Fruit snack

It usually means a small, sweet snack made from fruit purée or fruit juice, often shaped into strips, rolls or pieces. The name can also describe dried fruit or a mixed fruit snack, so check what the product is made from.

Not necessarily. Dried fruit is simply fruit with most of its water removed; a packaged fruit snack may be puréed fruit, juice concentrate or a mixture, sometimes with added ingredients.

A small packet or a few pieces is a practical snack portion; the size and fruit content differ between products. For a less sticky option, pair it with fresh fruit or a handful of nuts.

Seal the packet tightly and keep it in a cool, dry cupboard so the pieces do not dry out or stick together. Follow any refrigeration instructions on the packaging, especially for soft snacks sold chilled.

Try it with plain yoghurt, porridge or a handful of nuts for contrasting textures. Fruit-snack strips can also be chopped into homemade cereal bars or used as a lunchbox treat.

They work best where a concentrated, chewy sweetness is useful, such as in flapjacks, cereal bars or chopped into baking. They do not replace fresh fruit in recipes that rely on its juice, crunch or bulk.

Sticky, chewy pieces can be difficult for young children to manage and may pose a choking risk. Cut them into small, manageable pieces and supervise children while they eat.

They contain 1.6 g of fibre per 100 g, but fruit-based snacks can still be sweet and sticky. Their ingredients and fruit content vary, so look for fruit near the start of the ingredient list if that is what you want.