Halloween doesn’t have to be all candy bars and packaged foods. Remember the days when the best Halloween treats were handmade caramel-dipped apples and popcorn balls? If you’re entertaining this Halloween, then try bewitching your guests (young and old) with a few spooky, eye-catching treats, made entirely from scratch in your own kitchen.

These easy-to-make Halloween recipes are not only show stoppers, but also they make use of Wild Blueberries, a favorite healthy ingredient with a hauntingly dark blue pigment, which makes them a unique and befitting choice for All Hallows’ Eve. Wild Blueberries also offer twice the antioxidants of regular blueberries and a natural, tasty sweetness that’s a great alternative to the processed sugar that accompanies this ghoulish night. These recipes are also easy for the kids in your home and neighborhood to make, giving them special appeal.

Bat-Shaped Cookies with Wild Blueberry Icing
These striking little bat-shaped cookies, from food and nutrition expert Kara Lydon of The Foodie Dietitian, are tasty, spooky, and beautifully topped with naturally-colored Wild Blueberry icing.  Whipping up a batch of these scary good cookies also makes for an entertaining afterschool decorating activity for kids during the Halloween season. Made with healthy ingredients such as whole-wheat flour, Greek yogurt, and frozen Wild Blueberries, these cookies are not overly sweet and feature a subtle and appealing Wild Blueberry taste that kids and parents will love.

Wild Blueberry Wobbles in Custard Sauce

This simple recipe wasn’t developed explicitly for Halloween, but it has all of the qualities of a spooky Halloween inspired snack. With just the right molds (found at a cooking or craft store), this recipe could easily be transformed into wobbling ghosts, goblins, and witches. Using frozen Wild Blueberries and raspberry flavored JELL-O®, the Wild Blueberries float inside the mold, forming ghostly and haunting layers that will delight any child. Note that this make-ahead recipe needs to chill several hours or overnight.

Spooky Wild Blueberry Boo-Berry Snack Balls

These easy-to-prepare snack balls made with cashews, Medjool dates, and Wild Blueberries, are an elegant and slightly sophisticated finger food for Halloween partygoers. But making them at home can involve the kids, making them a great addition to your Halloween festivities. Once the ingredients have been combined in your food processor, the kids can help form them into bite-sized balls, roll them in coconut, and add some candy eyeballs for a silly touch. Created by Real Mom Nutrition author Sally Kuzemchak, these morsels are a tasty and healthy addition to any Halloween party. (Beware of nut allergies before getting started.)

Bottom Line: If you’re making plans for a festive Halloween don’t forget that there are healthy, tasty, and unique alternatives to the candy aisle. Making treats at home is also a great way to entertain your children and grandchildren and to expand their concept of holidays into something handmade and special. This gives children an opportunity to slow down, and it’s one of the ways that fond and lasting memories are made.

Happy Halloween!

My mom’s birthday is coming up next month and I’m in charge of the food for the family dinner party. Of course I want to make something extra special to celebrate so I’m planning on making the theme something fun and unique…and a little wild (just like mom!).

The star of the meal will be this Wild Blueberry and Mushroom Risotto. Risotto is an Italian favorite and I loved adding a pop of Wild Blueberry fruitiness to break up this heavy dish.  I’ve done this before so I know the sweet-savory combo works out really well, and Risotto is the perfect comfort food dish for the fall!

This tasty dish also doubles as a celebration recipe for Wild Foods Day on October 28th.

You might be thinking: What other foods are “wild foods?”

For me, the term “wild” always conjures up gorgeous purple fields of Wild Blueberries, but nature offers us many other Wild foods, as well. From greens to grasses to mushrooms – wild foods are all around us. And because many wild foods survive in harsh conditions and are able to protect themselves against environmental stressors, they’re very potent in antioxidant nutrients.

