Thursday, April 29, 2010

Bountiful Berries

Asking yourself what kind of fruit to snack on? 


The answer during the spring and summer season - local berries. Do It Up! Mulberries, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, wolfberries, boysenberries, currents, gooseberries, chokecherries, etc...There are so many awesome berries to choose from.


Why berries you ask?

  • Berries are packed with Antioxidants which combat against free radicals. 
  • Berries are also great daily detoxifiers for the body & after the heavy foods during winter everyone can benefit from something light
  • Berries are tasty & rich in color
  • Berries are fun to eat
  • Berries are sweet
  • There are SO many varieties
Where to get 'em?
  • Pick up seasonal berries at a local farmers market
  • Grow your own berries or enjoy a berry picking day with family
  • Buy frozen berries
Why now?
  • Berries are in season and they grow around here
  • The soil & environment is perfect for growing berries outside
  • Eating local foods means that the berries will be super fresh
What to do with them besides eating them fresh?
  • Add them to mixed green salads
  • Mix them in a smoothie
  • Make berry sorbet
  • Toss them in oatmeal
  • Have them with a bit of keifer or greek yogurt
  • Make a berry compote
  • Make berry flavored lemonade
  • Mix up some sprouted nuts with a bit of coconut milk & berries
  • Dip berries in 80% dark chocolate
You get the idea. Load up on berries during this abundant berry season!
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3 comments:

  1. TracyApril 29, 2010 at 12:17 PM

    Sprouted Nuts!?! Tell me more!
    How do I do this? Is it better for me then just eating them raw?

    We love berries around here and we never are out. In winter I buy the big bags of frozen berries from Costco. In the summer we pick our own from the fields around our place.

    And BLACKBERRIES! are my favorite. But they do not grow around here. I neeed to travel to get those. I have fond memories of picking them where I grew up right next to the Frazer River in B.C.

    I enjoyed this post and it made me eager to do more of what you suggest. Berries in oatmeal is something I just recently started and I enjoy it alot.

    Thanks for these little reminders and bits of advice.

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  2. Michelle @ Find Your BalanceMay 7, 2010 at 9:46 AM

    I dig berries. Wish I could grow my own because organic berries are pricey!

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  3. MulberryMaryMay 7, 2010 at 2:09 PM

    Tracy - glad 2 hear you always have access to berries. ;)

    Michelle - I know berries are expensive. I load up on frozen ones from the co-op. But, I must say that I have raspberries, mulberries, currents, gooseberries, had strawberries and a cherry tree. We bought a great house that game with a fully loaded garden (it is a bit hard for me to handle.)

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