I absolutely love blueberries - especially frozen blueberries. These sweet bursts of flavor pack a powerful nutrition punch in such a tiny package. And they are ready to eat anytime!
If you pick blueberries fresh from your garden or from a local farm, or find fresh berries at your hometown farmer’s market, you just can’t beat those when they’re in season. But where we live in central Illinois, the season is short! If you happen to live in Maine, you may find wild blueberries. These are smaller, low-bush blueberries considered the highest-nutrient blueberries you can find (fresh or frozen). And wow are they tasty!
To have blueberries at your fingertips all year long, I absolutely love blueberries frozen. Why?
For one, flash freezing fruits and veggies like blueberries keeps the flavor intact while maximizing nutrients. They are picked, washed, and frozen quickly, often within 24 hours. This means when the berries get to you, they could have more nutrients than fresh berries from the grocery store, depending on how long fresh berries have taken to get to your kitchen between picking, storing, transporting, and waiting for your purchase.
Second, frozen blueberries never go bad! If you are looking to save money on groceries, you will get your money’s worth by purchasing frozen berries. I always suggest buying a mix of produce – fresh, frozen, canned, dried, and 100% juice so you have plenty of options to boost produce anywhere and anytime.
Third, eating frozen produce like blueberries can help curb food waste. Fresh produce can more easily go bad if you don’t eat it quickly, but with frozen produce, you’ve got a variety of nutrient-rich options for months! Curbing food waste is a priority in our home, and I like knowing that I’ve got high-quality blueberries every day!
Fourth, frozen blueberries are the mainstay of my favorite breakfast! Most days, I add a cup of warmed up frozen blueberries to my oatmeal with Greek yogurt, cinnamon, and Grandma’s Homemade Granola. I often add fresh fruit, too, depending on what I have on hand. Sometimes it’s a mix of frozen blueberries with fresh raspberries, fresh peaches, or bananas. You’ll find more quick breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in Eat Move Groove: Unlock the Simple Steps to Lifelong Nutrition, Fitness & Wellness.
Lastly, frozen blueberries fit so well in your eating plan, whether you’re optimizing eating for well-being, managing high blood cholesterol or high blood pressure, eating to prevent or manage diabetes, looking to add more fiber for gut health, fostering brain health, or eating to lower inflammation. Just take one look at the deep purple-blue color of blueberries and you’re reminded how great they are for you.
So, next time you make a grocery list, don’t forget those bursts of flavor and nutrition that keep on giving – frozen blueberries!
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