For my Wild Blueberry Risotto I used a mix of wild mushrooms I found at Whole Foods. Cremini, shiitake, oyster, and chanterelle mushrooms are so fun to incorporate into recipes because they’re typically found in unique places around the country – like along the mountain slopes and coastal areas.

Did you know that oyster mushrooms typically grow on logs or dying trees in subtropical forests and that Wild Blueberries have twice the antioxidant content of cultivated blueberries? It’s true. Wild Blueberries also have more antioxidant power than many other fruits and veggies!

If you can’t find an assortment of fresh wild mushrooms at the grocery store, but still want to make this creamy and delicious risotto, just swap out the 2 1/2 cups of assorted fresh wild mushrooms for 1 1/2 cups of cremini or baby bellas, plus 1 cup of rehydrated dried wild mushrooms. To rehydrate the mushrooms, just soak them in hot water for 20 minutes and then use the soaking liquid in place of part of the vegetable broth. I prefer the texture of fresh mushrooms vs rehydrated, but dried wild mushrooms are a great option to get this meal on the table!

What better way to send the kids back to school than with homemade Wild Blueberry Toaster Tarts? These tarts are pretty much amazing! Not too sweet on their own, but literal perfection with the Wild Blueberry glaze drizzled on top.

The filling is made with a delicious Wild Blueberry chia seed jam that’s quick and easy to make and the crust is super flaky. These Wild Blueberry Tarts are the perfect “first day of school” breakfast or as a fun mid-afternoon snack for the kiddos.

When I was growing up we were never allowed to have anything even resembling a Pop-Tart so making my own healthy version was actually kind of fun. And let me tell you, these tarts rival anything that comes in a box!

With double the Wild Blueberry goodness, they’re not only gooey and delicious, they’re healthy, too. With each tasty bite, you get a dose of intense Wild Blueberry flavor, along with some fiber, protein and brain-boosting antioxidant power – which every kid needs to help them perform their best in school, right?

These low sugar tarts can also be made ahead and frozen. Just pop them into the toaster oven when you’re ready to serve and drizzle generously with the Wild Blueberry glaze, of course.

For many kids across the country, the first week of school is already behind them and for others, it’s just around the corner. As you settle into the early morning routine and all the afterschool activities, we have some tasty and easy-to-make brain boosting Wild Blueberry recipes perfect for breakfast or snack time. Adding frozen Wild Blueberries to your recipes will ramp up the blueberry flavor that kids love and provide high nutritional value, too. This super-fruit that grows wild only in Maine and Eastern Canada has twice the antioxidants and 72% more fiber than their regular blueberry counterpart. Also, recent research has found that Wild Blueberries may have a significant positive effect on memory, concentration, and mood in children and teens. Keep the kids on a healthy track with these 4 yummy WILD recipe ideas that are great before and after school!

Breakfast:

Wild Blueberry French Toast Pinwheels

Make French Toast an everyday breakfast for your kids with these delicious bite-sized French Toast Pinwheels. Not only is this recipe easy to make, but these pinwheels are lighter, and more refreshing compared to the traditional weekend French Toast. For this recipe, use a tortilla-style bread for the base and fill it with cream cheese topped with Wild Blueberries. Roll it up like a burrito and then slice into pinwheels. The Wild Blueberry flavor is the real star in this recipe. It’s fruity and intense, but it’s not super sweet, and one serving of Wild Blueberries for this recipe has 32% less sugar and twice the antioxidant capacity than regular blueberries. Perfect for little hands, your kids are sure to love this nutritious AM treat!

Wild Blueberry Kefir Breakfast Smoothie

Some mornings are easier than others, and there are definitely days when everyone is running late. Don’t let the kids skip the most important meal of the day, even on the most hectic of mornings! Try our kid-friendly Wild Blueberry & Kefir Smoothie made with bananas, graham crackers, iron-rich baby spinach, and of course Wild Blueberries! Wild Blueberries are especially good for kids because they deliver more than a quarter of the fiber per serving they need every day and are loaded with brain-building plant compounds. Plus, using kefir in this smoothie adds calcium and a special probiotic punch (kefir is a fermented milk drink usually stocked in the dairy section). Simply place all these healthy ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a travel cup and send your kids off to catch the bus!

