10 Creative Uses for Berries

It's that season again. Not only are berries plentiful and fresh, they'll also be at their lowest prices of the year. Win win, right? Learning how to incorporate healthy foods into everyday life is vital, and these 10 creative ways to use berries will help you do just that.

Berry Smoothie Bowl

Start with a base of frozen, sliced bananas. Blend in a food processor and then add the berries of your choosing. Blend until smooth. The result is an unbelievably addictive smoothie bowl. Top with whole fruit and coconut chips for added flavor and texture.

Triple Berry Sauce

Homemade berry sauce is perfect on pancakes, over ice cream or even given as a gift. All you need is one bag of frozen berries and 1/2 cup of sugar. Let the frozen berries thaw out for about 10 minutes. Then, add the berries and sugar into a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continually, dissolving the sugar. Let the mixture simmer about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. If you'd like the mixture to be thicker, simply add a little bit of cornstarch.

Remove from the heat and you're good to go!

Berry Ice Cubes

Want to add a little pizazz to your drink? Make your own berry ice cubes! This one is perfect for the kids and a great way to infuse your water. Simply fill an ice cube tray with berries and add water. Pro tip: If you'd like clear ice cubes, use distilled water.

Pineapple Berry Treat

Core a pineapple by using a sharp knife or a pineapple corer. Then, pour juice into a separate cup. Fill the pineapple with berries. Finally, pour the pineapple juice over the berries for a great pineapple taste. This is perfect for pool parties and backyard fun!

Frozen Berries All Year Long

Since the prices are so great during the spring and summer season, it's best to stock up for the entire year. To freeze berries, simply wash and lay flat on a baking sheet covered in wax paper. Freeze the berries overnight. Then, pour the frozen berries into a Ziplock freezer bag and store. Sweet savings all year long!

Frozen Yogurt Sticks

For a perfect summer treat, place berries on skewers (your children could help with this too), cover the berries with vanilla yogurt and freeze. Healthy and delicious frozen treats! You can add some healthy toppings like coconut chips or cacao nibs, too!

The Ultimate Berry Smoothie

Everyone loves a berry smoothie! Using 2 frozen bananas as a base, add in a cup full of berries and mix on high in a blender. For extra goodness, add in a tablespoon of almond butter, or even kale or spinach. If you need to add liquid, try adding coconut milk. Instant goodness!

Berry Oatmeal

Wake up to a hearty breakfast with berry oatmeal. First, place frozen berries at the bottom of a bowl and cover with instant oatmeal, add water according to directions and heat. Mix well; the juice from the berries will flavor the whole bowl!

A Fresh Berry Sangria

Perfect for a summer party! Start with two cups of fresh berries in a pitcher, pour over the berries one bottle of white wine or Moscato. Moscato is a fresh, sweet white wine perfect for a sangria. To add a little zing, squeeze in the juice of a lime. Chill and serve.

A Fresh Berry Salad

Start with about two cups of fresh berries, whatever you enjoy. In a separate bowl, mix together two tablespoons of honey with the juice of one lime. Pour over your berry salad and serve. Delicious!

And, just like that, you can enjoy your fresh picked berries all summer long!