Freeze-dried foods are not just for astronauts and hikers. Freeze-drying food removes the water almost entirely, which lowers the weight, and while you don’t get the same feelings of fullness you do from dried fruit (which is about 25 percent water vs. 6 percent for freeze-dried), it can be a satisfying snack that still has health perks. The antioxidants found in the fresh fruit are maintained after freeze-drying. One company, Sensible Foods (www.sensiblefoods.com), has a freeze-drying process that removes the water while maintaining the product’s cell structure and nutritional value and intensifying its natural flavor.

Freeze-dried food also tends to come in lower-weight packages than dried – which means fewer calories if you eat the whole package. A bag of dried fruit can be about 450-500 calories, whereas each full bag of freeze-dried fruit (equivalent to 1/2 cup of fresh fruit) makes for a satisfying snack at only 80 calories with 1 gram of fiber. One bag of Crispy Green Apples (10 grams per bag) from Crispygreen.com is only 35 calories. So freeze-dried fruit can be a healthy alternative to chips and other snack foods. Other benefits of freeze-dried fruit are that it has a long shelf life and can be stored and/or easily packed for on-the-go eating. And finally, freeze-dried fruit, unlike regular dried, is often made without any added sugar.