Snack Time:

Wild Blueberry Crumble Bars

Snack-time at school is a very important meal for kids. Instead of packing their lunchbox with processed granola bars, fill it with homemade Wild Blueberry Crumble Bars! Wild Blueberries are only 80 calories per cup and are an excellent source of manganese, which is important for bone development. These homemade treats are an excellent healthy snack for your kids – and they are delicious too! Simply combine frozen Wild Blueberries and fresh orange juice to make the filling. Take the dry products (oats, almond meal, rice flour, etc.) to make the crust. Lay a layer of crust on a cookie sheet, top the crust with a layer of the sweet purple filling, then top off the crumble bar with another layer of crust. Sprinkle pieces of pecan to add a little extra crunch before placing in the oven. Serve once cooled or freeze for a week’s worth of snacks.

Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops

After a long day at school, kids typically run home from the bus stop and raid the pantry for their afterschool snack. Nothing will satisfy your kids’ hungry bellies more than our yummy Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops! These pops are made with frozen Wild Blueberries, plain or vanilla yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, and lemon zest. To keep the kids full until dinnertime, add some protein powder. And as an extra special treat, drizzle the pop with melted chocolate before freezing. This healthy after-school snack will have your kids screaming for more and make you the after-school snack hero of the day.

Here’s to a great new school year!

The back-to-school season can be hard on everyone. It’s tricky for parents to get into the routine of rousing everyone out of bed, driving the morning carpool, and packing school lunches. And it’s not so easy on kids, either, who would rather be swimming in the town pool than focusing at school. In our house, it can take weeks before we find our rhythm again.

In the meantime, there’s cake, Mix-in-the-Pan Back-to-school Wild Blueberry Cake!

It’s not just any cake. It’s exactly the sort of cake that’s called for this time of year – perfect for the school lunch box or after school snack.

Here’s why:

Easy —This mix-in-the-pan affair saves time and elbow grease because everything gets stirred, baked, and served in the same dish. Your only cooking tools are an 8×8-inch baking pan and a common dinner fork. Not only is the cake a snap to make, it’s easy to clean up, too.

Wholesome — The recipe calls for whole-grain flour, which means a bump of fiber and other nutrients. It also gets a boost of protein thanks to the egg and Greek yogurt in the recipe. Olive oil is swapped in for butter, which means more healthy fats in every slice. Translation? Each serving comes in at just 150 calories, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 3 grams of fiber.

Less Sugar — The only added sweetener is 100 percent pure maple syrup (a weensy 2 teaspoons per slice), which is pretty good as far as cake is concerned.

The sum total is that you can have your cake and eat it too, knowing it’s both good and good for you.

Antioxidants! — The other thing this cake has going for it is Wild Blueberries. You pull them straight from the freezer and stir them right into the batter (no defrosting required). A full cup of these juicy berries packs an antioxidant punch (double that of regular blueberries). In fact, Wild Blueberries has more antioxidant power than 20 other fruits and veggies according to a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This makes excellent sense at the start of school in particular since research shows Wild Blueberries can improve memory and concentration in children.

Fun — Last but not least, this cake is fun, an excellent kitchen project for kids. What could be better than dumping everything in a pan, mixing it up, and getting, a delicious, golden cake when you’re done?

The best part of this cake is that it’s tender, punctuated with juicy Wild Blueberries and delicious. Tuck a small slice into lunch boxes or have it ready for when the kids come home from school. Most importantly, cut yourself a slice to enjoy with your afternoon tea. Then pat yourself on the back. School’s in session and you managed to bake a cake full of good-for-you ingredients. I call that icing on the cake!

