Celebrate National Blueberry Day July 8th by adding these seasonal berries to your favorite summer recipes. You already know that blueberries are a juicy topper for oatmeal, cereal, and parfaits as well as a staple in breakfast muffins, but there are a ton of other ways to use these fresh berries.

Blueberries are a good source of vitamin C, manganese, and fiber for a one-cup serving that’s only 80 calories. They’re also often called a “super food” because they’re packed with 20 types of anthocyanin, antioxidants that give berries their blue-violet colors. Other berries contain only three or four types, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

When you’re purchasing blueberries, look for ones that are firm, plump, smooth-skinned and have a deep-purple to blue-black color for ripest ones. Summer is a great time to buy in bulk, wash and dry the berries, then freeze them to use in later months.

Learn how to maximize fruits and veggies in your diet for effortless weight loss.

BREAKFASTS

Blueberries are a great addition to a quinoa bowl for an antioxidant and fiber punch. If you’ve jumped on the chia seed pudding bandwagon or are making overnight oats for your morning meal, blueberries are delicious toppers for those healthy breakfasts.

LUNCHES / SALADS

If you’re a fan of sweet flavors in your salad like I am, add some blueberries to your lunch or dinner greens, like this summer kale salad with blueberry-balsamic vinaigrette on Iowa Girl Eats’ blog.

This blueberry barley salad with mint lime vinaigrette melds many of summer’s seasonal flavors into one dish!

Add blueberries to your favorite chicken salad recipe. They pair well with hard cheeses, like feta, so consider sprinkling blueberries on top of your Greek salad, or pairing them with cucumber and lime flavors in a summer salad recipe.

Find out how you can save money and calories by packing your lunch for work daily.

MAIN DISHES

You’ve probably had pork with a sweet side before—pork chops and applesauce anyone? But using ripe blueberries in ginger chutney like in this Pork Street Tacos recipe will surprise and delight your taste buds.

Get creative by adding blueberries to a turkey burger patty and make your own blueberry ketchup to spread on top. The guests at your next barbecue won’t know what hit them!

SNACKS / DESSERTS

Make your own snack bars by using blueberries in these no-bake oat bars. These all-natural bars are the perfect portable snacks for the car, beach, or summer picnics.

Satisfy your chocolate craving with this fruit and dark chocolate combo!

Make your own dark chocolate covered blueberries by dipping the berries into melted dark chocolate chips and letting them cool in the refrigerator for 30 minutes on wax paper. Dark chocolate that’s 70 percent or higher cacao content is a good source of antioxidants, too. That’s a winning dessert!

 

SOURCES

U.S. Blueberry Highbush Council

http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/blueberry-recipes/