Did you know July was National Blueberry month? Yea I know, bad timing on my part, but I don’t care what month it is, I love blueberries. In the winter months I buy the huge Costco bags of frozen bluebs and put them in my oatmeal, make shakes, and warm blueberry muffins. And nothing beats fresh blueberries from the farmers market. If July is any indication for how hot August is going to be then some fresh summer blueberry recipes are definitely in order. Did you know that blueberries help you cool down and replenish your body’s nutrients at the same time? Yeah, me either! Well, my friends at Lifetime Fitness were nice enough to send over some awesome blueberry-inspired recipes in celebration of blueberry month so I am going to pass them on to you for everyone to enjoy! Better late than never right? For those of you who aren’t as familiar with Lifetime Fitness, they are so much more than just a gym. Check out my post (HERE) from a few months ago when I interviewed one of their local trainers.
- 1 scoop of whey isolate + 4 oz full-fat Greek Yogurt + 1 cup blueberries + 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed
- Cook quinoa (15-20 minutes). While it is still hot, add pine nuts, shallots, sulfite-free dried blueberries, grated citrus zest, butter and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, add red pepper flakes to taste. Serve with grilled chicken or fish
- For a sweet treat, use a toothpick to dip fresh blueberries in full-fat Greek yogurt and freeze for one hour. After, pop in a plastic bag for a to-go snack
- To freeze fresh blueberries or save berries that might be just a bit too ripe, spread over a cookie sheet to avoid clumping or smashing
- Drizzle flounder filets with olive oil, lemon juice, chopped herbs and pepper – then wrap in aluminum foil and grill for 5-8 minutes
- Top with blueberry salsa. To make, combine green pepper, scallions, 1 grilled fennel bulb, cucumbers, blueberries, grilled corn and mint leaves in a bowl and add apple cider vinegar and olive oil to taste
- Serve flounder immediately with blueberry salsa and basmati rice
- Boost your immune system and prevent infection; highest antioxidant amount of any fresh fruit
- Blueberry rich diets improve motor skills, memory and learning capacity. They are considered a “brain food” because of research showing that they can slow or even reverse many of the degenerative diseases associated with an aging brain. They’ve also been shown to help neurons in the brain communicate with each other more effectively, thus supporting memory
- Rich in dietary fiber, act as a cleansing agent and fight bacteria
- The darker the blueberry, the more antioxidant filled it is and will promote healthy skin and hair. Blueberries have more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds than any other fruit
- A handful of blueberries can help meet your daily fiber requirement, according to BlueberryCouncil.org
- They are on the dirty dozen list so you should buy them organic
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Feel free to share any awesome blueberry recipes you have 
