A strawberry smoothie is the breakfast of choice in my household. 

We have a large family so berries are a staple in my house.  Berries are truly a superfood.

Let’s face it; eating healthy comes with a bigger price tag. Having a big family meant that I had a large investment when we became healthy eaters so I wanted to find ways to preserve my investment.  Berries are delicate and prone to mold very quickly.

Here are some tips to preserve your berries for your next strawberry smoothie:

Did you know that local produce has a longer shelf life then produce that has been shipped to your store? Buy local when you can to extend the life of your fruits and veggies.

Berries are amazing for your health. They are detoxifying and a good way to naturally cleanse your body. Adding fresh berries to juices and smoothies is a great way to get the healthy benefits from these miraculous fruits.

Choose strawberries that look ripe and do not have any mold on them. Throw away any smashed or old looking berries. Do not rinse berries until you are ready to use them. Berries will hold water and become mushy and spoil quickly once washed. Leave all stems on the berries. You want the strawberries to remain as natural as possible.

Get a large container with a lid. I prefer glass over plastic, but you can use plastic. Line the bottom of the container with a paper towel. Place the berries in a flat layer on top of the paper towel. Add another paper towel on top of your layer of berries and repeat until your container is full or you run out of berries. Make sure to leave enough room so the lid can seal without smashing your berries. Place your berries in the refrigerator to be ready for your next easy strawberry smoothie.

Do you want a change from your strawberry smoothie?

Did you know that blueberries retain the majority of all the nutrients, even when they are frozen?  You can use the above tips for blueberries or just wash them and pop them in the freezer.  I line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lay the blueberries out in a single layer.  I then put the cookie sheet in the freezer.  Once the berries are frozen, I transfer them to a ziplock.  This prevents the berries from all being frozen together in one large clump.

Here is my Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie recipe:

• A handful of strawberries
• A handful of frozen blueberries
• 6 ounces of apple juice
• 2 big soft dates
• a dash of cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon of organic Olive Oil or coconut oil.
• Blend.

If you use olive oil for your Strawberry Blueberry Smoothie recipe, your smoothie will be rich and creamy.  If you use coconut oil, the oil will have tiny balls of hardened coconut oil which lends a great flavor and texture to your smoothie.

The next time you want a strawberry smoothie or a blueberry smoothie, you now know how to keep your berries fresh!

Check this link for a whole list of strawberry smoothie recipes (some healthy, some not so much).  But if you are really into healthy, then my smoothie and juice creations are super healthy for kids and adults.  Click here for more of my smoothie recipes.

Here’s another recipe for a non strawberry smoothie – it’s a green smoothie that you’ll love.