Researchers at the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University have found that eating dried plums instead of low fat cookies has better results on health, even if the overall caloric intake remains the same. The reason is that these plums provide more fiber, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, and calcium than the cookies. They also found that the plums promoted softer stool consitency and resulted in more favorable plasma triglyceride responses, improved overall dietary quality, and slightly improved bowel function.

When you reach for a snack, reach for dried fruit to satisfy your sweet craving and get the added benefit of vitamins and minerals. Better yet, reach for fresh fruit, and you won’t get the added sugar and preservatives that are often added to dry fruit.

Snack healthfully! Save those extra calories for something gloriously indulgent.