recipes Archives - Wild Blueberries

Brain-Healthy Breakfast Recipes to Start Busy School Mornings Off Right

It’s that time of year again–some kids have already had their first day of school while kids here in Maine are just heading back to the classroom. While it’s still a little unclear what the school year will ultimately look like for your child–either in-person learning or remote–we want to say a big thank you to all the parents out there.

While we can’t help with the homework, we can help with making your mornings a bit easier. For most families, mornings are super busy but breakfast is the one meal during the day that parents tell us they have complete control over what their child eats. So, why not make breakfast filled with brainy-healthy foods to give your kiddos a great start to their school day? Here’s a little breakfast inspiration: six wild blueberry breakfast recipes that will help nourish your child’s brain. With 33% more brain-healthy anthocyanins and 2x the antioxidants of regular blueberries, adding a healthy scoop of wild blueberries to your kid’s morning is a great way to begin the day.

Try these grab-and-go Wild Blueberry Mini Muffins

The morning goes quickly, especially when you’re juggling so much! Out of time? No problem, these quick and easy, grab-and-go Wild Blueberry Mini Muffins are the perfect solution. Simply bake them in the evening, store them in a tupperware container, and everyone will be able to grab a yummy muffin on their way out the door in the morning.

Pro tip: throw them in the microwave for 15 seconds to make it nice and warm before biting into some wild muffin goodness.

Whip up some Wild Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Start your day on a nutritious note with our Wild Blueberry Zucchini Bread—a delicious and wholesome treat designed to fuel young minds. Packed with vibrant wild blueberries and nutrient-rich zucchini, this bread offers a delectable way to kick-start your mornings. Wild blueberries are best in this recipe because they add a bold, tart flavor and their small size means more berries per bite.

Prep some Dried Wild Blueberry Almond Granola

Bursting with nutty almonds and antioxidant-packed dried wild blues, this Dried Wild Blueberry Almond Granola not only supports cognitive function, but also delivers essential nutrients that growing bodies need. Prepare a batch in advance and enjoy it as a quick weekday breakfast or as a topping for yogurt parfaits.

Have dessert for breakfast with Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake

With ‘cake’ in the title, this is an easy make-ahead breakfast option that tastes good and may encourage your kids to eat breakfast–especially if they think they’re getting away with eating dessert in the morning. Wild Blueberry Crumb Cake tastes delicious without sacrificing added nutrients.

For the toast fans out there, try some Coconut Peanut Butter Wild Blueberry Toast

If your child loves old-school PB&Js, try this homemade spin-off: Coconut Peanut Butter Wild Blueberry Toast. Using just seven simple ingredients, top your grain of choice (e.g., whole wheat bread, an english muffin, or whatever your child loves!) with some wild blueberry goodness.

Blend up a Mix-In-A-Pan Wild Blueberry Snack Cake

Introducing a hassle-free marvel for busy mornings: Mix-In-A-Pan Wild Blueberry Snack Cake! The ease of preparation makes it an ideal option for hectic school days—simply mix the ingredients in a single pan and pop it in the oven. Plus, it’s a versatile delight that can be sliced into convenient portions for breakfast on-the-go or as an after-school pick-me-up.

Did you know that research has found wild blueberries to have a positive effect on your child’s memory, decision making, response times, concentration, and mood? That’s why wild blueberries should power your family’s morning to make for a great day ahead. If you try one of the above breakfast recipes, let us know which one your kids loved the most! Take a picture, post on social, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so we can see your kids’ *wild* breakfast. If your profile and/or post is public, we’ll be sure to repost it on our stories or respond. Can’t wait to see what you come up with for your family!

Summer Camp Lunchbox Friendly Wild Blueberry Recipes

It’s officially summertime, which means that there are tons of adventures waiting for you and your family around every corner–think warm nights spent around the campfire, scenic hikes, lake dips, and best of all, yummy wild blueberry dishes! As the world begins to return to some semblance of normality and the kids start summer camp, you may be looking for some quick, kid-friendly snack ideas to keep their lunchboxes–and bellies–full. Add an extra dose of brain-healthy goodness to your kids’ lunches by adding a scoop of wild blueberries to some tried-and-true lunchbox favorites.

