3 Easy Ways to Add Blueberries to Your Diet
I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. I received a stipend to facilitate my purchase for my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
My blueberry obsession is out of control. I know I have already mentioned my love for them and you’ve seen firsthand how I stick them in anything from pancakes to scones to pound cake. My freezer is stocked full of them from the annual blueberry freezing spree I go on every June and I can’t help but buy them during winter, when they trickle in from Chile, Peru and Argentina. Nothing beats fresh blueberries. I saw them the other day on sale and bought two boxes. They lasted a long time.
Like a whole day.
Today I have three easy ways to incorporate blueberry eating into your daily lives (besides eating them by the handfuls, of course). Most of us breakfast on cereal or granola. I’m not sure how you prefer yours but my favorite way to eat granola is with a bit of milk and a ton of blueberries. Sometimes I add shaved coconut or nuts if the granola is plain. A granola-blueberry breakfast gives you energy to start the day and is a low-calorie meal. If your granola is a bit higher in calories, add less granola and more blueberries.
If you’re not a granola fan or if you’re just plain tired of it, smoothies are another great way to stay healthy. While you can definitely use fresh blueberries, I would recommend using frozen blueberries from that stash in your freezer. The frozen blueberries help give your smoothie that frozen consistency typical of all smoothie drinks. If you still prefer fresh blueberries, use frozen bananas instead.
Blueberries are a great way to add vitamins and nutrients to your diet. They’re chock-full of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Even though I stuff myself on blueberries (especially during their season here), I never feel quite as bad as chowing down on handfuls of cheese puffs or chips or any of those 200-calories-in-a-handful snacks. Blueberries contain only 80 calories/cup so they’re a great way to introduce healthier eating into 2015 with minimal effort. Think New Years’ resolutions and this easy way to achieve them (small steps to a bigger change).
BLUEBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE
2 bananas
1 c frozen blueberries
1 T ground flaxseed
1/2 c milk*
Blend all ingredients together in a heavy duty blender.
*you can sub coconut milk for a vegan smoothie
The last way to incorporate blueberries into your daily diet is via desserts. I love ending a day on a sweet note and sometimes feel like a meal isn’t complete without something sweet. Pretty sure it’s purely psychological but it feels real. These blueberry-yogurt bites are the best cures for a sweet tooth craving. No added sugar, just a tiny bit of maple syrup. And blueberries.
BLUEBERRY YOGURT BITES
mini fillo shells
blueberries
yogurt lightly sweetened with maple syrup
Place 1-2 tsp of yogurt into fillo shells and top with blueberries.
And last but certainly not least, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council is hosting a sweepstakes through which you can enter to win a trip for two to LA for the Little Changes Kitchen Challenge alongside actress, author and TV host Alison Sweeney. Runners up may win one of four $500 Whole Foods or Lululemon gift cards for a refreshed pantry or workout wardrobe! Sweepstakes closes February 16, 2015 so be sure to enter now! You can enter here.
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website has plenty of tips on how to make eating blueberries a part of your lifestyle – you can check them out here.
How do you enjoy blueberries?
