Honestly, I really don’t need to write anything else. The headline sums up my feelings about fruit snacks. But not all fruit snacks are created equal.
My kids LOVE fruit snacks. Even now, my high school freshman still enjoys getting a pack in his lunch every day. When I buy them, I literally have to ration them out or they will be gone within a day. Of course, this is after I take my payment of 2-3 packets out first. If you have kids you will totally be able to relate to this because in reality, they shut everyone up:
I’m not the only one who has a love of fruit snacks. Let’s use today as an example. Currently, the public high school I work at is closed for the summer AND to the public unless an appointment is scheduled. However, 12 month employees, like myself, the other admin and a few select other positions are allowed to work on campus as long as several safety measures are met. These include temperature taken upon arrival, masks worn anywhere other than our own offices, hand washing, gloves, etc.
Well, today out team was conducting several interviews (online) for an open position when our principal, whom we shall call Nick, asked if we had any fruit snacks anywhere. Now even though we are a high school, there tends to be snacks hidden in everyone’s office for moments just like this. The hunt began.
No one found any, and we only had about 10 minutes before the next interview started. I suggested one possible location. We have this special room on campus that is on a special key to allow for a secure location for locking up the high stake tests that we give during the year: ACT tests, AP tests, etc. And like any good test administrator, we give our students snacks and treats on test days. I guess thinking that sugar will help them test better. It apparently works, we have pretty good test scores.
I was certain that there was a box in one of the cabinets in that room. As I oversee all state and district testing, I’m in that room a lot! So Greta and I ran, OK, walked quickly, down to the room and low and behold, we found a huge box of them. As we walked back to the office, each enjoying a packet of fruit snacks, we debated on whether or not they expire. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed over spring break and all state testing was canceled. That meant this particular box of fruit snacks was from April of 2019.
We decided it didn’t matter, and they were needed to be ingested. I mean, after all, what was the worst that could happen?
Greta and I were heroes upon arrival back to the office. I held the large blue box of Mott’s fruit snacks high in the air like a trophy before giving everyone a large handful of packets. Someone will need to tell Nick that he needs to pace himself though. I think I gave him about 12-15 packets and just a couple hours later, he stated that he only had a few left and needed to eat real food.
Now, Mott’s fruit snacks tend to be the ones that I currently purchase for my own children. They seem to have just a little less sugar in them than some of the other brands. However, when the kids were little we could get the Target brand. They were cheaper, and we were buying a big box every week! They were pretty much a staple in the diaper bag as they were a soy free food. You may not know this but 11 was born with a soy allergy.
I’m not a fan of the Welch’s fruit snacks, but it’s more from a parent who had to change diapers perspective. They test great, don’t get me wrong, but they seemed to change the color of the kid’s poop. Kind of like when you eat a whole pint of blueberries in one setting. Yeah, if you haven’t done that before, try it and see what happens. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My favorite fruit snack has to be Kellog’s. They come in a pretty purple box, and they are absolutely delightful. You can go to Costco or Sam’s Club and buy a box that has the bigger packets with a combination of all strawberry or mixed berry. We used to keep a secret stash of these in our former principal’s office for when we were having a really crappy day. That’s how good they are. Good enough to change the entire day.
From all this, there are a few lessons to be learned.
Fruit snacks are not just for kids. So buy them, eat them, enjoy them, hide them for your kids.
Kellog’s brand can turn your day around. You should try them. Trust me.
Fruit snacks may never expire, so don’t dwell too long on what they are actually made of.