Nothing says summer more than the delicious taste of ice cream. And although national ice cream day has passed, there are still plenty of summer days to enjoy this frosty treat and celebrate its goodness. Instead of waiting at long ice cream shop lines, make your own at home and include our favorite summer berry – Wild Blueberries. This superfruit is rich in flavor and antioxidants, which may contribute to better brain health, gut health, heart health, cancer prevention, and reduced risk of diabetes. In comparison to their ordinary blueberry counterpart, Wild Blueberries provide twice the antioxidant capacity per serving.

If you’re ready to get inspired to make ice cream at home, no-churn is the way to go – requiring only a few ingredients and minimal equipment. It is easy to whip up and all you need is a blender and a freezer-ready container. Here are four of our favorite Wild Blueberry no churn ice cream recipes that will satisfy your summer sweet-tooth any time of day.

Wild Blueberry Graham Coconut Milk Ice Cream

We all scream for ice cream – even those of us who are dairy-free, and this Wild Blueberry Graham Coconut Milk Ice Cream is sure to please. The canned coconut milk delivers a creamy texture and the heaping cup of frozen Wild Blueberries provides a fruity burst of flavor and a healthy punch too! One cup of Wild Blueberries has more total antioxidant capacity than 20 other fruits and vegetables!

Wild Blueberry Lemon Nice Cream with Edible Flowers

Edible flowers are one of summer’s hottest food trends, and this delicious Wild Blueberry Lemon Nice Cream captures the essence of the season’s flavor with no added sugars. This fruit-based ice cream is also full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making it a healthier dessert option. Wild Blueberries are one of the lowest sugar fruits available with only 10 grams per cup, amounting to 32% less sugar than ordinary blueberries. Wild Blueberries are also a low-glycemic food, scoring 53 on the 100-point Glycemic Index. And the pretty edible dried flower topping, a combination of rose, hibiscus, marigold, and cornflower, create a crunchy topping similar to sprinkles, without any added sugar.

Wild Blueberry Soft Serve Ice Cream on Grilled Pineapple Stacks

Who needs traditional flavors like vanilla or chocolate when you have Wild Blueberries and grilled pineapple! This unique combination is a delicious one – fire up the grill and sprinkle some brown sugar over juicy pieces of pineapple. Blend frozen bananas and Wild Blueberries with creamy coconut milk to make the ice cream portion; the texture is just like soft serve. Don’t forget to sprinkle extra Wild Blueberries on top to really give this fruity ice cream some extra sweet flavor – without adding any sugar!

Wild Blueberry Coconut Yogurt Pops

Popsicles aren’t just for kids anymore. These four-ingredient Wild Blueberry Coconut Yogurt Pops are the perfect on-the-go summer treat or single serve back-yard party dessert. In addition to their incredible color made from the all-natural pigment in Wild Blueberries, these pops also deliver a nutritious dose of antioxidants. The coconut and Wild Blueberries make a magical match in these creamy froyo treats. They deliver big time in the taste category, all at under 100 calories a pop.

Who wants ice cream? Get your family, friends, even the neighborhood together and have a fun afternoon making and eating countless scoops of these mouthwatering WILD ice cream recipes!

After a winter that felt like it would last forever, summer is finally here. The temps are skyrocketing, the farmers markets are in full-force, and the lines at the ice cream shops are wrapped around the store fronts. I think because winter felt extra long this year, I was that much more eager to dive into summer traditions right away. As quickly as you could say “Memorial Day,” I was already grilling burgers and veggies and running straight to the local ice cream shop.

The thing about ice cream is that as much as I love its creamy, rich goodness, it (unfortunately) doesn’t love me back. As someone who is lactose intolerant, I never feel great after eating ice cream and as an intuitive eating dietitian, I’m always encouraging clients to listen to their bodies to notice how different foods make them feel. Will I ever give up ice cream completely? Of course not. But I will be mindful of how I want to feel afterwards and may opt for a dairy-free alternative instead.

