit is a better option, when possible.

Check out the following recipes to incorporate dried fruit into your meals.

• Chocolate Fruit Bark
• Hazelnut Hemp Pancakes with Dried Blueberry Sauce
• Chickpea Goji Berry Salad