Tag Archives: strawberries

Strawberry Lemonade Muffins Brighten Any Summer Morning

Baking in the summertime seems ridiculous, especially considering how hot it’s been. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable… like when my niece turns three! I’m the “weird” aunt who doesn’t give the kids juice, or candy, or chicken nuggets. So it’s to be expected when I make her a special birthday treat that it’s going to be healthy. I decided to kick-off her third birthday with a healthy, delicious, kid-friendly breakfast.

With plenty of in-season strawberries at my disposal, I chose a strawberry muffin. It looks like a cupcake to a toddler, but it’s so much better for her. Plus, I just wanted a strawberry muffin!


My goal was to use whole grain flour and not use any sugar, and a quick search lead me to Yummly where a recipe made that possible! This recipe for Strawberry-Lemonade Muffins was exactly what I was looking for and more. With a few slight modifications I was able to make this on a whim with ingredients I had on hand… with a few helping hands. (more…)

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Natalie K

How to Cook with Strawberries

Strawberries have always been one of my favorite fruits, not just for their fun shape and bright color, but also because they’re incredibly healthy and low in calories. 

In my house we probably go through one to two pints of strawberries every week, especially during the summer months. One of my favorite ways to eat this gorgeous berry is adding a big handful of them frozen into my morning smoothies for a quick and easy breakfast. But you really can’t go wrong whichever way you enjoy them most.

Health benefits: Strawberries are packed with tons of healthy nutrients while still remaining surprisingly low in calories, making them an ideal snack or vibrant addition to a variety of meals. One, one cup serving of strawberries contains more than 160 percent of the daily recommended requirement of vitamin C, and they’re also high in folate, potassium, calcium and iron. In terms of fiber, each serving contains approximately three grams, which we all know is important for proper digestion. And strawberries are also high in antioxidants and flavonoids, which have both been found to help prevent cancer.

Nutritional statistics: One cup of halved strawberries contains approximately 50 calories, 0 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Cooking Methods: Strawberries are quite versatile and can be used in an almost endless variety of dishes – both savory and sweet. Slice them up in salads, eat them whole, dip them in chocolate, add them to smoothies, roast them to add to sweet and savory dishes, and even add them to pizza! Check out our recipes below for some great ideas on how to cook with this delicious and versatile red fruit.

Recipes:

Sunflower Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Rice Krispie Cupcake Treats 

Savory Strawberry Pizza

Strawberry Salsa 

Roasted Strawberry Buttermilk Cake 

All that’s left to do now is make a trip to your local grocery store or farmers market and pick up a few pints of this fantastic red fruit. And don’t be afraid to get a little adventurous with them in the kitchen. Who knows, maybe savory strawberry pizza will be a new favorite in your home!

Also Read:

How to Cook with Chocolate

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Dana

Celebrate Strawberry Festival at Home with These Recipes

We’re still three weeks and an entire season away from summer officially starting, but that’s not keeping anyone in Florida from celebrating strawberries. The 77th annual Florida Strawberry Festival has kicked off in one of the warmest states in the union. Taking place in Plant City, the festival focus is on juicy red berries, but beyond that the food vendors, crafts, entertainment, and parades mimic festivals throughout the country.

We love that while some fairs, like the State Fair of Texas, are synonymous with the most gut-busting food creations around, Florida’s festival is focused on fruit! They’re obviously preparing for the season early as strawberries are traditionally in season June through August.

Truly, there isn’t anything much sweeter or more delicious than a ripe strawberry. While the taste is remarkable, so are the health benefits. You can practically eat as many as you want. One whole cup of strawberries has about 45 calories and they’re full of fiber that promotes digestion. Additionally, hidden under that leafy green top are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that make this a cancer-fighting food. You’ll get a big boost of vitamin C and the mineral manganese from strawberries, and the potassium, vitamin K and magnesium promotes strong, healthy bones. (more…)

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Natalie K

3 Ways to Make Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for Valentine’s Day

Other than a box of chocolates, the dessert most synonymous with Valentine’s Day is the strawberry. Finally, a holiday with a love affair with fruit!

Strawberries are an incredibly delicious and healthy fruit. They are an exceptional source of antioxidants. While they are a generous source of vitamin C, that really only applies to the freshest of strawberries. After two days they start losing this vitamin’s potency. The bright red berry helps to regulate blood sugar and fight inflammation. One serving of strawberries is about one cup, or eight large ones. By themselves, on top of yogurt, tossed in a smoothie, or lovingly dipped in chocolate, there are innumerable ways to get at least one serving of this sweet fruit on to your plate every day.

For one special day in particular, treat yourself and your loves to dark chocolate covered strawberries. They’re a sinfully indulgent dessert that is completely guilt free.

The most anticipated day for all guests when I stayed at the Biggest Loser Resort was the day chocolate covered strawberries were served for dessert. Two very large, ripe berries were generously rolled in a dark chocolate and delivered to us with just the faintest sign of condensation (we were in the Utah desert, after all!). There, this dessert added only 91 calories to our 1200 calorie day. And we’d most certainly earned it! (more…)

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Natalie K

Vanilla Yogurt Parfait with Blueberries and Strawberries

Even in the winter, when you wake up craving a warm meal, a yogurt parfait can be a surprisingly satisfying choice. Yogurt is full of calcium and protein and when you need a quick breakfast before work or school, it’s easy to make a parfait that tastes gourmet with whole grains and fresh fruit.

If you like to get your kids involved in the kitchen, you can make a fun event out of prepping your parfaits – set out bowls of granola, fresh and dried fruit and other favorite toppings and let them compile their own tasty morning treats.

My favorite combination is vanilla yogurt, fresh blueberries and strawberries but off-season, frozen fruits will work in a pinch.

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Posted on December 6, 2023 by Maris

Eating Healthy on a Dime: Homemade Yogurt

Making your own yogurt – sounds difficult, right? What is yogurt anyway? Well, that’s beside the point. Today I wanted to show you that homemade yogurt is not as difficult as it sounds!

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Posted on October 31, 2023 by Shay

Science Sides with Organics

The argument to eat organic foods just got stronger. A study recently conducted by Washington State University found that organic strawberries are more flavorful and nutritious than conventional strawberries. The most comprehensive and detailed study of its kind, the researchers analyzed berries from 13 conventional farms and 13 organic farms in California, the state that produces 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries. “There is no paper in the literature that comprehensively and quantitatively compares so many indices of both food and soil quality at multiple sampling times on so many commercial farms,” said John Reganold, professor of soil science and lead author of the paper.

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Posted on September 7, 2023 by Health Buzz

Sweeten Up Your Day With the Health Benefits of Berries

bowl of raspberriesJuly is national berry month. This is the time to enjoy nature’s candy! They’re super-sweet this time of year. If you need a reason to love berries, I’ll give you three: berries are are portable, palate pleasing and packed with nutrition. What’s not to love? Even better, berries antioxidant power can help prevent disease.

Antioxidants protect our cells from oxidative damage and inflammation, and they have been linked to heart and brain health, supporting a healthy immune system and protection against certain cancers.

It’s easy to add in berries to healthy foods you already enjoy. Here’s a few ideas for bumping up your berry intake this month. (more…)

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Rebecca