Need some camp lunchbox recipe inspiration? We’ve got you covered.

Power your kid’s camp morning with Wild Blueberry French Toast Pinwheels.

If camp has an early morning start, these super packable Wild Blueberry French Toast Pinwheels are a great go-to. Just stick a toothpick in it, grab some Tupperware, and *BAM*, these bite-sized pinwheels are ready to travel with you wherever you go!

Your kids will love grabbing a big handful of this Dried Wild Blueberry and Almond Granola.

One thing we know for certain: granola is the best camp snack around. It’s so easy to pack and our Dried Wild Blueberry and Almond Granola recipe can be eaten with yogurt or by itself. It’s also a great calorie-dense option that will provide your kids with a tremendous amount of protein and fiber. Pack them something that tastes great and is super easy to scoop with their hands, straight out of the baggie. You can even get them involved in preparing this recipe. Easy peasy, wild blueberry squeezie (that’s the saying right?)!

Whip up some No-Bake Wild Blueberry Energy Bars to keep your kids going throughout the whole day!

Pack your kiddos some healthy and energizing No-Bake Wild Blueberry Energy Bars to help get them through their fun, but long, summer days at camp. This quick and easy recipe only requires an hour in the fridge, and then its ready to be packed away for a fun day in the sun. Limited parent time, kid taste tested and approved.

Skip the sugary grocery store fruit roll-ups and make your own Wild Blueberry Fruit Leather.

This three-ingredient recipe is a healthy alternative to sugary, store-bought roll-up snacks your kids might already be familiar with. Transform delicious, frozen wild blueberries into a tasty yet chewy, Wild Blueberry Fruit Leather for the kids to snack on throughout the day. Packing your kiddos’ lunches with some wild blueberry goodness will help fuel their day with brain-healthy goodness. Did you know that research has found wild blueberries have significant positive effects in children on memory, decision-making, response times, concentration and mood? If you pack some of the above recipes, let us know which one your kids loved the most. Take a picture, share on social, and tag us Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share your kids *wild* camp experience!

A WILD Dinner to Celebrate Mother’s Day

If the Mom in your life is always on the go, keeping track of school, work and play schedules, cleaning up the “not me” messes, and other parenting tasks, make sure you take some time to say, “Thank you!” this Mother’s Day. What better way to do that than by preparing her a delicious and healthy dinner. Make it a fun family affair and get the kids involved. You’ll make some special memories along the way, too. To help you get started, we’ve pulled a few of our favorite recipes from some of our most creative health and nutrition food bloggers.

All of these recipes include frozen Wild Blueberries. These tiny, potent berries aren’t just for muffins and pies. They’re also delicious in appetizers, entrees, and cocktails. Plus, Wild Blueberries provide twice the antioxidant capacity of traditional blueberries and are considered one of the top anti-inflammatory fruits. These antioxidant-rich super berries are filled with bioactive phytonutrients that give them their deep blue color, which can protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other diseases. What makes Wild Blueberries so powerful is that they combat stress in the wild and harsh northern climate of Maine by producing phytochemicals and anthocyanins to protect themselves. It’s these naturally occurring compounds that help protect us from inflammation and chronic disease when we eat them. And the best thing about Wild Blueberries is that you don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy them. You can find them in the frozen fruit aisle supermarket all year long.

Cocktail.
Start the evening off right and before you and the kids get busy in the kitchen, make Mom this cocktail – if she doesn’t drink alcohol, leave out the bourbon for the tastiest mocktail she’s ever had. The combination of Wild Blueberries, mint and lemon are delicious and refreshing in this Wild Blueberry Bourbon Smash. The splash of seltzer gives it just enough fizz to impress Mom with your mixology skills. And honestly, the bourbon is an excellent addition to this recipe but can be substituted for another spirit or left out, and it will STILL be delicious.

