This Might Be the Easiest Way to Get Your Daily Serving of Fruit

Like flossing, scheduling a yearly check-up, and cleaning under the couch, eating a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables is one of those things we know we should do, but sometimes just don’t.

It seems difficult. It’s too expensive. It just isn’t fun. Whatever the excuse, the statistics show most of us aren’t getting enough fresh produce. Only 13 percent of Americans eat the recommended daily amount of fruit, and even fewer—just 9 percent—get enough vegetables.

In theory, those recommendations are totally doable: According to the USDA, most adults need 2 servings of fruit and 2 to 3 servings of vegetables per day. Figuring out exactly what constitutes a serving is where it gets confusing—but essentially, it boils down to this: 1 serving is equal to 1 cup (with some exceptions). Yet even the healthiest eaters can get tripped up by the amounts, when the USDA considers all of the following as “1 cup of fruit” in the dietary guidelines:

• 1 apple
• 8 strawberries
• 32 grapes
• 3 medium plums
• ½ cup raisins

And don’t even get us started on veggies. When all of the following qualify as “1 serving,” tallying up the total servings for a salad with lots of toppings can get tricky.

• 1 ear of corn
• 1 bell pepper
• 3 broccoli spears
• 1 cup cooked kale
• 2 cups raw leafy greens (spinach, arugula, spring mix)

Short of carrying a measuring cup everywhere you go, it’s hard to ensure you’re getting all the servings you need, every day. That’s where snacks like That’s It bars come in.

Each dried fruit bar equals two servings of fruit—the daily recommended amount. The only ingredients you’ll find in these bars, which are similar to fruit leather, but a little chewier, are the fruits in the name—no preservatives, sweeteners, artificial flavors or colors here. That also means they’re suitable for nearly every diet—gluten-free, low-glycemic, vegan, Paleo, you name it.

Apples appear in all of the six delectable flavors, along with another fruit. Take your pick of blueberry and apple, cherry and apple, mango and apple, strawberry and apple, apricot and apple, or pear and apple.

Grab a bar for a light breakfast on-the-go, stash one in your bag (or a kid’s lunch) for an afternoon snack, or have one anytime to satisfy a sugar craving. Either way, you can check “eat your fruit” off your to-do list.

Read more about That’s It here and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Alicia Cho