Sweet & Sour Cravings? Try This Swap!

Every time I travel to Utah or Boise, ID, I have to stop at Trader Joe’s. One of my favorite things about the store is their amazing dried fruit selection. On my last trip, I discovered a new one: the dried orange slices. Surprisingly good—even with that thin layer of peel on them!

Fun fact about me: I love sweet and sour flavors. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy chocolate—but sweet and sour is my weakness. Think taffy, Sour Patch Kids… And if I’m on a road trip? I’m definitely grabbing one of those long cherry taffies from the gas station. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!

That said, I try not to keep those kinds of treats in the house. Why? Because I’d eat them daily—and let’s be real, the chemicals and dyes in those candies? Yikes.

So here’s a tip: if you’re like me and love chewy, gooey, sweet and sour candy, try keeping dried fruit on hand instead!

If you’ve read my post on organic living, you know why I avoid toxic chemicals, artificial dyes, and fake sweeteners. Let’s compare:

• Trader Joe’s Dried Orange Slices: Oranges, cane sugar, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), sulfur dioxide.

• Trader Joe’s Dried Mango Slices: Mango, sugar, glycerin, mango juice, sulfur dioxide.

• Cherry Laffy Taffy: Corn syrup, hydrogenated coconut oil, <2% egg whites, malic acid, “natural flavors,” sodium alginate, calcium acetate, monoglycerides, Red 3, Yellow 6, Blue 1.

Yes, some dried fruits have added sugar—but you won’t find high fructose corn syrup, synthetic dyes, or a chemical cocktail. Win-win. One thing I admire about Trader Joe’s is that even their gummy candies use beet juice for coloring and cane sugar over harsh chemicals.

Sure, dried fruit might show little nutritional value on the label, but it’s still a far better option than conventional sweet and sour gummies. If you can, go for unsweetened dried fruit and always check the ingredients for added sugars.

And if you do treat yourself to the classic chewy candies? No shame! Just use a designated snack bowl—no more than 2.5 oz or the size of your cupped palm. Once that bag is gone, give it a break and don’t buy more for a while. It's all about balance and intention.

So go on—grab some dried fruit today and satisfy your sweet and sour tooth in a smarter way!

See the comparison!! Yes all have sugar in them, but its the type of sugar, the zero toxins, chemicals, and dyes.