Luckily, it’s so incredibly easy to make dairy-free ice cream at home. All you need is a blender and a freezer safe container (and ideally an ice cream maker/churner, but it’s not necessary). I personally like to use canned coconut milk as my base for non-dairy ice cream because its fat content gives the final product that rich, creamy consistency we all desire, but other non-dairy milks like almond milk or cashew milk, work too.

To make your ice cream treat even more satisfying, add some fruit to boost the flavor (and the nutrition!). Frozen Wild Blueberries are the perfect add-in for homemade ice cream because you can always keep it stocked in your freezer for when that ice cream craving arises – no need to worry about the fruit going bad! And with 2X the antioxidants and 72 percent more fiber of regular cultivated blueberries, Wild Blueberries can add a healthful punch to your ice cream.

If you’re like me and ready to skip the long ice cream stand lines this summer, try my latest recipe for Wild Blueberry Graham Coconut Milk Ice Cream. It’s sweet, creamy and full of flavor thanks to the Wild Blueberries, and has a satisfying crunch from the crushed graham crackers.

Happy Summer – enjoy the season of sunshine and ice cream!

Happy Birthday, USA! This year, the United States of America will be turning 242 years old. This monumental day symbolizing our country’s independence calls for a fun, active day enjoying the sunshine. Whether that be spending time with friends and family at a barbecue, building sandcastles with the kids at the beach, or taking the boat out for a relaxing day on the water – it’s bound to be a great one.

Let’s make this year’s nationwide birthday party one to remember, by going WILD. The Wild Blueberry delivers on the nutrition that its name suggests. One cup of Wild Blueberries has 25% of the recommended daily allowance of fiber, which promotes gut health and may lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. The antioxidants that give Wild Blueberries their rich blue hue fight off free radicals that have been linked to cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions. One cup of Wild Blueberries has more antioxidant power than 20 other fruits and vegetables, including cranberries, and even cultivated blueberries, according to a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

What makes Wild Blueberries so powerful? In the wild, they combat stress and naturally protect themselves by producing phytochemicals and anthocyanins. It’s these naturally occurring compounds that help protect us from inflammation and chronic disease when we eat them.

Plus, adding this superfruit to any recipe is a natural way to include a little blue to your patriotic themed dishes. Now let’s get cooking:

Snack Time with Wild Blueberry Energy Bars

To keep the “hangriness” at bay during a long day of celebration, have a number of on-the-go snacks on hand. This holiday, ditch the store-bought bars and make your own. It’s really easy and you can be certain they’ll be packed with the nutrition you need. One of our favorite recipes is this Wild Blueberry Energy Bar. Filled with frozen Wild Blueberries, oats, honey, and other healthy ingredients, it will help keep you going no matter what activity is planned.

Have a refreshing glass of Sparkling Wild Blueberry Lemonade

Everyone craves an ice-cold lemonade on a hot summer day. This Sparkling Wild Blueberry Lemonade is delicious and refreshing. It’s infused with sparkling water, coconut water, lemons, and our favorite ingredient– frozen Wild Blueberries! Study results reveal that the nutritional value of frozen fruits and vegetables are generally equal to – and in some cases better than – their fresh counterparts. Freezing also locks in the complex sweet and tart taste of Wild Blueberries. So, the high nutritional value is guaranteed to last whenever you decide to take Wild Blueberries out of the freezer!

Simple and Delicious Skewers for your cookout: Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs with Wild Blueberry Barbecue Sauce

This special holiday is a great way to bring family, friends, and even the neighborhood together for some delicious food! Forgo the hamburgers and hot dogs and add some excitement to your barbecue with our WILDLY delicious Shrimp and Veggie Kabob recipe! These kabobs are loaded with jumbo shrimp, slices of large red, green, and yellow bell peppers, and onions – drizzled with a tasty Wild Blueberry BBQ sauce. These mouth-watering, one-of-a-kind skewers will leave everyone at the barbeque wanting more! So, fire up that grill and get grillin’!

