Between the ages of 7-10, I would have done almost anything for a Fruit by the Foot.

If you don’t remember, or weren’t a 4th grader in the 90’s, this is basically a flat, sticky gummy strip wrapped in paper that you could peel off and eat a bit at a time, or smoosh into a blob.  Either way, you were guaranteed a sugar bomb of rubber that stuck to the roof of your mouth and teeth.  (Trust me, every kid LOVES this experience.)

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Fast forward 20 years, and you might have to actually pay me to eat one of these.  While they may be high in [added] Vitamin C and low in fat (duh…they’re almost 100% sugar…), these do not a healthy treat make, and a lawsuit was even filed because of deceptive claims in 2011.

The good news: it’s easy to make your own!  And these fruit leathers aren’t just “made with real fruit:” they ARE real fruit.  Bonus byproduct: a mask that brightens complexion and helps keep skin soft.

Ingredients:

  • 2 bananas
  • 1 lb strawberries
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 1/4 c honey

Directions:

Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Remove ~2Tbsp to use as your mask.  Pour the rest into a pot on the stove, heat on high while stirring for 10 minutes to develop the pectin in the fruit.  Spray your slow cooker with a light layer of oil, and pour in the hot mixture from the stove. Heat UNcovered on low setting (you’re trying to dry here, so if the lid is on, you’ll only ever have a hot fruit soup!) for 10-12 hours or until desired consistency.  Run a knife around the edges and peel up; slice into strips and roll!  Great idea for a snack on the go, hiking, traveling, or camping.

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Warning: these are JUST as addictive as Fruit by the Foot…I could have easily polished off the whole batch during my, ahem, quality control checks while slicing.  It’s still a good bit of natural sugar, but of course coupled with fiber won’t digest as quickly.

Treat yourself to a relaxing bath and the mask – just apply to face, and rinse off with water after 10 minutes. (Fruit by the Face? 😉

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