Do you ever want to grab all of the gummy, colorful snacks that are marketed for children and eat them for yourself? Well, we cannot blame you, but you also do not need all of those artificial dyes, preservatives, and other processed ingredients. What if we told you that you could make similar fruit roll-ups to the ones you enjoyed as a child? In fact, you can make healthier versions of those without the added sugars, preservatives, and artificial ingredients!

How To Make Fruit Leather

Maybe you have some extra produce that you need to use up, or perhaps you need a healthy snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. Are you a parent that just wants your kids to enjoy healthy snacks? If any of those things apply to you, fruit leather is the answer. It is very easy to make and you can get creative with the flavors. Although a dehydrator is preferable to make fruit leather, you can also use your oven on the lowest setting. Just keep in mind that most ovens do not go as low as 115 degrees F, which is the temp at which dehydration is acceptable for raw vegans. Anything above that temperature renders the recipe cooked and no longer raw vegan. 

Let’s Get Down To The Basics

The only ingredients that you need to make your own fruit leather are ripe fruit and potentially fruit juice. Let’s go over the steps that you’ll need to take:

• Prep your fruit: Make sure that you wash your fruit, even the ones that you are going to peel. Peel any fruit with a skin and pit anything that has a central seed. Core any fruit with a large core and boil down anything that is very hard; your blender will do the rest of the work.
• Sweeteners: There is no need for added sweeteners for most fruit leather recipes. If you feel that the fruit is too tart on its own, you can add some pure maple syrup or raw agave nectar. Add one tablespoon at a time to the blender and taste until it is to your liking. Naturally sweeter fruits like apples and bananas can also be used to sweeten fruit leather. 
• Gather your tools: You will need a blender, parchment paper or silicone sheets, baking trays (for the oven method), dehydrator sheets for dehydrating, and scissors or a pizza cutter to cut the finished product into strips. 
• Preservation: You want the fruit leather to last, especially if you make a large batch. You can roll the fruit leather up and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two months. Store in the freezer for even longer by rolling the fruit leather in the parchment paper and keep in a sealed freezer bag. 

Success Tips

If you want your fruit leather to remain a lighter color that is similar to the color of the fruit, you can add fresh lemon juice while blending your fruit. This is a great step if you want to use lighter-colored fruit leathers that contain mango, guava, pineapple, peaches, or apples. Thicken your fruit mixture by adding banana or thin it out by adding a little water or fresh fruit juice. If using harder fruits, such as apples, consider boiling them first before adding them to the blender with your other ingredients. 

After you blend your mixture, spread the mixture on the baking sheet or dehydrator tray until it is about 1/8-1/4-inch thick. If you can see parchment paper through the puree, it is too thin. A good rule of thumb is to spread from the inside to the outside of the tray. The outside will cook quicker than the inside, so that spreading method will help you achieve an even layer. Ideally, use the back of a silicone spatula or spoon to achieve this thin, flat layer. 

When Is It Ready? 

The fruit leather is ready when it isn’t sticky and doesn’t indent when you press on it. It should not have the original shine it did when you put it in the oven or dehydrator. Once the fruit leather is fully dehydrated, it is very easy to peel off the parchment paper and you can easily cut it into strips, especially if parchment paper is underneath. Before you store the fruit leather, make sure it is completely dry to prevent condensation from accumulating in the container. Continue reading for a couple fruit leather recipes. 

Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather

Get your snack on…raw vegan style! With these apple cinnamon fruit leather strips, you get the flavor and nutrition that you don’t get from packaged fruit leathers. Embrace the great combination of apples, cinnamon, and pears!

Click here to make the recipe. 

Mango Fruit Roll-Ups

Looking for a healthy snack to pack in your or your child’s lunch? This is super easy, healthy, affordable, and did we mention easy? Try it today!

Click here to make the recipe.