American Staple: Wild Blueberry Pie

The staple of American desserts – Wild Blueberry Pie. Filled with frozen Wild Blueberries, this crowd favorite is the perfect way to bring your friends and family together to celebrate the birthday of our nation. Although some desserts get a bad rep for being filled with “empty-calories” this is not the case with this tasty pie – because it’s made with Wild Blueberries. So, go ahead and eat pie this holiday!

We hope everyone has a wonderful 4^th of July. Happy 242^nd Birthday, USA!

If you’re looking for a great gift for Dad, you won’t have to look far. All he really wants is your love, a little quiet time to himself and to be treated like a king on his special day. Make your gift extra special by thinking outside the box and going a little WILD. Prepare a few delicious dishes using healthy ingredients – like frozen Wild Blueberries.

Even though fresh cultivated berries are available now, there’s evidence that suggests choosing frozen Wild Blueberries is the better way to go. Wild Blueberries are one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits, thanks to anti-inflammatory compounds like polyphenols and anthocyanins. More than 20 years of human health research has found that Wild Blueberries may play important roles in reducing cognitive decline, the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. They have double the antioxidant capacity, one-third less sugar and 72% more fiber compared to an ordinary blueberry. And they taste great! If you don’t believe us, try for yourself! We’re pretty sure that you and your dad will join the list of frozen Wild Blueberry converts.

Here are five WILDLY delicious recipes that will have dad jumping out of bed “lickety-split” and ready for a fun-filled day.

Start Dad’s Day Off Right with Breakfast

For Father’s Day, a cookout is often the go-to-way to celebrate Dad. This year, make him fantastic breakfast to ensure he starts his day off right. Below are two options – one is sure to be perfect for your special Dad.

This protein-packed Wild Blueberry Smoothie is the ideal pre-workout or post-workout recovery meal for Dads on a health kick. It’s low in sugar, high in fiber, big on delicious blueberry flavor and is a nutrient-dense way to start the day-long celebration.

If you’re looking for a more decadent option, whip up these Wild Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes. They are absolutely delicious. Make sure Dad loads up on the antioxidant-rich Wild Blueberry sauce to get that wonderful blueberry flavor in every bite.

Bowl Dad Over with this Recipe

This Buddha Bowl recipe using frozen Wild Blueberries is right on trend and can be served for lunch or dinner. Grain bowls or “Buddha Bowls” have been super popular because everything you love is in one dish. For this recipe layer with Dad’s favorite grains like quinoa, and veggies and then top it off with this delicious Wild Blueberry Cashew Dressing. The dressing is really what makes this recipe unique and something special to enjoy with Dad.

Keep Dad Cool and Hydrated with a Refreshing Summer Sip

At the end of his busy day, something cool and refreshing may be exactly what he needs. This Wild Blueberry Green Tea Mojito is packed with summery flavor – fruity Wild Blueberries, refreshing iced green tea, tangy lime, and tons of fresh mint. Plus, it’s super simple to make! Just muddle together Wild Blueberries and fresh mint leaves, then stir in the lime juice and brewed green tea with honey. This drink is delicious as it is, but Dad can request a little shot of rum if he’s in the mood.

Something Sweet for the World’s Sweetest Dad

End his day with something sweet. These homemade Wild Blueberry Yogurt Pops are an icy treat that’s great on hot days (or any time, really). They feature a bright, beautiful blue hue that comes from the all-natural pigment in Wild Blueberries and an intense blueberry flavor, unlike the store-bought options with artificial dyes and flavors. And, the anthocyanins that lend the pretty marbled effect in the pops also deliver a nutritious dose of antioxidants for Dad. At just 100 calories per pop, Dad won’t feel too guilty if he wants seconds.