If you're struggling to meet your daily fruit needs, consider including more dried fruit in your diet. A 1/2-cup serving of dried fruit equals 1 cup of fresh fruit. Dried fruit also provides the same nutritional qualities as its fresh fruit counterpart, including similarities in its glycemic index.

Freeze-dried fruit is similar to dried fruit, because it has been dehydrated, but it has a crunchy texture. The nutrients that freeze-dried fruit contains offer several health benefits, making it a good addition to a well-balanced diet. Try it on cereal or oatmeal, in trail mix or on its own.

The sweet-tart flavor of cranberries adds taste to a meal. This fruit's versatility and shelf life are extended by drying. You may opt to incorporate dried cranberries, also called craisins, into cookies, bread and other baked goods, or sprinkle them over salads for a hint of sweetness.

Dried fruits -- fruit with a moisture content of less than 20 percent -- retain all the nutrients of fresh fruit, but contain more sugar and calories per ounce. However, dried fruits don't have to torpedo your weight-control strategy; they are diet-friendly if eaten in moderation.

The next time you're in a specialty produce shop and see a small, pink-colored fruit with spiky hairs on the skin, pick it up: this is the rambutan fruit, an exotic fruit native to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dried banana chips are typically eaten as a snack or with nuts and chocolate. Because the chips are made from fruit, you might assume the chips are healthy. While they contain a few essential nutrients, banana chips can be packed with high amounts of sugar as well as saturated fat.

Adult women are encouraged to one and one half cups of fruit everyday and males should have two cups. Dried fruits like apricots are a good source of fiber and can be included in a healthful diet as a fruit serving, with 1/2 cup of dried fruit equal to one cup of fresh fruits.

Fruits contain fiber, phytochemicals and a variety of minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamins A, C, E and K, according to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Many fruits are also packed with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc.

Dried fruits offers some advantages over fresh fruits: a longer shelf life and portability. If you are watching your weight, dried fruits should be eaten in moderation as they contain significantly more calories per serving than fresh fruits.