Healthy Recipes: How to Eat Berries for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Here, healthy recipes that work berries into breakfast, dinner and everything in between.

I could barely believe it this morning when I rolled over, grabbed my iPhone, and saw July 28th staring me in the face. Serious question, guys: Is it just me or does it feel like this summer is going by way too fast? Ugh. With that being said, I’m determined not to let the summer’s-almost-over blues get me down quite yet. You see, I foresee August being a pretty great month for a number of reasons. One: the Olympics, duh. Two: It’s my birthday month. And three: It’s the tail-end of berry season!

For most berries, the season goes through the beginning of August (praise the fruit gods). But the only downside to stocking up on berries from your local farmers’ market is that they can go bad fast and if you’re not really a fan of freezing your fruit, then you’ll probably be trying to use ‘em up while they’re fresh.

That’s where these recipes come in: We did some digging and rounded up a bunch of creative, healthy recipes you can whip up to work berries into any meal of the day. And yes, that does include dinner (I’m salivating just thinking about the blackberry basil pizza). Our point: Berries aren’t just for breakfast! Consider this your guide to squeezing the most out of the last bit of berry season. And good news: Many of these recipes do just fine with frozen berries if you want to keep berry season going (in your world, at least) all year long. 

Berry-Packed Breakfast Recipes

Blueberry Coconut Overnight Oats
via Eat Good 4 Life

I am and always will be an oatmeal lover. And honestly, this blueberry coconut oatmeal — that you can make ahead the night before you eat it! — is pretty much what got me out of bed this morning.

Dark Cherry Smoothie Bowl
via Downshiftology

If you’re still finding cherries at the grocery store, take note: this cherry smoothie bowl is topped with all sorts of goodies. Think: almonds, cacao nibs, and coconut shavings. Mmmm.

Lemon-Blackberry Breakfast Cookies
via Iowa Girl Eats

Who said you can’t eat cookies for breakfast? These gluten, egg, and dairy-free (raise your hand if you didn’t think this was possible) breakfast cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you full ’til lunch comes around.

Berries and Yogurt Breakfast Tarte with Granola Crust
via Recipe Runner

Unleash your artistic abilities and create a berry masterpiece! Okay, so in all seriousness, this tarte — topped with a medley of berries — is almost to pretty to eat. Almost

Berry-Packed Snack Recipes

Raspberry Zinger Energy Balls
via the Wholesome Dish

These super simple energy-packed balls of raspberry-coconutty deliciousness will fuel you through the toughest, most energy-zapping of workdays (sniff sniff).

Fresh Cherry Salsa
via Well Plated

Give your boring tomato salsa a rest and snack on some fresh cherry salsa.

Blueberry, Vanilla, Cashew Trail Mix
via My Whole Food Life

Nice and crispy, and packed with more nutrient-dense ingredients than any old granola you buy at the store, this blueberry, vanilla, cashew trail mix makes for a delicious on-the-go snack.

Summer Berry Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Glaze
via Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch 

You didn’t think we’d leave out fruit salad, did you? Nah, of course not. Throw all your berries together and mix ’em up with whatever other fruity goodness you can find in your fridge to create this sweet snack that’s the perfect for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.

Berry-Packed Lunch and Dinner Recipes

Blackberry-Basil Pizza
via A Whisk and Two Wands

You won’t won’t feel bad about indulging in this gluten-free-friendly, vegan blackberry basil pizza.

Blueberry, Peach and Honey-Spiced Cashew Summer Salad
via Abbey’s Kitchen

Spicy, tart, and sweet all at the same time, this salad is a burst of summer in your mouth.

Balsamic Roasted Chicken with Cherry Sauce
via Not Enough Cinnamon

Liven up your typical chicken dish with this cherry sauce that’s not too sweet and not too sour. Tip: Save the leftover cherry sauce and use it on your yogurt and granola in the morning!

Northwest Hazelnut Salmon with Mixed-Berry Sauce
via Epicurious 

This dinner packs a healthy punch: protein and healthy fats from the salmon and antioxidants from the berries. Your body will thank you later.

Berry-Packed Healthier Dessert Recipes

Raspberry Ripple Coconut Ice Cream 
via The Minimalist Baker 

Making your own ice cream may seem like a bit of a hassle, but this luscious coconut ice cream swirled with fresh raspberry sauce beats anything you could buy at the store by a long shot.

Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Bites
via Live, Eat, Learn

Little frozen bites of blueberry bliss! What could be better than popping three (or, you know, 30) of these bad boys in your mouth on a 95-degree day, right?

Vegan Blackberry and Key Lime Pie
via Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Loaded with healthy goodies like cashews and avocado, this key lime pie is the perfect dessert to have in your fridge whenever your sweet tooth calls.

Black Forest Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
via Turnip the Oven

Trick your tastebuds into thinking you’re splurging on a thick, chocolate shake by whipping up this decadent black forest smoothie. (We won’t tell.)

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