Have you ever wished those store-bought fruit cups were made with fresh fruit?
Parents often want to know how to get their kids to eat more fruit, fresh fruit. Since our MOMables school lunch menus include a side of fresh fruit and veggies, those who subscribe get a constant reminder to pack more fruit in the lunch box.
Related: Top 5 Lunchboxes We’ve Tested
Mixed fruit, peaches, tropical fruits, baby oranges—I can really see the kid appeal.
From the lunch-packing perspective, they are genius. Individually packaged, disposable cups, long shelf life—just high in sugar. The cups are convenient but just not that good (for you).
I know many of you purchase them, and dozens have e-mailed me asking for a homemade recipe your kids will love.
The idea of homemade fruit cups isn’t a new one.
Based on your e-mails, this is what you wanted to see in the MOMables version:
- No high-fructose corn syrup
- No lemon
- No added sugar
- Must use fresh fruit
- No cooking the fruit
- Easy to adapt to any “in-season” fruit
- All natural ingredients
- Packed in reusable and leak-proof containers
- Must be able to pack ahead
Is that all?
Of course, I immediately began to think of ways that I could “preserve” the fruit, so that it wouldn’t brown by lunch while making sure I wasn’t adding sugar or lemon juice to it.
Because we are at the peak of fresh fruit season, finding awesome fresh fruit for these cups was really easy. Of course, you know that I would stay true to the MOMables philosophy of packing ahead and using reusable containers.
The biggest issue for this recipe was how to pack ahead and prevent the fruit from browning.
And then, it hit me. I still had one of those fruit drink pouches from HonestKids in my garage fridge from my daughter’s birthday party—the lemonade ones! Those have vitamin C (perfect to preserve the fruit), they are very low in sugar, they taste great, and my kids love them.
After a short trip to the store to get more pouches and a large family-size bottle, I was off to test away! After a couple of attempts and some not-so-careful measuring at times, I came up with an easy recipe my family loved.
This week, I am thrilled to have partnered with Honest Tea Company to create a healthy version of the beloved fruit cups.
But you know, that’s not all I came up with! Remember I mentioned those not-so-careful tests? Well, I froze them and made lemonade popsicles. Essentially, the same recipe, but it just depends how you want to make it. Either way, it’s a winner.
Homemade Fruit Cups
Making your own homemade fruit cups is really easy. You can now enjoy a healthy version of the store-bought kind made with real fruit!
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh fruit, washed and diced
- 6 ounces Honest Kids Berry Berry Good Lemonade
Instructions
- Divide the fruit into four water-tight, lidded lunch containers.
- Fill each container with enough lemonade to almost cover the fruit. You might need more liquid, depending on the container size.
- Close the lid, and give it a quick shake to coat all the fruit with the lemonade.
For Popsicles:
- Divide the fruit into four to six popsicle molds (number varies by size).
- Fill each popsicle mold nearly to the top with the lemonade.
- Freeze for 6 hours or overnight and enjoy.
To reduce waste, I use juice from a fresh lemon or orange to keep the fruit from browning. By using unpackaged fruit I avoid the waste of all of the foil pouches or plastic bottles of lemonade.
I’m really late to the party, but I’m hoping you’ll see my question…can you make a bunch of these cups and freeze them? When I’ve done that with other things (e.g., yogurt tubes), they’re usually thawed by the time the kiddo is eating lunch, but I don’t know if that would be the case with fruit. Thanks!
some fruits can be frozen but have not tried freezing these. You can make a big bowl for the week and portion it out daily.
Wo_Ow!!! Can’t be more easy!!! :)
What container do you have pictured in these photos? Did they stay leakproof enough with this recipe?
It’s a Sistema container. you can find it in the store. It’s not lunch bag leakproof – just from my fridge to snack time table.
How long will these last in fridge in tight fitted lid containers?
Up to 3 days.
For those that do not like juice our lemon we keep our cut up fruit fresh with a produce preservative (its just powder vitamin c) found in the canning section of your grocery store.
That being said, we recently tried fruit salad in orange juice and it was so delicious! My girls love lemonade so we will definitely try it this way soon.
Can I use the other Honest juice flavors? I don’t have the lemonade one on hand.
I make lemonade from fresh squeezed lemons, water, raw sugar and honey. Could I use that or will the honey react eith the fruit weirdly?
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Absolutely Nicole! :) that would be great!
Hi! I was wondering if water could be used when there is no juice?
you could use water, but it won’t prevent the fruit from browning. add a squeeze of lemon juice in there.
My kids love their fruit in orange juice.
Orange juice will work for this too Maureen! Great job giving them fruit!
Can I use any lemonade or a different juice? I have not seen this type of juice near me (Ontario).
Absolutely Cheryl. :)
Just out of curiosity, why would you not add lemon juice? Is it just a taste preference thing? I was wondering why people would request a recipe with no lemon.
Vanessa, people requested it because their kids don’t like it.
Curious: how long did the fruit last before browning?
It didn’t brown. You pack the fruit with the “juice”
This is great. Question, after you coat the fruit do you leave the liquid in the container or pour it out before packing the lunch for school?
I leave it in there. Just make sure the container is leak proof. They love drinking the “lemonade juice”
Could you drain the liquid after coating the fruit?
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I leave it in there. Just make sure the container is leak proof. They love drinking the “lemonade juice”
going to try leaving it out since my girls don’t like lemonade or juice of any kind. will do a trial run at home before sending it to school :)
if you don’t add lemonade or any juice your fruit might turn brown (depending what fruits you are using) otherwise, feel free to mix berries and other fruits.