The sweet and sour truth
Amara Organic Fruit Bites: Sweet Strawberry—a snack that claims to be a superhero of kid-friendly nutrition. It’s USDA Organic, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made without added sugar, fillers, or preservatives.
It sounds great, right?
But at $5.69 for a 21g bag (not even a full ounce), I’m not exactly sure if they’re going to be worth it.
Are these “snack time superheroes” worth the price? And how do they compare to the OG toddler and beginner baby snack, Gerber Strawberry Puffs?
Grab a snack (hopefully not a $5 one); we gotta dig in.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the numbers for starters (Amara Fruit Bites vs. Gerber Puffs):
Amara Fruit Bites are made with just five ingredients:
organic apple, organic coconut milk, organic strawberry, organic black carrot (for color), and organic lemon juice. That’s it. No sugar, no fillers, and no mystery ingredients.
Gerber Strawberry Puffs, on the other hand, have a longer ingredient list:
rice flour, whole wheat flour, wheat starch, cane sugar, whole grain oat flour, natural strawberry apple flavor (with strawberry juice concentrate and acetic acid), dried apple puree, mixed tocopherols (to maintain freshness), and sunflower lecithin.
It’s not the worst list out there, but it’s a bit more “processed snack aisle” than “farm-to-table.”
While they are both Non-GMO, the Gerber Puffs are not organic, not kosher certified, and not gluten-free.
Opening a bag of Amara Fruit Bites was like walking into a Trader Joe’s, opening a fresh bag of freeze-dried strawberries and taking a big whiff.
The smell is tart and fruity. The texture was a mix of (maybe?) yogurt puffs (I couldn’t really find anything else to compare it to) and Gerber Puffs—light, airy, and they melt-in-your-mouth.
The flavor? Think freeze-dried strawberries but a bit more tart, like they’re judging you for wanting something sweet.
Gerber Strawberry Puffs, on the other hand, are softer and sweeter. They’re the snack equivalent of a toddler’s hug—light, fluffy, and impossible to resist (I personally like the apple cinnamon ones the best).
If you’ve ever eaten them yourself (don’t lie, we’ve all done it), you know they’re basically edible air with a hint of strawberry.
Let’s be real: snacks live or die by the kids’ taste tests. Here’s how Amara Fruit Bites fared:
Kid #1 (The Enthusiast): My oldest said they were “just okay” but proceeded to want to devour the entire bag like it was her last meal. Mixed signals, but hey, at least there’s one positive review.
Kid #2 (The Critic): My youngest was very apprehensive and took one microscopic nibble, made an “ew” face, and promptly rejected them (it was nearly a spit-out snack)... and this is the same kid who used to eat basically every baby food flavor there is, so...ouch.
The Husband (The Realist): His verdict? “Good, I guess, for baby food, but I can think of a lot more exciting things to eat as an adult.”
Ha. He’s right, I can think of way better things to eat than baby puffs.
Amara Fruit Bites have a lot going for them. They’re made with clean, organic ingredients, and the lack of added sugar is a huge win for parents trying to avoid the toddler sugar rush.
They would also be perfect for on-the-go snacking, whether you’re tossing them in a diaper bag or using them to bribe your kid into the car seat.
Amara Fruit Bites have two big drawbacks: price and taste.
At $5.69 for a 21g bag, they’re not exactly budget-friendly (and in my brutally honest opinion, not worth it).
The sour flavor might also be a hard sell for picky eaters. And while the packaging says they’re suitable for kids 1-4+ years, these are really only appropriate for babies and toddlers who’ve mastered chewing solid foods, as they could be a choking hazard.
Amara’s website makes some bold claims about their snacks, calling them “snack time superheroes” and saying, “We create food with intention.”
They pride themselves on sourcing only whole, organic ingredients and avoiding additives like maltodextrin or artificial fillers. According to founder Jess Sturzenegger,
“We believe food choices today impact how we feel, think, and perform tomorrow.”
And I absolutely agree with that statement.
They even spent three years developing a proprietary preparation technique to preserve nutrients and flavors. That’s dedication, but is it worth the price tag?
Amara Organic Fruit Bites are like the straight-A student of snacks—clean, organic, and clearly trying to win over the health-conscious parent crowd.
They’re perfect for those moments when you want to feel good about what your kid is eating (or what you’re sneaking out of their bag).
But the steep price and tangy flavor might make them a hard sell for everyday snacking.
Personally for me though, I don’t think I would purchase again just because of the steep price, the sour flavor annnnnnd I won’t be having anymore babies…my older kids also don’t need a $5- 21g bag of puffs to devour in all of three minutes.
Sorry, Amara.
It’s going to be an IMBHO-No from me.