SHARE:

The post How To Make Your Own Fruit Leather appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Welcome to the snack that is as charming as it is chewable. These little green dehydrated slices of kiwi pack a somewhat sour and flavorful punch. Think of dehydrated kiwi like the healthier, tropical, sweet, and tangy version of those unhealthy sour candies with artificial dyes and preservatives. Not only is this snack conveniently portable, but it is also loaded with beneficial nutrients, which we’ll discuss in this description. If you love fresh kiwi, then you will love this snack, which is great for hikes or any sort of travel. They’re perfect for those moments when you crave something sweet but want to avoid the guilt of indulging in candy or processed snacks.

Beyond the delightful taste, provide a lot of vitamin C, which helps to give your immune system a boost to fend off foreign invaders in the body. Kiwis also offer a healthy dose of dietary fiber, which works to aid digestion and promote feelings of fullness, helping to curb those unhealthy snack cravings. Rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols, kiwis work to combat oxidative stress and may even contribute to healthier aging, specifically on a cellular level. Plus, kiwis contain potassium, which is not only beneficial for maintaining proper muscle function, but also for keeping your blood pressure in check.

Add these dehydrated kiwis to your diet for the healthy perks and to elevate your snack game with a touch of tropical flair. Believe it or not, these dehydrated kiwis are versatile enough to toss into oatmeal, trail mixes, or yogurt. You can also enjoy them as is for a quick, nutritious pick-me-up. The concentrated nutrients make every bite a mini health boost, so next time you want to reach for a snack, consider keeping these at the ready. There’s no reason for snacking to be an unhealthy practice!

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Kiwi (Easy Healthy Snack) appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Snack enthusiasts: this one is for you! This is less so a recipe and more so a tutorial on how to properly dehydrate mangos for healthy snacking. If you have been on the hunt for a super tasty raw vegan snack, you clicked on the right recipe. We’re going to dive deep into the world of dehydrated mangos. Trust us when we tell you that they are soft, chewy snacks that’ll hook your taste buds after the first bite. Plus, you only use mango, so you don’t have to worry about processed ingredients or preservatives that are typically in dried mangos that you find in grocery stores.

Why are mangos perfect for your snacking needs? First off, mangos offer a ton of vitamins, especially vitamin A and C, both of which encourage healthy immune function. They also help improve the appearance of the skin, assisting with collagen production. Mangos also contain a lot of fiber, which benefits digestion and can help keep you feeling full longer. That makes these dried mangos perfect for combatting those mid-afternoon cravings! We cannot forget about the antioxidant properties, which work to combat oxidative stress, a process that ultimately lowers the risk of chronic diseases.

Do yourself a favor and make this recipe…like yesterday. Grab some fresh mangos and get started on dehydrating. Just keep in mind that this recipe, like most dehydrator recipes, takes a bit of time. You may need to dehydrate the mangos for 12-14 hours. Just remember that the thinner your mango slices are, the quicker they will dry out. Happy dehydrating and snacking!

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Mangos appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Who doesn’t love a good snack? It’s so easy to open up a bag of chips and just start eating handful after handful. The same can be said for a bucket of popcorn. Unfortunately, we all know that these snacks are empty calories and only leave us wanting more. Plus, the sodium content is through the roof! The good news is that it’s possible to enjoy a crunchy snack in a healthy way.

That’s right, folks, we are talking about kale chips. These crunchy creations are not only addictively delicious, but also highly nutritious. Closely related to cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, and cauliflower, kale offers an assortment of nutrients, including vitamins, A, B6, C, & K, manganese, magnesium, riboflavin, folate, fiber, calcium, and other important plant compounds. The antioxidants in kale include quercetin and kaempferol, both of which are present in large amounts in kale. According to test-tube and animal studies, these compounds work to support heart health, reduce inflammation, slow the growth of cancer cells, and protect against chronic diseases.

What separates these kale chips from the next batch is that you dehydrate them after covering them in a creamy cashew cheese sauce. Because of that, the kale takes a lot longer to get crispy. You will need about 12 hours of dehydration in order to yield a crispy, cheesy kale chip. Before you sauce the kale in cashew cheese sauce, make sure to massage it with sea salt and lemon juice. Once the leaves are coated, you can toss them in the cashew sauce before placing them on dehydrator sheets. Don’t overlap the kale pieces or else they won’t get crispy.

