Stretch Island offers next best alternative to fresh fruit!

 Thank you to Stretch Island Fruit Company for the complimentary sample to review this product.

I try to give my family fresh fruit but it’s not always easy, especially when we are on the go. Sometimes I need a back-up plan. Stretch Island offers an alternative to fresh fruit with their dried fruit puree snacks. One of their newer products, the FruitaBu's Smooshed, has been a big hit.

My kids have tried all three flavors (apple, strawberry and grape) and compete for them if there's only one for a lunch box! The sugar level in this fruit snack comes in a little high, but it’s naturally occurring, comes with a good amount of potassium and counts as a full serving of fruit. Just make sure to round out your children’s snack with a form of whole grain such as a whole grain cracker or protein, like nuts.
In addition to the product itself, I also like the fact that the Stretch Island company gives back to the community. Through teaming up with the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, the company created Fruit Tree 101. The resulting program plants lessons in sustainability and eating right in the form of orchards it donates to schools across the country. Students and teachers at these schools work together to plant the trees and discuss the fruit’s importance for human health and the environment. How idyllic!

Back in November, students at one San Francisco elementary school and one high school planted apples, pears, berries and citrus fruit trees and shrubs -- more than 60 all together and some standing up to seven feet tall. (Check out photo above)

My kids appreciate the fun factor in their fruit and I take comfort in knowing the company prides itself on good health and social responsibility.

Plus, I agree that the product is tasty!