Put Your Best Fruit Forward: Blueberries Abound

A staple in my house year-round, blueberries are even more prominent in the summer, finding their way into salads, smoothies, muffins, cereal, and pancakes, not to mention bare bowls and bare hands. This week I missed an opportunity to take my boys blueberry picking. A mild offense made slightly worse by the fact that they were missing out on sharing the adventure with their neighbor-friends. Freelancing and summertime tend to butt heads, and this week work had to prevail. Thankfully there are four more weeks of summer to get in on the fun.

What’s All the Buzz About?
Because July is primetime for blueberries, it’s designated as National Blueberry Month. Blueberries are not only delicious and versatile but are also full of health benefits. That’s why they’re one of the star ingredients in our Berry Blend capsules and chewables.

While the term superfruit is trendy these days, there’s some serious science to back up the blueberry buzz. Among the many studies out there, some of the findings are really worthy of attention, like the fact that blueberries are anti-inflammatory and have positive effects on brain activity.

Berry Bonus
So we’ve covered National Blueberry Month and the blueberry’s unique health propositions. Now we’re on to the fun part: eating them! I’ve become particularly good at finding recipes that make berries palatable for my two-year-old, who seems bound to get by on a diet of air and eggs.  

Here are some of our favorites, which also incorporate other healthful ingredients. Plus, they’re great for picky kids and adults alike!

• Blueberry-Avocado Smoothie. This recipe puts a new spin on your typical blended berry drink. Avocados are high in fat—the good monounsaturated kind—and low in sugar. For an extra boost, add a scoop of Complete by Juice Plus+ Vanilla Shake Mix.
• Blueberry Muffins. While not a standout healthy treat, these muffins have maple syrup instead of table sugar. The former is barely processed in contrast with the highly processed latter. Plus, this recipe can be easily altered to increase its health quotient: organic flour in place of regular, sub coconut oil for all or part of the butter, and add shredded carrots or zucchini.
• Chocolate-Covered Blueberries. Fun to make and fun to eat, this recipe will be a winner with the kids. Make sure you use dark chocolate to add another layer of antioxidant power.
• Blueberry Blender Ice Cream. Think outside the box with this one. In addition to the bananas in the recipe, throw in veggies with similar texture, like pumpkin or even butternut squash. Tip: Buy cubed, frozen butternut squash, or freeze small portions of canned pumpkin.