Consumer Critique: Dole Fruit Bowls (and Giveaway!)

Dole Fruit Bowls come in a variety of choices: fruit bowls, fruit bowls in gel, fruit bowls in reduced sugar gel, or fruit parfaits.

Dole Fruit Bowls are single-serving shelf-stable packages of canned fruit. It costs more per ounce, but is very convenient to toss in a lunchbox.

Dole Fruit Bowls in Gel are basically Dole fruit in Jell-O - without the work, and packaged in convenient, single-serving bowls. You can get peaches in strawberry, mandarins in orange, mixed fruit in black cherry, mixed fruit in peach, pineapple in lime, or pears in kiwiberry (reduced sugar). It is obviously much cheaper to just buy a box of Jell-O and stir in your own fruit. However, if you're crunched for time, and can get these on sale and/or with a coupon, then the cost really isn't that bad.

Fruit Parfaits are my favorite of the fruit bowls. It's basically fruit in sauce on top of yogurt - again, something you could make for cheaper, but for me, the convenience factor ways out (when I find it at a good price). Varieties include peaches and creme, pineapple and creme, and apples and caramel creme.

I am giving away coupons for a month's worth of free Fruit Bowls! All you need to do is go to Dole Way to Snack and vote for your favorite recipes for a chance to win $100. After you've voted, come back and comment to be entered (deadline is August 20)! You can enter once per day on the Dole site.

And, if your kids are a fan of the movie Madagascar, you can get a Marty snack pack for $4.99.