Wild foods are all the rage now.  Can you imagine hunting and gathering for your daily nourishment?  For a city girl like me, that’s a stretch.  It turns out that wild plants and animals, such as blueberries, salmon and seaweed that have to withstand Mother Nature’s elements are not only perceived as healthier (see new report “Power of Wild“), but they do actually offer more beneficial nutrients.
Wild blueberries are one of those foods.  I was recently a guest on a #sponsored trip to Maine (courtesy of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America).   I was surprised to learn that wild blueberries are different than cultivated blueberries, the ones you find fresh at the grocery store.  Wild blueberries are found frozen in most of the country.   They have a brief harvest time from early August – September; they are only grown on land called ‘barrens’ in Maine and Canada.

Here I am raking the wild blueberries on a barren in Maine.  It’s tough work!

Wild blueberries top the charts over regular, cultivated blueberries in the following areas:

• Taste – intense tart and sweet flavor.
• Antioxidants – twice the anthocyanins and phyto (plant) chemicals of other blueberries.
• Fiber-Filled  – excellent source of fiber.

I buy Wyman’s frozen wild blueberries at my local Costco.  It was pretty cool to tour Wyman’s facility and see how tons of fresh wild blueberries are flash frozen in minutes.  Freezing them right after harvest locks in their nutritional value.  That’s music to my ears.
It’s always a good day for a smoothie.  So today, I am going to add a little kick with a Moroccan spice blend called CHarissa, which is a blend of cumin seeds, Spanish paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, and cayenne pepper.  I have fallen in love it as you can add it to savory, as well as sweet and fruity meals and snacks.

I am always on the look out for new, tasty and nutritious products to include in my recipes and blog posts.  By the way, this is a personal preference <grin>, I am not be paid to endorse CHarissa . . . 

Make one smoothie

Ingredients

1 cup wild blueberries, frozen*

1/3 cup walnuts

1/2 medium apple, any variety you like

1/2 teaspoon CHarissa*

1/4 cup water

Directions

Place all ingredients into your blender of choice.  Blend on medium to high until smoothly mixed together.  Pour into a glass and sip to your heart’s content.

*I use Wyman’s Frozen Fresh Wild Blueberries.

*To find CHarissa, take a peek here.

Let me know if you like it.  What do you put in your smoothies?  I’d love to know!

Enjoy eating simply,

-Vicki