SHARE:

The post Cheesy Raw Vegan Kale Chips appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Get ready to take your raw vegan diet to the next level with these homemade pumpkin rosemary crackers. They are savory, 100% raw vegan, and entirely gluten-free. They are nutrient-dense and satisfy your craving for salty snack, whether you are cleansing or not. Unlike most flax crackers, these are not dense; rather, they are quite light and crunchy. The level of crunchiness will depend on how long you keep them in the dehydrator. The thickness of the paste you smear on the dehydrator sheets will also dictate how long you have to dehydrate them.

Fall is pumpkin season, so we love to incorporate raw pumpkin whenever we get the chance. In addition to providing a warming flavor, pumpkin offers a lot of beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber, and other antioxidants. Two of the antioxidants in pumpkin, zeaxanthin and lutein, work to encourage healthier eyesight. If you do not have pumpkin, you can replace it with butternut squash, as it has a similar flavor, nutritional content, and texture.

Regarding the spices, this recipe calls for rosemary and thyme, which go great with the other ingredients. You can, however, use dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, or other Italian seasonings if you have those on hand. Make things easy for yourself, not more difficult. Lastly, this recipe does take some time to dehydrate (about 20 hours to be exact). Just make sure that you flip the flax mixture once about four to six hours into dehydrating to get an evenly crisp cracker.

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Pumpkin Rosemary Crackers appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Dried cranberries make for an excellent snack. Unfortunately, the dried cranberries that you find in stores almost always contain lots of refined sugars, unhealthy oils, and preservatives. These types of dried cranberries are common in salads, trail mixes, and dried fruit medleys. We advise you to avoid these sugary treats and buy some fresh cranberries to dehydrate instead. Plus, nothing quite indicates the holiday season like fresh cranberries, which are only available in stores for about two months.

These dehydrated cranberries may not taste as sweet as the packaged ones you are used to; rather, they offer a more complex and slightly tarter flavor. Plus, you get the benefits of enjoying fresh cranberries in their dehydrated state. Cranberries are some of the richest sources of antioxidants and provide lots of fiber and vitamin C as well. Regarding their antioxidant profile, cranberries provide the following:

• Peonidin: This antioxidant is responsible for the rich red color of cranberries and some of their health benefits. According to researchers, cranberries are one of the richest dietary sources of peonidin.
• Quercetin: This is the most prevalent antioxidant polyphenol in cranberries. Studies suggest that cranberries are one of the primary fruit sources of this antioxidant compound.
• Ursolic acid: Ursolic acid, a triterpene compound, is concentrated in the skin of cranberries. It is a common ingredient in many traditional herbal medicines and exhibits powerful anti-inflammatory properties.
• Myricetin: This is a natural bioflavonoid that offers antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-mutagenic properties. It may have therapeutic potential for people with cardiovascular diseases.

SHARE:

The post Homemade Dehydrated Cranberries appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Nothing like a good bag of chips, right? The crunch is so amazing and you can keep reaching your hand in that bag until you reach the point of tilting the bag to funnel the crumbs into your mouth. Now, take a second to read the ingredient list on that bag of chips. You probably notice hydrogenated oils, dyes, artificial flavors, monosodium glutamate (MSG), different powders, and other things you cannot pronounce. Not only that, a bag of chips is devoid of nutrients, so you ingest empty calories, which is why you can eat an entire bag and still want more.

