Ideal Bite

Jams and Jellies

Going bananas looking for low-sugar fruit spreads?

09.22.2009

Submitted by alara on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:00pm.

Food & Drink

The Bite:

Next time you plate up a PB&J for your kiddo, swing for one of these organic, lower-sugar jams or jellies. They're packed with fruit instead of King Kong-size amounts of corn syrup and pesticides, which is healthier for kids and farmland.

The Benefits:

Keeping kids in primate health. High-fructose corn syrup (concentrated sugar made from genetically modified corn) and added preservatives (read: extra sugar) are both linked to obesity and childhood diabetes.
(Chest-)pounding toxins. These picks contain fruit grown without pesticides, which are especially concentrated (among the top 10) in common jam fruits such as strawberries, cherries, and grapes.
Going wild for the flavors. Grape is OK, but we found spreads with heirloom fruits and interesting combos (mmm, blueberry lavender) that'll expand your kid's taste buds...and maybe yours.

Personally Speaking:

Wanna Try:

Food For Thought - gourmet organic fruit preserves handmade in MI with local ingredients like heirloom berries and honey crisp apples; for you: wine- or herb-infused varieties like Strawberry Basil ($7 and up/9.5 ounces).
Bionaturae - spreads made from organic heirloom fruit varieties that're naturally low in sugar; flavors include Bilberry (European blueberry), and Sicilian Orange ($5/9 ounces).
Revolution Foods - yummy, made especially for kids, and available in Organic Grape Jelly and Organic Strawberry Preserves with nothing artificial; find a store ($5/11.5 ounces).
Bonne Maman - not organic, but made with real sugar and no artificial preservatives, and widely available; in a dozen flavors - we say yes to Damson Plum and Four Fruits ($5/13 ounces).
Need some PB to go with that J? Check out our tips on organic peanut butters and alt nut butters.

Timeout

Nathaniel Hobbs, 5, of Jackson, MI, votes for strawberry as his number one jam with PB&J - but just plain toast and jam will do.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Mama Biters pick up a jar of organic fruit preserves instead of the regular kind, we'll keep the weight of 45 chimpanzees in artificial spreads off kids' plates.

1 comment

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Timothy Young on September 22, 2009 at 08:39 AM 1

Thanks for the mention. A few other features of Food For Thought preserves include that we are the first and only preserves in the nation to be certified Fair Trade. We weave our product with love and social value through treatment of people and planet....family farmed based, "local at any cost" fruit purchasing policy, green buildings and more. Come see us during our Green Cuisine Celebration of local food and lifestyle on July 14th 2010. You can find more information on our web site. http://www.foodforthought.net For the best PB on the market, I'd suggest Naturally Nutty. Their line of nut butters are so good, we decided not to launch our own line and simply offer theirs....soon to be available on our web site.

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Going bananas looking for low-sugar fruit spreads?

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Bang For The Bite

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