If you’ve ever shopped for gluten free snacks you know how challenging it can be: crackers, chips, granola bars…everything seems to have some sort of grain in it. Fruit snacks can be gluten free, but most varieties are loaded with sugar and have little to no actual fruit in them. For a healthier alternative, try these gluten free fruit snack ideas that not only taste good, but are good for you too!
1. Freeze Dried Fruit
For an airy, flavorful, and healthy snack, try freeze dried fruit. Look for freeze dried fruit and berries that are 100% fruit, without added sugar, preservatives, or artificial colors. Freeze dried fruit can be enjoyed right out of the packet, for puffs of sweet, tangy goodness that are fun to crunch, and pack a nutritious, flavorful punch.
2. Fruit Fuel Bars
Gather 1 cup of your favorite nuts, 1 cup of dates, and 1 cup of your favorite dried fruit. That’s all you need to make Fruit Fuel Bars! Blend the ingredients together in a food processor until they form a thick paste, then press into a slab, chill, and cut into squares for snacking. It’s just that easy, plus the possibilities are endless. Try making cherry almond date bars or apricot cashew date bars. You can even mix dried fruits together to create awesome combinations like blueberry peach almond date bars or cherry raspberry pecan date bars, for gluten free fruit snack bars that hits the spot.
3. Fruit Parfait
Fruit parfaits are easy to whip up, satisfy a sweet tooth in a healthy snack, and they can be customized with your favorite kind of yogurt, nuts, and fruit. Try layering Greek yogurt with almonds and your favorite berries, and swirl some honey or agave on top. For a tropical parfait, pair pineapple chunks and other tropical fruits with coconut shavings, yogurt, and gluten-free granola.
4. Fruit Smoothies
Like fruit parfaits, you can use what you have on hand to make delicious, satisfying fruit smoothies. All you need is your favorite kind of milk or yogurt, and fruit of your choice. Get creative! You can even mix fruits and veggies together for extra vitamins and minerals which is a great trick if you’re trying to sneak veggies into your kid’s diet. (See 5 Ways to Sneak Veggies Into Your Picky Kid’s Diet for more.)
Try a superfood green smoothie with apple and dehydrated spinach, or a triple berry smoothie with raspberry, blueberries, and cherries. For a zippy smoothie to carry you through the day, blend carrots, apple, and ginger, and add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
5. Gluten-Free Baked Goods
Gluten free baking isn’t hard, and with an abundance of substitutes for wheat flour on the market, you can have your fruitcake and eat it too! Some safe flours for gluten free baking include almond, sorghum, brown rice, millet, buckwheat, and quinoa. With the flour of your choice, you can make amazing gluten-free blueberry muffins, moist and delicious carrot apple bread, gluten free cherry pie, and raspberry scones. The sky’s the limit!