Blueberry Smoothies

Blue is one of nature’s many colors. But you can’t see this color in living things, unless it’s color of the eyes. It’s rare to see this color on natural foods. But the exception is one of the world’s most beloved and cherished fruit: the blueberry. Everybody loves it, whether it is taken from a fruit basket, or mixed in your cakes. My kids must surely love them the most. Having blueberries at home helps us distract them from the temptation of eating unhealthy food.

Blueberries grow mainly in North America. This fruit is one of the most sought out flavor for ice cream, cake and other dessert treats, and our favorite muffin. However, blueberry is actually the second top favorite berry in America. The top one belongs to the cheerfully red strawberries.

But, they’re not just your regular purple and syrupy cheesecake adornment. They have a proud past too. To the Native Americans and the first American immigrants, blueberry was a staple food. They called them “star berries” and they considered the humble blueberry as a god-given fruit that feeds children during famine. The early American colonists started to include blueberries in traditional English recipes as a mockery of their English roots. It was collected and packaged for soldiers as a staple food in the 1860’s during the Civil War.

Aside from being considered food, did you know that blueberries are also used to make gray and blue paints? Some boil them with milk and others use the skins, sage blossoms and indigo to create wondrous colors out of them.

Our ancestors might have been right about blueberries being a god-given fruit. It contains helpful vitamins and nutrients that can help in one’s well being such as vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Compared to other fruits or vegetables, it contains more antioxidants, which helps to prevent cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. It also contains anthocyanin, which is good for the eyesight. Blueberry extract helps in maintaining the balance, coordination and short-term memory among most people. To top it off, it has antibacterial and antiviral compounds, which helps fight infections.

Considering all the benefits of blueberries and its value as food, blueberries can become a very good pick for an equally healthy and satisfying drink: smoothies. Blueberry smoothies are one of the most mouthwatering blends of smoothies. It turns the already healthy blueberry into a healthier drink. With this smoothie, our kids easily forget junk food. Their cravings for sweets are diverted into cravings for the healthy Blueberry smoothie.

Need an afternoon snack beverage that the whole family will enjoy during a lazy Sunday? You might want to try our family’s most recommended recipe:

Berry Merry Smoothie Mix

• ¼ cup of blueberries
• ¼ cup of raspberries, halved
• 1 large banana, peeled and sliced
• ½ cup vanilla yogurt
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup crushed ice

Put all the ingredients in the blender and blend for about 30 seconds. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Have fun!