Tag: Whole fruit vs applesauce

According to the USDA, a 1-cup serving of canned applesauce counts as a 1-cup fruit serving, but it is not nutritionally equivalent to eating a whole apple. The key question isn't whether applesauce counts as eating, but rather how it compares to its whole fruit counterpart and what that means for your health.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate guidelines, 1 cup of applesauce counts as one serving of fruit. This is equivalent to one cup of fresh, frozen, or canned fruit, making it a simple way to meet your daily fruit intake.

According to USDA MyPlate recommendations, one cup of unsweetened applesauce is equivalent to one cup from the fruit group, clarifying how much applesauce equals a serving of fruit. This simple fact helps you incorporate this pantry staple into a balanced diet, though it’s important to understand the nutritional differences from a whole apple.