Chew on this - both fresh and dried fruit have their place in the realm of healthy eating, but if it’s a one-on-one face-off, fresh fruit bags the championship. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025, more than half of your fruit munchies should be fresh. Why? Simple science. Fresh fruit still holds claim to all of its inherent nutrients and enzymes, packing an impressive health punch.

Time to deflate the dried fruit balloon – despite its convenience and easy storage, dried fruit contains a sweet multitude of sins. The dehydrating process is notorious for hoarding sugars and calories like an overly enthusiastic squirrel. Picking apples as accomplices, let's say, 100 grams of fresh apples house a moderate 10 grams of sugar. However, their dried counterparts swagger around with a whopping 57 grams of sugar for the same weight.

Now, we're not suggesting you swear off dried fruit forever. Even dried fruit has its shining moments. Mixing both forms of fruit into your diet brings diversity and different benefits. According to our friends at the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, dried fruit, along with its fresh, canned, frozen, and 100% juice comrades, add gladiators to the fruit and vegetable dietary colosseum. For those tiptoeing the 2,000-calorie line, the recommendation is scarving down 2 cups worth of fruit daily, and at least 50% of it should be fresh.

Dried fruits are fine in moderation for most of us, but tread with caution if you're dealing with health issues like diabetes. Dive into a more comprehensive understanding of fruits and make educated decisions at the supermarket aisle!