I do not eat a lot of dried fruit besides dried cranberries mixed into recipes or stirred into oatmeal. It has never been a food I am interested in eating. I think the problem is that I do not like raisins and so I have told myself I do not like other dried fruit. It might be time for me to branch out and try something new.

In the spirit of trying something new, I have done a little research on dried fruit. Here are some interesting facts I have learned about dried fruit:

• Dried fruit is fruit that has had most of the water removed from it. The water may be removed using a dehydrator, drying in an oven on low heat, or sun drying.
• Dried fruit is made and packaged in factories, but it can also be made at home with basic kitchen equipment.
• Dried fruit is more shelf stable since it has a lower water content. This means it is great to eat year-around.
• It is important to read the nutrition facts on packaged dried fruit. Dried fruit has fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Though, it may also have a lot of added sugar.
• Half a cup of dried fruit counts as one of the servings of fruit we need each day. To find more details about our fruit needs, check out the MyPlate.gov website.

Last week Jody shared our granola recipe, which you can top with your favorite dried fruit. Next week, Katy will share some of her favorite Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipes with dried fruit. In the meantime, check out the dried fruit where you shop to find out if there are any you like – I will too!