Appetizer.
After Mom has enjoyed a few sips of her Wild Blueberry Smash, continue to impress her taste buds with these Wild Blueberry Brie Pastry Bites. Once you serve this tasty appetizer, it will look like you’ve been working hard in the kitchen all day, but this recipe is incredibly easy to make. The kids can help fill each of the phyllo cups with brie and top ‘em off with the Wild Blueberry sauce. You’ll see her smile as soon as she takes a bite and enjoys the crunch of the phyllo shell, the creaminess of the warm brie and the pop of sweet and tart flavor from the Wild Blueberries.

Salad.
By now, Mom’s Mother’s Day dinner should be coming together nicely. To keep it simple, serve a salad alongside your main course! Have the kids create a simple green salad with mixed baby greens like spinach and arugula, include some cucumbers, tomatoes and any other items that Mom loves in her salad. Then WOW her with a homemade dressing. Don’t panic! Homemade dressing is incredibly easy, and this Wild Blueberry Balsamic Dressing only has six ingredients – most of which you’re likely to have in your pantry already. Just blend everything together and then drizzle over the top of Mom’s salad. You may catch her licking the salad plate but hey, don’t judge! She works hard, and you’ll probably want to do the same.

Entreé.
Show off your mad grillin’ skills and make this Shrimp and Veggie Kabobs with Wild Blueberry Barbecue Sauce recipe as your main course. Mom will love the shrimp and pepper combination glazed in the homemade barbeque sauce. It’s sure to be the most memorable meal and Mother’s Day of all time – no pressure. If Mom’s not into shrimp, cubed chicken, tofu or any other protein will work so long as it can be skewered – adjust cook time accordingly. The kids can help by cutting up the peppers and putting all the items on the skewers.

Dessert.
Now that dinner is over take some time to hang out and make some Mother’s Day memories with the entire family. (HINT: Make these Mini Wild Blueberry Cream Pies ahead of time. They freeze nicely in an airtight container.) No baking is required for this recipe! Dates, nuts, and oats make the tasty crust, and little fingers are perfect for pressing them into the bottom of each cupcake liner. As the kids spoon in the delicious Wild Blueberry filling keep an eye on them to make sure enough ends up in the cupcake pan and not all in their tummies. Freeze for 10 to 15 minutes, or longer in an airtight container. It’s the perfect ending to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day Recipe that Will Make You Fall in Love

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate the people you love, but it’s also a time to be good to your heart! Most of us think of heart-shaped chocolates, homemade cookies, and other treats when we think of Valentine’s Day, but not every heart-shaped treat has to put heart health on the back burner. These chocolate, lemon and almond Wild Blueberry Energy Bars are delicious, filling, and perfectly themed for Valentine’s Day.

I’ve had a lot of practice making energy bars (my no-bake bites are a huge hit with my clients and family), and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to create a new heart-healthy recipe. Adding Wild Blueberries to any baked treat always adds the perfect amount of sweetness and moisture without relying on added sugar — and they’re a great source of heart healthy fiber and antioxidants.

Heart health is really important for everyone, and it is important to know that heart disease is not just a man’s disease. An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular disease, and 90% of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. There is good news, though: 80% of heart attack and stroke events can be prevented by lifestyle changes, such as consuming a heart-healthy diet.

Eating Wild Blueberries is a great way to keep your heart healthy. Why? Because they’re so rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a group of antioxidants that provide many benefits to the heart — not to mention being responsible for the Wild Blueberry’s deep blue color.

Studies have shown that Wild Blueberry anthocyanins can help prevent lipid accumulation and improve vascular function – both of which play a major role in the development of cardiovascular disease. What’s more, high anthocyanin intake is associated with a reduced risk of heart attack in women and an increased antioxidant capacity. With an increased antioxidant capacity, your body is better able to protect against oxidative stress, which is a large contributor to cardiovascular disease.

With all of these heart health benefits, Wild Blueberries truly are the perfect food to incorporate into Valentine’s Day, a day that’s all about being good to your heart and to the ones you love! And these energy bars have you covered on both counts! They’re super simple to make. Just pulse all the ingredients together in a food processor and spread into a pan. Then use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make heart-shaped bars for anyone you love. I’m wrapping these up for my mom, but they’re also the perfect Valentine’s Day treat to send to school with your kids – especially on a day you know will already be sweet enough.

Here’s the full recipe. Enjoy!

5 Top Wild Your Smoothie Recipes

As we say goodbye to summer, one of the big takeaways was that it was unusually hot and steamy. Much of the country experienced heat waves, and staying hydrated, nourished and energized was critically important. Smoothies are a great way to start your day by getting your nutrition in one easy grab-n-go package.

Over nine weeks this summer, we shared more than 25 new Wild Blueberry smoothie recipes developed by some of our favorite nutrition and healthy lifestyle bloggers. We also selected a number of additional recipes to share from our existing 120 smoothie recipes – a rich resource for any smoothie lover. So, which were your favorites? Below are the top five most shared, liked, and talked about smoothie recipes from our Wild Your Smoothie Summer:

Matcha Wild Blueberry Breakfast Smoothie

Created by Danielle Omar, a leading registered dietitian, clean-eating coach, teacher, cookbook author, and blogger behind Food Confidence, this breakfast smoothie combines Matcha green tea powder, a trending ingredient known for its antioxidant, detoxing and weight loss benefits, with frozen fresh Wild Blueberries also known for being an antioxidant-rich superfruit. Wild Blueberries get their powerful antioxidant protection from anthocyanins, the flavonoids found in their gorgeous blue pigment. These flavonoids have the ability to neutralize free radicals and help prevent cell damage. Antioxidants also protect against inflammation, thought to be a leading factor in brain aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative diseases.

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Wild Blueberry Banana Hemp Smoothie

This colorful, layered, allergy-friendly, kid-friendly smoothie was created by Kelly Roenicke, one of our “Wild Your Smoothie” Recipe contest winners and author of The Pretty Bee: Allergy Friendly Eats blog. Kelly calls it “a treat for the eyes and the taste buds.” This smoothie features a pink bottom layer using blended frozen bananas and raspberries. Next comes the antioxidant-and fiber-rich Wild Blueberry layer. She tops it all off with hemp hearts to add more healthy fats and proteins. Not only is this smoothie delicious and fun, but it’s also naturally free of the top 8 allergens because of the ingredients she selected – frozen fruit, coconut milk and hemp seeds.

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Wild Blueberry Coconut Lavender Smoothie

When Gina Matsoukas of Running to the Kitchen proposed a Wild Blueberry smoothie that included lavender as an ingredient, we were intrigued. She told us that lavender, also rich in antioxidants, could help promote gut health and reduce bloating. Combined with the frozen Wild Blueberries, this smoothie is an antioxidant powerhouse and a great way to start your day.

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Savory Wild Blueberry Green Smoothie

Another beautiful layered smoothie, this one is packed with both Wild Blueberries and green veggies (spinach). According to its creator, registered dietitian Kara Lydon and the voice behind The Foodie Dietitian, this savory Wild Blueberry Green Smoothie is good for you because there’s no sugar added and it’s a good source of fiber, protein and healthy fat – the ultimate nutrient trifecta for lasting energy and satiety. So if you have a fear of green smoothies because you think they’ll taste bad, this is a good one to try because using Wild Blueberries will mask the bitterness without having to add sweeteners.

Wild Blueberry & Beet Freeze Breakfast Smoothie

Beets were another “hot” ingredient this summer. We think it’s because – like Wild Blueberries — beets are a beautiful deep purple food with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. To showcase this fun ingredient Danielle Omar of Food Confidence combined it with frozen Wild Blueberries to create a refreshing and stunning smoothie. Danielle says it’s perfect for breakfast because of the cleansing qualities of beetroot combined with the fiber-richness and sweet-and-tart taste of Wild Blueberries.

So if you love healthy smoothies, keep a supply of frozen Wild Blueberries in your freezer all year long. And if you’re looking to change up your smoothie routine and “wild” your smoothie try to one of these amazing smoothie recipes. For more recipes visit our Wild Your Smoothie Recipes.

Make Dad Smile with this Delicious Protein-Packed Father’s Day Breakfast Smoothie

Father’s Day at our house is usually met with fun and fanfare. I think Norah looks forward to both Father’s Day and Mother’s Day more than her own birthday! She typically has her gift ready and card made weeks in advance, in full anticipation of the big day.

On the morning of each big day, she is the first to wake up and is always eager to whip up a delicious breakfast extravaganza, with a little help of course. This Father’s Day she’s excited to be able to make breakfast all by herself, because this year her Dad is getting his favorite breakfast smoothie.

My husband normally enjoys a more decadent Father’s Day breakfast. In fact, he adores nothing more than a decadent high-carb breakfast – croissant French toast or fluffy pancakes drizzled with way too much maple syrup are his holiday go-tos. But this year he’s been on a bit of a health kick. There hasn’t been much of anything decadent or sweet on his menu for a while, as he’s been in full training mode for the last two months. The occasional splurge here and there happens, but for the most part he’s been living lean.

His routine of late is to wake up, drink a protein smoothie, and then hit the gym. If you’ve ever lived with someone who’s in training mode of any kind, it can be stressful when you ask them to veer off-plan. Since we don’t want a stressed-out dad on Father’s Day, we are sticking to the plan.

Norah will be thrilled to deliver to him his favorite Wild Blueberry smoothie. This recipe is a blueberry triple threat. His smoothies always start with a heaping cup of frozen Wild Blueberries. He loves the intense Wild Blueberry taste and looks forward to his morning dose of antioxidants. To his frozen Wild Blueberries he adds vanilla flavored Greek yogurt for a creamy effect and blueberry flavored ground flax seed for a dose of fiber and healthy fats.

Of course he also adds a scoop or two of protein powder, but not before a few drops of vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon for natural sweetness, and a frozen banana are mixed in.

This protein smoothie is the perfect pre-workout breakfast or post-workout recovery meal. It’s low in sugar, big on delicious Wild Blueberry flavor, and a healthy, nutrient-dense way to start the morning. Especially if it’s delivered to you in bed…with a big hug and a home-made card.

7 Fan-Favorite Wild Blueberry Recipes

As the year comes to a close and we think back to all the amazing travel, work, entertaining and eating we have accomplished here in the land of the Wild Blueberry, we thought it would be fun to reveal which recipes you enjoyed the most in 2015. In all, we shared over 100 original Wild Blueberry recipes over the last 12 months, all written by an incredible group of food writers, cookbook authors, and registered dietitians from around the country. Following are the top seven most shared, liked, and talked about recipes of 2015. From the top:

1. Wild Blueberry Twice Baked Sweet Potato

With an astounding 9,168 likes, comments, and shares, this Wild Blueberry Twice Baked Sweet Potato was the runaway winner in 2015. And it’s no wonder. Created by Danielle Omar, a leading registered dietitian, clean-eating coach, teacher and cookbook author, Danielle is a passionate food and nutrition educator.

2. Wild Blueberry Scone

Second place goes to this beautiful Wild Blueberry Scone recipe created by Anne Mauney, a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian and author of the fitness blog fANNEtastic food. We love the pretty heart shape of this scone!

3. Creamy Wild Blueberry Pie

This vibrant Creamy Wild Blueberry Pie was the third pick of readers. Filled with deliciously intense blueberry flavor, it packs twice the antioxidants of a regular blueberry pie. This one was made in the Wild Blueberry test kitchen.

4. Maine Wild Blueberry Pie

This post surged in popularity because it revealed a #1 easy trick that professional bakers use for the best blueberry pies. It also shared the recipe for Maine Blueberry Pie, developed by a hot Portland bakery called Two Fat Cats.

5. Wild Blueberry Baked Doughnuts

Who doesn’t love a yummy doughnut? This hugely popular recipe for Wild Blueberry Baked Doughnuts was adapted from a King Arthur Flour recipe by Rebecca Crump, a Nashville-based blogger and food writer. It’s sure to please all.

6. Wild Blueberry Sunshine Smoothie

It’s no surprise that two finalists for our best 2015 recipes were in the smoothie category. Frozen Wild Blueberries are simply a perfect ingredient for any smoothie. This Wild Blueberry Sunshine Smoothie uses coconut water, orange juice lime and Wild Blueberries, and was developed by Rebecca Crump, a Nashville-based writer and food blogger.

7. Wild Blueberry Recovery Smoothie
Last but not least, this dazzling Wild Blueberry Recovery Smoothie was developed by registered dietitian, author, and athlete Anne Mauney. She says it’s a great way to refuel after an energetic workout.

Our 2015 top recipes reveal what we suspected. Our readers love using frozen Wild Blueberries in a variety of ways – everything from pies to breakfast goodies and savory dishes to smoothies. With exceptional flavor, color and nutritional value, we can’t think of a better way to support a healthy vibrant lifestyle in 2016 than to keep a good supply of frozen berries in your freezer.

Happy New Year!

Kick Off a Healthy New Year with Wild Blueberries

By Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

It’s officially a new year – and many of us are itching to reset the clock and eat healthier after a season of indulgence. What better way to kick off a healthy New Year than by incorporating nutritious foods into your diet? So I was super excited when the Wild Blueberry Association of North America asked me to create a blog post series called Getting Wildly Healthy. This is the first of four posts I’m creating to help inspire all of you to have a healthier 2015.

As a registered dietitian and an avid runner, I am passionate about motivating others to lead happier, healthier lives through good nutrition and exercise. To help inspire you to kick off a vibrant and healthy new year, I’ve handpicked a choice selection of nutritious and tasty recipes created by me and some of my favorite nutrition bloggers. These recipes also feature one of my favorite ingredients – Wild Blueberries.

But before we get into the recipes, I want to share a little bit about why Wild Blueberries are so special to me. I discovered them last summer in Maine, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I throw them into smoothies, oatmeal, baked goods, and even salad dressings! The great thing about Wild Blueberries is that they are available frozen, which means you can stock your freezer and have them on hand anytime!

You may not know this but all blueberries are not the same. Here’s the skinny on Wild Blueberries. They have a more intense flavor, double the antioxidants and fiber, and a deeper blue pigment, making them serious nutritional superstars when compared to the regular ones you find in the produce section. The reason they have more fiber is due to the higher skin-to-pulp ratio than their larger cultivated counterparts. As for the antioxidants, they have a greater concentration of the flavonoid anthocyanin, a phytochemical found in blue-pigmented fruit.

Wild Blueberries are also smaller than regular blueberries making them great for baking and cooking. And because Wild Blueberries haven’t been modified by man, they’re not meant to travel great distances fresh. In fact, Wild Blueberries are frozen fresh at harvest, locking in their intense blueberry flavor and antioxidant power.

I hope you’ll follow my lead and add this wonderful little berry to your list of foods to help you stay on track. You’ll find them in the freezer section of your grocery store. Just be sure to look for “Wild Blueberries” on the label. Here’s a link to more information about where to find them.

Now back to the recipes! Here’s to getting and staying inspired in 2015, because eating healthy doesn’t have to mean boring!

Breakfast – Eat More Earlier in the Day.
The key to a healthy breakfast is aiming for a combination of fiber-packed complex carbohydrates (like those from whole, unrefined grains – and Wild Blueberries!), protein, and healthy fat (from nuts, seeds, etc.). Incorporating these three macronutrients together will work to keep you feeling satisfied and energized all morning long.

If you’re a pancake fan, try my Protein Packed Flour Free Breakfast Pancake, topped with Wild Blueberries. You can thaw the Wild Blueberries in the microwave to make a sort of sauce, or enjoy them frozen. I like them frozen – they add a unique texture!

Another favorite healthy breakfast is my Perfect Microwave Banana Oatmeal with Wild Blueberries and slivered almonds stirred in. It’s delicious, and again a satisfying mix of fiber, protein, and healthy fat. If you’re a cottage cheese fan, try stirring in a little – it sounds weird, but it goes nicely with the berries and adds an extra protein punch. This recipe has converted many former oatmeal haters – give it a shot!

Not a huge breakfast fan? Keep things simple and light with a couple Wild Blueberry Biscotti and a latte on the side.

Lunch – Don’t Skimp. Add Volume.
For a healthy lunch, let’s again focus on a combination of fiber, healthy fat, and protein, but this time with the addition of some volume from veggies! The more veggies, the better – they go a long way in keeping you full and satisfied.

Try this light and refreshing Vegetable Couscous with Wild Blueberries and/or a salad topped with Wild Blueberry Balsamic Dressing. The sweet yet tangy dressing makes a great addition to any salad!

Snacks – Listen to your Hunger Cues. Add Healthy Options Throughout the Day.
Wild Blueberries make an excellent addition to any snack, and add a nice sweetness to recipes, too, without the need for extra sugar.

If you’re in the mood for something chewy, try these ready in 5 minutes Raw Wild Blueberry Snack Balls.

Craving something more thirst quenching? Give this Wild Blueberry Coconut and Ginger Smoothie a shot.

Interested in a baked good instead, but want something healthy? These Wild Blueberry Orange Scones are made with nutritious almond, cashew, and coconut flours and feature a crumbly outside with a moist inside. Each bite is packed with bits of intense Wild Blueberry flavor!

Dinner – Simple and Extraordinary Ideas That Will Delight
Wild Blueberries make a great addition to savory dinners, too! Impress your guests with this unique and creative Wild Blueberry and Kale Stuffed Chicken Breast. I’ve found that chicken pairs perfectly with fruit – can’t wait to try this myself!

Or, enjoy a taste of summer with these Wild Blueberry Turkey Burgers. Moist, juicy, and packed with antioxidants, these are a fun (and healthier) twist on the traditional burger, again with a nice savory/sweet combo.

Dessert – Yes, It’s Legal.
For those nights when you’re craving a little something sweet to end your day, try this delicious Wild Blueberry Oat Cake with Greek Yogurt Frosting. It will satisfy your dessert craving while still packing a nice antioxidant punch.

What are your favorite recipes that feature Wild Blueberries?

To receive more information and recipes from Wild Blueberries, sign up for their e-newsletter here or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter.

Anne Mauney is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian and the writer behind the food and fitness blog fANNEtastic food, which she started as a way to motivate others to lead happier, healthier lives through nutrition and exercise. Anne has a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition and owns a private practice where she helps clients to lose or maintain weight, feel healthier, and improve their relationships with food. Her fitness tips and recipes have been featured in The Huffington Post, Glamour, SHAPE, Fitness Magazine, Health Magazine, The Washington Post, and Woman’s Day. Check out her blog for easy healthy recipes, health tips, and more. You can also find her on Twitter @fANNEtasticfood, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

‘Tis the Season to Win Big with Wild Blueberries

4 Easy Ways to Win

Holidays are the exquisite season of giving. We give to the special people in our lives, we give to strangers and families in need, we give to our favorite charities and causes, we cook, we throw parties, we clean, we give endlessly of ourselves. But what about giving to ourselves?

In the midst of all the holiday racing around, we often neglect our own health and our own peace of mind. Well, we’re here to remind you that the holidays are only a joy if you have the presence of mind to truly relish in them. So in the spirit of taking care of ourselves, we have partnered with our favorite Nutrition Twins® – Tammy Lakatos Shames & Lyssie Lakatos – nationally recognized registered dietitians, personal trainers, and, yes, twin sisters, for our Run Wild and Win Big with Wild Blueberries Sweepstakes which starts on December 1^st.

We know you’re going to love meeting the Twins. During the contest, they’ll share essential Holiday Survival Tips and Recipes that will nurture our bodies and minds right through the holidays.

So before you start the race to the holiday finish line, mark your calendar for the first day to enter our exciting Run Wild and Win Big with Wild Blueberries Sweepstakes. The contest runs from December 1st to December 17^th.

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Entering is easy! On Monday December 1st, go to the Wild Blueberries Facbeook page, and click on the contest link. Everyone who enters will receive our Run Wild Holiday Recipe eBook featuring delicious Recipes and Holiday Survival Tips from the Nutrition Twins. And we mentioned Winning Big – there are daily prizes, two weekly prizes, and a Grand Prize that’s all about you. Take a look….

During the first week we’ll give away 20 Wild Blueberry Infuser Water Bottles every day!

On Friday December 5th, we’ll give away a Vitamix Blender, so you can get started creating your own delicious and healthy smoothies, soups, salad dressings and sauces.

The second week we’re giving away a KitchenAid Stand Mixer. A baker’s dream!

And the Grand Prize includes two personal nutritional Skype sessions with the Nutrition Twins, where they will evaluate your health and design a custom nutrition plan especially for you. PLUS, a $500 gift certificate to Whole Foods so you can revamp your pantry just in time for the holidays.

This contest runs for only a short time, so don’t miss out! And remember don’t let all the running around run you down this holiday season. Celebrate the smart way with Wild Blueberries. For more great recipes featuring Wild Blueberries visit: www.wildblueberries.com/recipes.

Sell Your Superfoods! Think Like an Ad Man (or Woman) in Your Kitchen

This post from Summer Tomato, “Sell Your Family On Healthy Eating Using Descriptive Copy”, poses a perfectly fun idea for motivating yourself and your family to eat well, inspired by a study concerning the psychology of eating that we discussed here a few weeks ago. It seems putting a little Madison Avenue in our kitchen creations means taking a page from Restaurant Row. Consider the wait staff at your favorite restaurant describing their specials. Do the terms sautéed, drizzled or chilled sound familiar? Colorful descriptions and mouth-watering modifiers can accomplish the chef’s goal of tapping into our visceral love of food even before we order.

Their efforts to sell the sizzle and not (necessarily) the steak really can help our healthy eating habits, suggests Summer Tomato. The idea is to start evoking ingredients’ attributes and seasonal freshness: instead of trying to push “salad” for dinner, start plugging “ginger scented little gem lettuces with grapefruit, hazelnuts and goat cheese.” Now that sounds delicious! Then, sneak in some adjectives as well: kale becomes Tuscan kale, carrots become sweet, and tomatoes become heirloom in an instant.

We also suggest taking this new Madison Avenue flair for food a step further. Got an idea for dinner in the AM before taking off to work? Use your copywriting skills to announce it on a decorative kitchen whiteboard or chalk/slate board. Not only can you get yourself and your family members excited about the Specialty du Jour, but you can stick to your plan of eating healthy – no stopping for take-out when the menu is there in black and white. And, studies indicate that if our expectations are that something will taste good, it will.

You can even use pictures to evoke a thousand words. If you found a recipe online or in a magazine, post the photo on your “menu” board (provided your version won’t pale in comparison). Let’s face it, Denny’s knows what they’re doing with their colorful photos of melting pads of butter sliding off stacks of pancakes. Hey, we can play that game, too. Move over, Moon Over My Hammy – say hello to Farm-fresh Sweet Corn and Slow-Roasted Organic Chipotle Chicken courtesy of Chez You!

Wax Poetic with Quinoa Salad

This Quinoa Salad with Wild Blueberries recipe from www.wildblueberries.com will help get you started dusting off those descriptors. Who can resist “creamy Havarti gently tossed with fresh garden zucchini”?

(Sold on the added adjective of “wild” when talking about blueberries? The moniker isn’t just sizzle: wild differentiates lowbush wild blueberries from their highbush cultivated counterparts. Wilds are smaller, have more of the powerful antioxidant anthocyanin, and demonstrate greater antioxidant capacity per serving than cultivated blueberries. They are also have a more intense, tangy-sweet flavor which makes them a excellent recipe ingredient.)