That’s far from the case for these dehydrated persimmon chips. Persimmons, unlike apples and pears, are not available year round. It is a highly sought after Asian fruit during the fall and winter months. Stock up and them and use them any way you can, as they exhibit a unique flavor and lots of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, E, K, & B6, fiber, potassium, copper, folate, and manganese. Persimmons also contain flavonoid compounds that help fight oxidative stress, which can contribute chronic illnesses, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

There are two primary persimmon varieties: Fuyu and Hachiya. Fuyu persimmons are great to dehydrate, as they tend to have a sweeter flavor profile. In order to get them perfectly crispy, use a mandoline slicer on the 3/16″ blade setting. Just remember that the thicker you slice them, the longer they take to crisp up in the dehydrator. Thin slices will dehydrate at a faster rate, but expect the process to take between eight to 10 hours.

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Persimmon Chips appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Trying to eat “warmer” foods on a raw diet while maintaining raw preparation can be difficult, unless you have a dehydrator. Dehydrators help to keep living foods alive, provided you don’t exceed the 115º Fahrenheit temperature. Usually, dehydrating food can take some time, but this recipe doesn’t require as much time as it takes to make chips or dehydrated fruit. This recipe only requires four hours in the dehydrator, which is great!

These raw meatballs exhibit less of an Italian flavor profile than you would expect from a traditional meatball. Instead, the flavor is a little sweeter and more akin to Swedish meatballs, minus the overly sweet glaze that comes with them. If you prefer a more savory flavor, omit the dates in the recipe. The rest of the ingredients have notably intense and briny, cheesy, and aromatic flavors.

One thing to keep in mind is that you want to thoroughly blend the ingredients, but not so much so that it turns to a paste. Everything should stick together very well, which will help the raw meatballs stay together during the dehydration process. Lastly, these meatballs will work with myriad zoodle recipes. We find that they go great with a creamy avocado sauce (click here for recipe), but a raw marinara sauce (click here for recipe) is quite nice as well. If you are a pesto lover and can’t get enough of it, click here to make a raw vegan pesto to go with your meatballs.

SHARE:

The post Nut-Free Raw Vegan Meatballs appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

When you have a dehydrator, or an air fryer, toaster, dehydrator combo gadget, it’s hard not to experiment with different foods. For example, you can dehydrate thin strips of marinated eggplant to transform them into raw vegan bacon. You can dehydrate thin pear or apple slices and sprinkle them with cinnamon to make pear or apple chips.

In the case of this recipe, you thinly slice Brussels sprouts and place them in the dehydrator to transform them into chips. This is a great way to use Brussels sprouts, especially if you bought a two-pound bag and don’t know how to use all of them before they go bad. Thinly slicing and dehydrating the Brussels isn’t exactly exciting, especially for your taste buds. That’s why we dressed them in a blended sauce made from grade A maple syrup, cashews, coconut aminos, lemon juice, and sea salt and pepper.

The blended dressing, although not quite cheesy, takes these Brussels sprouts chips to another dimension of flavor. The dressing crisps up during the dehydration process, which can take a long time, so make sure you start the process at night or in the morning. It will most likely take about 16-20 hours, but you can check them earlier to see if they are nice and crispy.

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Brussels Sprouts Chips appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

It’s no secret that bananas are some of the most popular fruits in existence. People love to incorporate them into smoothies, add them to yogurt, or enjoy them raw. They provide key nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, fiber, and magnesium. Bananas can be a great pre-workout snack to boost energy levels, but the same applies if you need to get over an afternoon slump.

When it comes down to choosing the right bananas for the dehydrated banana chips, you should consider purchasing ones that are slightly yellow. The banana peel should have some green in it, so as to avoid mushiness. You can also purchase bananas when they are mostly green, but revealing a little yellow. Make sure they are plump and firm so that you can slice them easily. Avoid bananas that are too soft and brown because that will make it hard to slice them evenly for the chips. 

In order to successfully execute your banana chips, slice them and then spread them evenly across your dehydrator sheets. Make sure that the bananas are evenly spaced out on the sheets so that there is no overlap. The last thing you want is uneven dehydration. Ideally, cut your bananas into eighth-inch thick slices. You can use a mandolin slicer or a stainless steel wire butter slicer to ensure equal cuts. After dehydrating them, you’ll be left with your new favorite snack!

SHARE:

The post Dehydrated Banana Chips appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.