A Strange Celeb Weight-Loss Trend Inspired This Line of Fruit Snacks

When Fruigees co-founder David Czinn first noticed college girls devouring baby food during a pre-med class in 2012, he was stumped.

What Czinn was witness to was the so-called Baby Food Diet. This weight-loss fad, which involves replacing two meals a day with 14 jars of baby food, took Hollywood by storm in 2011, when tabloids claimed that Jennifer Aniston dropped a staggering seven pounds in one week just by eating like an infant.

Like the celebrities going gaga for Gerber, Czinn’s classmates were hungry for a low-calorie, portion-controlled treat to keep them satisfied throughout a long, hectic day. And if that meant eating tiny jars of smashed peas, so be it.

Determined to create a more age-appropriate alternative, Czinn enlisted the help of his cousin, Josh Kahn, and together, in their grandparent’s kitchen, they created Fruigees: a line of portable, 100-percent organic, vitamin-rich snacks suitable for grown-ups and kids alike.

“Our goal was for every flavor to taste like a childhood favorite,” says Kahn, “but without the bad stuff like high-fructose corn syrup or added sugar.” Keeping taste and nutrition criteria high on their list, the duo whipped up yummy flavors like Nothing Beets Cherry, which tastes like cherry pie, and 24 Carrot Orange Juice, reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. And everyone who tries Fruigees—from kiddos to athletes to students—becomes an instant fan.

Every squeeze-pouch is made from ½ cup of organic fruit and veggie juices, plus organic tapioca starch, which adds more body and a smoother consistency. And with just 70 calories per pouch, they’re a smart snack before or after a workout, or between meals.

The best part? “Adults don’t have to be embarrassed eating them in public,” as Kahn says.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho