Wild Blueberry Winter Wellness Smoothie

Wild Blueberries are a perfect ingredient for wellness in our Wild Blueberry Winter Wellness Smoothie! They’re packed with antioxidants, naturally low fat, high in fiber, and an excellent source of manganese, which is important for bone health. They also taste utterly delicious!

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On the eve of cold and flu season and the busy holidays, I’ve been thinking about these two amazing Wild Blueberry wellness facts and how they make me want to incorporate more Wild Blueberries into my diet.

  1. Antioxidants. Wild Blueberries contain two times the antioxidants of regular (cultivated) blueberries, and this means they can boost your immune system and play a role in preventing the common cold. Wild Blueberries have more skin, more pulp and less water than cultivated blueberries, which means more antioxidant-rich pigment.
  2. Low or No Pesticides. Because Wild Blueberries thrive in their natural environment, they do not need nearly the amount of pesticides that cultivated berries need. So you can feel confident buying non-organic or organic Wild Blueberries!
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Here’s a short list of my favorite ways to enjoy Wild Blueberries, during the winter:

  • In oatmeal or rice porridge
  • Baked into fluffy Wild Blueberry muffins or breads or donut holes!
  • Blended into wellness smoothies
  • Blended into fresh salad dressings and savory sauces
  • As a topping over banana ice cream
  • In pancakes and waffles

There are so many delicious and healthy uses for Wild Blueberries in winter! Today’s smoothie is perfect for wellness, not only because it’s loaded with Wild Blueberries, but because it includes five more immune-system boosting ingredients:

  • Walnuts – Rich in healthy fats, omega fatty acids and vitamin E
  • Hemp Seeds – Naturally rich in plant-based protein, omega fatty acids, magnesium, iron and zinc
  • Banana – Rich in potassium and fiber
  • Citrus Zest – Yes the zest is good for you too! It’s packed with vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
  • Cinnamon – Blood sugar balancing and warming.

Too cold for a smoothie? Never. You can make this smoothie “less cold” by omitting the ice and using a non-frozen banana. You can even allow the Wild Blueberries to thaw a bit so they’re not ice cold from the freezer.

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Vegan Wild Blueberry Donut Holes with Wild Blueberry Glaze

Ever since my trip to Maine trip, I’ve literally only bought frozen “Wild” Blueberries instead of fresh cultivated blueberries – and that says a lot. In fact, my visit to the Wild Blueberry barrens inspired me to start creating some amazing Wild Blueberry recipes. This one for Vegan Wild Blueberry Donut Holes with Wild Blueberry Glaze is becoming one of my fall favorites. These donut holes have a hint of vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon. They bake up fluffy and snackable!

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So, let’s crank up the oven and make some warm and fluffy donut holes. These Glazed Wild Blueberry Muffin Donut Holes are so tasty! They are perfect paired with a pumpkin latte or mint matcha latte or even a warming mug of herbal tea. They bake up super fluffy and rich, with loads of healthy ingredients like banana, nuts, flax, oat flour and of course Wild Blueberries. The glaze is optional but it does add more color, flavor and fun.

Wild Blueberry Nutrition. I spoke a lot about the health benefits of Wild Blueberries in my blogger travel post, but here are some of my favorite fun facts about their nutrition properties and heritage.

* Antioxidants. Wild Blueberries contain two times the antioxidants of regular (cultivated) blueberries. And all the healthy stuff is in the skin. Wild blueberries have more skin and less water than cultivated blueberries, which means more antioxidant-rich pigment.

* Natural. Wild blueberries have never been modified by man to enhance or alter their naturally occurring characteristics.

* Grown in One Special Place on Earth! Wild blueberries are commercially harvested in only one part of the world: Maine, eastern Canada and Quebec. In fact, these special plants thrive under extreme conditions (rocky soil and ice cold winters), and they actually build up healthy phytonutrients by surviving these harsh growing conditions.

* Very Low or No Pesticides. Wild blueberries have on average, 80% less pesticide use than cultivated blueberries. So basically, if you are not buying organic, you should definitely consider trying frozen Wild Blueberries. I always choose organic when I can, but seriously, I don’t stress too much about it with Wild Blueberries.

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Some of my favorite places to buy Wild Blueberries. Whole Foods 365 brand of Organic Wild Blueberries and at Costco you can buy giant bags of Wyman’s Wild Blueberries! You can also find Wyman’s frozen fresh Wild Blueberries in a bunch of smaller stores both natural and niche and more mainstream.

The next time you’re shopping, I hope you’ll check out the frozen aisle and see if you can find Wild Blueberries. They are amazing little gems and they are really different from the regular blueberries you find in the produce section of the store. I used to think that the only difference between the Wild Blueberry and regular blueberries was the size and color. It’s true that Wild Blueberries are smaller and have a deeper blue color but they also have a bolder flavor, which I adore, and 2x the antioxidant capacity of regular blueberries, providing more of what it takes to combat disease and promote healthy aging.

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Every time I eat Wild Blueberries I am now reminded of those crystal clear waters and beautiful coastal shores, fresh air and tall trees of Bar Harbor Maine. Knowing where your food comes from is so important. And these berries come from some gorgeous natural land.

Vegan Wild Blueberry & Pumpkin Mug Cake: A Heavenly Match Made in Minutes

When I first heard the idea of blueberries and pumpkin together, I hesitated. But within seconds my mind switched to “sure, why not?” As it turns out, these ingredients are simply amazing together, as long as you use Wild Blueberries. The intense sweet-tart flavor of Wild Blueberries compliments the pumpkin and autumn spices in a delightful way. None of the ingredients compete, but rather heighten one another for a warm satisfying holiday treat.

As many know, the holidays are a time when people on special diets can often feel left out. So I decided it might be fun to combine pumpkin and Wild Blueberries to create a single-serve mug cake that could be enjoyed anytime a little indulgence was needed; and it can be made in minutes.

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The base recipe is dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free and vegan, but I also tested it gluten-free for the Mr. Right in my life. Cake is perhaps his favorite dessert, and one he rarely gets to enjoy since he cut gluten from his diet many years ago. And he did indeed love this pumpkin mug cake!

Truth be told, I’m not a big cake person myself, but the tender, moist crumb and sweet, rich taste of this Wild Blueberry pumpkin mug cake won me over too. Here are some tips and options for when you make the recipe yourself:

  • Use frozen Wild Blueberries, not conventional. They have less water, so they perform better in baking. They’re also smaller and more flavorful so you get more “pops of deliciousness” in each bite.
  • Finally, since they really do grow wild in their native lands and are frozen within 24 hours of harvest, Wild Blueberries are substantially higher in antioxidants and fiber than the conventional ones. You can find Wild Blueberries in the freezer section of most major grocers.
  • You can further “healthify” this pumpkin mug cake, but be aware that it will affect the results. Using whole grain flours will result in a denser, but still delicious, dessert. Swapping in a different sweetener, like coconut sugar, will change the flavor and consistency a bit.
  • If you’re in the mood for a treat that’s a little less sweet, you can cut the sugar down to 2 or 2½ tablespoons.
  • But if you want a truly tender crumb, don’t skimp on the fat. I trialed versions with less oil, and they ended up more dense and too moist.+
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