July is National Blueberry Month, and for good reason: blueberries are in season all across the country, ripe and fresh and on sale. The foods are considered one of nature’s biggest superfoods, filled with antioxidant super-ninja powers—or, at least, plenty of nutrients. To incorporate blueberries into your summer meals, here are ten things to do with the small blue fruits.
10. Add Them to Cold Foods
What better way to cool off during the summer than by adding blueberries to your cold foods like ice cream, yogurt, or iced fruit drinks?
9. Freeze Them in Ice Cubes
For a festive summer look as well as a surprise taste when your cubes start to melt, freeze some blueberries in your ice cube trays. One or two per cube should work fine.
8. Stick to Your Diet
If you’re trying to lose weight this summer, incorporate some fresh, healthy blueberries into low-fat or low-calorie dishes. Top some with low-fat whipped topping or mix some in with your Jell-o for a satisfying, low-calorie snack.
7. Make Something From the Berries
Ever wanted to make your own jam, jelly, or preserves? Try making some with blueberries this summer.
6. Make an Entirely New Dish
Whip something up on your own—something savory, sweet, or just plain creative! Here are some ideas to get you started. From terrine to dumplings, there’s sure to be a blueberry creation you’ve never tried.
5. Toss Them in Your Baked Products
Summer isn’t always the best time for baking, especially if you’re trying to keep your house cool. But on those rare cool nights you feel like making something warm and tasty, think about tossing in some blueberries into your cakes, cookies, breads, or muffins. You can always add them to your waffle or pancake batter, too.
4. Ogle Them
You could always just look at gorgeous pictures of blueberry foods for inspiration, like these.
3. Add Them to Salads
We see strawberry salads—my favorite!—popping up everywhere this time of year, so why not make a blueberry salad? Toss with your favorite sweet dressing and any other veggies or fruits that you enjoy.
2. Make a Beautiful Milkshake
If you’re a Percy Jackson fan, you know how important blue food is. We just don’t have enough blue food, so why not make a healthy blueberry smoothie or a decadent blueberry milkshake? A simple recipe can be found here.
1. Eat Them Raw
Why mess with perfection? Just be sure to wash them first.
