itDirections

Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Line your pan with a silicone baking mat or good quality parchment paper, making sure there are no wrinkles.

Pour the mixture onto the lined pan and use an angled spatula to gently spread it in an even layer. Aim for about 1/8 inch thickness. The puree should be thin enough to pour but thick enough to stay in place.

Set your oven temperature to the lowest setting (usually 170F / 70C). The goal is to warm the air to help the fruit dry faster. Alternatively, you can place the trays outside in the sun, but it will take longer than using the oven. If you have a food dehydrator, follow the instructions for your machine.

It takes about 3-6 hours, sometimes longer, for the fruit mixture to dry. If you won’t be at home and don’t want to leave the oven on, keep the oven door shut and turn it off while you’re away. Turn it back on when you return, and it will continue drying. To test, touch the center of the fruit mixture – it should not stick to your finger and should not indent when touched.

The edges will cook faster than the center, so if they look crispy, you can cut them off later or brush them with a little water or juice during the baking process to rehydrate. If you overbake the entire pan, you can also brush it with a little water.

If you have a good pair of scissors, you could roll the whole sheet and then snip through the roll. Otherwise, cut into strips and roll them up individually. You can also use a pizza cutter. A great size for kids’ snacks is usually 1-inch segments.

Benefits

Obviously, the greatest benefit is that YOU actually made this snack using the ingredients you picked. This particular one has acerola cherry, which is enormously rich in vitamin C and acts as a great health protector for school-aged kids exposed to germs on a daily basis. Additionally, it includes fresh organic berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and sour cherries (my favorite), along with figs, hemp seeds (providing protein content to your healthy roll-up), and bee pollen. I also added, just because I can and it will go unnoticed, fresh Swiss chard leaves, which are rich in antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B.

Magnesium and vitamin B will help improve your kiddo’s concentration and alleviate anxiety. Blueberries are excellent for enhancing memory, so not only does this snack taste yummy, but it also provides multiple benefits, not just for school kids but for anyone!