Grab a Boost of Blue with This Superfood

One of our favourite fruits is the humble blueberry. Delicious, versatile, and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, this fruit is a real superstar. And now, it’s back in season! The blueberry season generally runs from April to September. The ‘Boost of Blue’ campaign was launched this month by the U.S. Highbush Blueberries Council to signify the peak of the season.

Beyond being popular, nutritionally, these little berries have a lot going for them. These small fruits pack a powerful punch and contain prebiotics which can promote gut health. You can reap extensive health benefits from regularly snacking on blueberries. Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavanoids, these berries are also sources of vitamins K and C, making them the top choice for doctors and nutritionists.

 

Fresh and dried blueberries

 

The tiny but mighty blueberries also contain phosphorous (2% of daily value), calcium (15%), and manganese (20%). They are sweet and easily enjoyed either fresh or frozen. Beyond the actual picking of the blueberries, there isn’t an easier fruit to prepare and serve as you don’t need to peel, pit, core or cut them.

Blueberries, native to North America, have been part of life here for 13,000 years. The first highbush blueberry bush was successfully cultivated for commercial production in the early 1900s. Today, U.S. Highbush grow nearly 1 billion pounds of blueberries in North America each year. A delicious legacy indeed! Now everyone around the globe can enjoy these health-giving blueberries. What’s more, blueberries freeze beautifully so you can enjoy their goodness year-round. We also love popping frozen blueberries into a blender with a bit of milk, fresh yoghurt, some oats, and chia seeds for a super-healthy, vitamin- and nutrient-packed smoothie!

 

Blueberries can be used in a number of healthy snacks

 

Not only are blueberries wholesome, they also have tremendous versatility that boosts flavour across an entire menu. It can be used as an appetizer, a beverage, as part of the main course, or as dessert. They are often eaten fresh but can also be enjoyed frozen or dried. To hop on viral trends, you can attempt to make the latest TikTok breakfast craze: the baked berry oatmeal, or even give the no-bake blueberry dessert recipe a go!

We also love using dried blueberries in a tasty (and addictive) snack mix. Just combine a generous handful or two of dried blueberries (readily available at Bake With Yen stores) with some mini pretzels, roasted almonds, tiny chunks or chips of dark chocolate. That’s it! You can add some other nuts and dried fruits, as well, but just the first four ingredients make a great base for a yummy snack mix.

 

Fresh U.S. blueberries

 

Blueberries are also pretty affordably priced, and offer great value for the quality and nutrients they pack, so to get your hands on some delicious U.S. Highbush Blueberries, fresh or frozen, head on over to major retailers such as AEON, Jaya Grocer, and TF Value.

If you want to learn more about blueberries, just visit the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council website at www.blueberrycouncil.org and also their social media pages, Facebook: US Highbush Blueberries Malaysia or Instagram: us.highbushblueberries.my!

 

Blueberries with coconut and chia seeds