I've been trying to clear my pantry of processed, sugary, and fatty snack items. In their place, I'm putting organic, healthy, and natural treats that still taste good (and, actually, usually taste better).
One snack category that most kids love is the "fruit roll-up"-type. Now, there's a healthier alternative to those neon blue and green stretchy snacks: FruitaBu Organic Smooshed Fruit Twirls and FruitaBu Organic Sploooshers.
Introduced in February 2007, FruitaBu products are "USDA certified organic, naturally sweet, and contain nothing artificial." To add to their allure, each FruitaBu product provides between one-half and one full serving of fruit and the sugars found in FruitaBu come "naturally from real fruit."
I tried the Fruit Twirls first (and I bought a box of Fruit Roll-ups so that I could compare the taste). I liked the Twirls much better. They were stickier, but they were also more "authentic" and they did indeed taste more like fruit and less like "fakeness."
After that, I tried the Splooshers. They're described as "organic fruit puree that kids can squeeze and slurp." The texture was too weird for me, but I can see how some kids might like it. It was "too much" for me, meaning that it tasted very concentrated. I felt like I was drinking smashed fruit...literally. 
If you like the concept so far, you might want to join the fruitolution on the FruitaBu website. When you join the FruitaBü Smoooshed Squad, you'll receive "insider access to new and exciting FruitaBü and Stretch Island news as it breaks." In exchange, you'll be asked for your opinions on FruitaBü and Stretch Island products. Best of all, everyone who qualifies AND completes the Smoooshed Squad registration survey will receive a coupon good for one FruitaBü Product!
If FruitaBu wants my opinion, I'd tell them to keep creating products that are organic and natural - the healthier, the better! And I'd love to see some healthy "fruit snack" options...
FruitaBu products are available at Target and at many national grocery chains.
WIN IT! One mama will win one box of FruitaBü Organic Smoooshed Fruit Sploooshers and one box of Fruit Twirls. To enter, simply leave a comment and your e-mail address on this post prior to Tuesday, Feb. 5, at midnight. The winner will be announced and contacted on Wednesday, Feb. 6. * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
* UPDATE * The winner is #11 carica. Congratulations!
These look great I haven't seent hem in stores yet!
I saw these at the store the other day and thought about getting them on my next trip.
My information is in my profile. Thanks for the giveaway!!
I tried these and loved them. I would also love to have a fruit snack option. I know the fruit snacks are supposed to be for the kids, but I as a mom am also addicted.
Oooo, is this still open? I'd love to see if my daughter would like these. Thanks!
The kids love fruit, they should love these! Thanks.
digicat@sbcglobal.net
I would love for my children to try these. Thanks for the chance.
sound yummy to me!
mom2maria at hotmail dot com
cool! Thank you
My girls totally love these!
I've been hoping to try these!
da(at)dawnalice(dot)com
These sound fab. We, also, are trying to find food that's better for us. Not easy where we live but we are trying. Thanks for the op to win!
cokelushATgmailDOTcom
these sound healthier than Fruit Roll-ups - I'll have to check at Target
tiramisu392@yahoo.com
These look great, as we try to avoid artificial colors and ingredients as much as possible.
Sounds yummy! I'll keep an eye out for them.
rshetterly at gmail dot com
Yummy! Please pick me!
Sounds great!
Caryn
MMMMMMMMMMM! They sound good!
They'd be a great alternative to those fruit snacks loaded with sugar!!!
mhode79ATgmailDOTcom
These sound yummy!
I bought the Apple & the Strawberry recently. My kids did not like the Strawberry, but I loved them! They are really good. The thing they didn't like was the stickiness, but I did. They do like the Apple flavor though :) I didn't try that, but I can highly recommend the strawberry :)
what a great idea for a natural snack! Please include me in your drawing. Thank you!
please, count me in.
tanyetta at hotmail
Yum yum, I love these are organic. I'd probably have to fight my little for these, they sound so delish!
They sound sooo yummy!
I blogged you too
http://www.prizeatron.com
I've actually always wanted to try these!
