They are also nutrient-dense, providing vitamins K and A, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese.

One cup of prunes or dried plums is loaded with 418 calories and 111 grams of total carbohydrates. That makes them a concentrated energy source. In other words, a 1-cup serving of prunes provides about 1/3 of the fiber that men need and almost half the amount that women need each day.īut then let’s not forget that prunes are dried fruit. A 1-cup serving of prunes has 12 grams of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. Now I’m not saying that dried plums don’t deserve their reputation as a laxative, because they do. Just look at the photo above! Along with a bad image, prunes just aren’t very photogenic. You can see why they might choose plums instead of prunes. It’s interesting to note that the images on the packages of prunes are almost always pictures of fresh plums. There were even individually-wrapped dried plums that were marketed as easy-to-take-with you snacks. I was surprised to find that while some of the products were in fact called dried plums, most of the items I saw were still called prunes. Of course, I had to go looking for dried plums too. I guess it worked, because my friend bought them! Their argument was that “dried plum” has a more positive connotation than “prune.” The goal was to modernize the product and remarket it as a healthful snack food, instead of something that grandma ate when she needed a laxative. It seems that back in 2001, the plum growers got together and petitioned the FDA to change the name of their dried fruit. Those are prunes! Rebranded, of course, but prunes! Once I told my friend what I knew, she thought for a few seconds and then laughed with me. She was excited to share a new product that she just loved to put in salads. We were having dinner at a neighbor’s home and got into a discussion of new foods and favorite things to eat. No, I wasn’t having “problems.” I just like prunes and hadn’t thought about buying them at home. That seems to be the general consensus about prunes - they have a reputation related to bowel movement, laxatives, and/or as a remedy for other digestive “problems.” My middle sister (always the one who isn’t afraid to say anything) asked, “Why did you order prunes? Are you having problems?” I took advantage of the room service and ordered a bowl of stewed prunes for breakfast every day. A couple years ago, my mom and my sisters and I went on a cruise. I know, I know! This is not a topic that most people would consider for dinner conversation.

Download stewed prunes