5 Ways to Enjoy Strawberries This Season

May brings more than flowers to Hampton Roads, and if you’ve spent enough time in the area you know the farmers markets have fresh strawberries from Pungo and Sandbridge, Chesapeake, and Suffolk available. Depending on the annual weather patterns, you can pick your own as early in April at some farms, but May is typically peak strawberry season. It’s a great opportunity to get some exercise while you search for the perfect ripe fruits to add to your basket, and to include something delicious to your menu.

Strawberries: Your Go-To Healthy Snack

Don’t be fooled by size. A strawberry may only grow one to two inches long, but it packs amazing health benefits and flavor. Averaging about four calories each, strawberries may be enjoyed by the dozen; they’ll fill you up when you feel peckish and there’s no guilty aftertaste. Strawberries are a good source of dietary fiber and Vitamin C, plus iodine for improvement of brain function and the nervous system. While not as high on the ORAC scale, a measure of antioxidant activity, as other “superfoods,” strawberries are an easily available source of antioxidants which help fight arthritis and boost immunity.

When you think of strawberries, maybe you consider eating them plain and whole or even dipped in whipped cream or chocolate. You can also add variety to any meal or snack by including strawberries.

5 Ways to Enjoy Strawberries

1) As the weather warms up, you can cool off with a healthy strawberry smoothie. The Internet has no shortage of recipes, but if you want something quick you only need to blend one cup of fresh berries, half a banana (great for added potassium), half a cup of low-fat or almond milk, and ice. Enjoy one for breakfast or after a good workout.

2) Strawberries pair well with certain greens, too, and can improve your lunch or dinner salad. Combine berries with fresh spinach, balsamic vinegar (another good source of antioxidants), and top with walnuts and crumbled feta.

3) A strawberry’s tart-sweet flavor is known to tempt many from higher-calorie desserts. Some simply like a bowl of strawberry slices with light dairy topping, or if you’re jonesing to try out the new pop molds you can blend strawberries with any fruit juice, coconut or almond milk, or Greek yogurt and freeze.

4) Want to stay away from the chips and cookies? Dried strawberries are a great alternative when you have to quell the munchies. You don’t have to invest in an expensive dehydrator to make them, either. After you’ve washed, de-stemmed, and halved your berries, place them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for two hours. Flip the berries over, then bake another two hours. Keep in a sealed container and enjoy when the craving hits.

5) Strawberries add beautiful color and flavor to brunch. Dice up a few to mix into pancake and waffle batter, slice them up to top your cereal or oatmeal, or include them in your mixed fruit plate.

If you enjoy strawberry picking in Hampton Roads, you don’t need to worry about leftovers. With so many ways to incorporate strawberries into your menu, it’s more a question of which recipe to make first.