I'd love to try these. they look like a great snack.
I've only been able to find the roll up ones. I'd love to win these - my kids love them.
Oh yum! My children would enjoy those! They love fruit.
blogged ya:
http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2008/02/saturday-edition-of-contests-galore.html
We love Fruitabu here (and so does hubby!) I'd love to win! We haven't tried the splooshers yet.
Steph
YES! I have tried these for my son and he LOVES them. He often asks for another when he finished one! I would love to win and thank you for the coupon in advance!
Mena
mena827@yahoo.com
These look totally yummy and I can't wait to try them!
im really intrigued as I do like having this kind of snack around as with working nights- sometimes I dont always get a chance to go to the grocery store and there is no fresh fruit in the house! jbubolz-miller@hotmail.com
we would love to try these!! thanks so much!
Sounds great. I love fruit snacks. Thanks for reviewing this product.
dreamweaver21us(at)hotmail(dot)com
Yum! My girls love these, we'd love to win!!
stbaisch AT yahoo DOT com
I would love to try these as I am determined my daughter will not eat fruit roll-ups. Our dentist says they are one of the worst things for your teeth.
Yum!!
I am also trying to eat healthier to shoe my daughter that healthy tastes good. This would be wonderful. Thanks April
Yum! When I was a kid I liked Gushers, which sound like the fakey version of the Splooshers. It'd be fun to try the real version (but the Twirls sound much better now that I'm no longer in junior high...). gumbi1313@msn.com
I'd love to have my boys try these! Count me in - sj1026(at)gmail(dot)com.
What a great contest! Thanks!
Yum! I'd love to try these. I might even share with the kids. :)
I love these, I hope I win!
We love all the FruitaBu products. You should hear my son ask for his fruitabu's, it is the cutest thing!!
We haven't tried these, but it sounds like my DD would love the Splooshers, she has some feeding issues..which has made it alomst impossible to get her to eat enough fruit and veggies.
We love the FruitaBu flat fruit strips. Thanks for the contest! meg.wilson@gmail.com
We love stretch island fruit leathers, I am sure these will be a hit in house too!
I am so glad that stores like Target are starting to carry organic products.
I saw these at the store the other day and was very intrigued, but I didn't buy them. Sign me up!!
Count me in!
ciscomatisse at gmail dot com
these look delicious!
Would like to try them for free!
What a great healthy treat!
My nephew is staying with us for a while, he wound love this.
I'd be interested in trying a healthy alternative to fruit roll-ups. Thanks!
Roo loves the FruitaBü flats but the Twirls and Splooshers sound like fun, too!
We love these! I have bought them before at Target and my son thinks he is getting a treat! Enter me please!
my kids love fruity snacks! organic would be even better!!
yummo! ; )
Has anyone seen these in the grocery store they shop in? I suppose they might stock them in stores like Whole Foods, but I don't do my weekly shopping there.
love these!!! thanks for the giveaway!
poovey1@charter.net
My sons love these-
Thanks for the chance!
sanna1999(at)verizon(dot)net
Oh we love these! Such a better alternative then the traditional roll up! MMMMMMM
Jebbiej@verizon.net
I'm craving some fruit leather now! Yum!
Well, my hubby usually eats the fruitaBu before the toddler does...maybe I could hide this box if I won! jewelsworld@hotmail.com
What a fun contest! Please enter me in your healthy drawing. Thanks very much.....Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Ohhh I want the fruit leather! And organic too? Sign me up!
We get their fruit leather all the time and it's fab!
I usually get the stretch island fruit leathers for my kids so this would be nice to try and compare.
thanks for the entry!
hellomary018ATyahooDOTcom
When we want a quick and easy fruit snack, we grab an apple or banana. ;)
These look like fun for an occasional treat, though!
I haven't noticed these at target yet...guess I'll need to be more observant. It's not like that green box wouldn't stand out. We'd love to try them. Anything would be a step up from the roll-up tongue tatoos that made it into the cart last time...what a mess!