Most people are surprised to learn that strawberries aren’t actually berries at all—botanically speaking, that is. This member of the rose family is the enlarged receptacle of a flower. Regardless, of its origins, the strawberry is a delicious and healthy fruit that is packed with vitamins and minerals. In fact, strawberries are actually higher in vitamin C—and lower in calories—than oranges. They also contain folate, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber, and magnesium—making strawberry recipes the ultimate (and healthy) treat.
In addition to being nutritious, strawberries are also an incredibly versatile fruit. They can be sliced, baked, pureed or even just eaten whole. Their sweet flavor makes them ideal for healthy snacks and desserts that will satisfy a sweet tooth without derailing one’s healthy lifestyle.
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Here, we’ve rounded up 12 delectable strawberry recipes that are as healthy as they are delicious:
1. Strawberry Icebox Cake with Lemon >
To kick off our strawberry recipes, you can have your cake and eat it, too! If you’re looking for a delicious strawberry dessert that’s also simple to make, then this just may become your go-to recipe. This icebox cake is made using only six simple ingredients. It has the flavors of vanilla, lemon, and of course, strawberry, all wrapped into one delicious cake. For all that flavor, it’s surprising that a serving is only 152 calories. It counts as one SmartCarb and one Extra on your Nutrisystem meal plan.
2. Sweet Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding >
If you love strawberry cheesecake but don’t want to be bogged down by lots of calories and sugar, then you’re in luck. We’ve found a way to pack in the same flavors into a much healthier alternative—pudding! Besides eating it with a spoon instead of a fork, you’ll hardly notice a difference—except that it’ll only set you back 98 calories. The pudding features fat-free cottage cheese, low-fat cream cheese, sliced fresh strawberries, vanilla extract and stevia. Puree them together, and you’re done! It’s that simple. This sweet pudding counts as one PowerFuel and one Extra on your Nutrisystem plan.
3. Strawberry Mint Smoothie >
If you’re a fan of smoothies, this is one you’ve got to try. The combination of strawberry with some cool mint flavor is out of this world. And all it takes to make is combining strawberries with a handful of mint leaves, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, skim milk and some stevia. Blend it all together and sip away. At only 172 calories and packed with so many healthy ingredients, this is a smoothie you can feel good about. It counts as one SmartCarb and one PowerFuel on your Nutrisystem plan.
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Read More4. Strawberry Chia Jam >
Jam is a great way to add some flavor—and nutrition—to your morning whole wheat toast or afternoon snack. And since this strawberry chia jam only has 29 calories per serving, it’s not adding a ton of unnecessary calories. Because this recipe uses chia seeds, you can also feel good about the fact that you’re packing a good source of omega-3s into your day. You might be surprised to know that, gram for gram, chia seeds contain more omega-3s than salmon. On the Nutrisystem plan, a serving of this jam counts as one Extra.
5. Strawberry Fields Overnight Oatmeal >
Making your own oatmeal is a lot easier than you may have thought. In this version, skim milk, Greek yogurt, strawberry jam and freshly chopped strawberries are combined with warm, fiber-filled oats. While oatmeal is definitely known for its fiber factor, oats also pack in a variety of vitamins and minerals as well as more protein and healthy, unsaturated fats than most other grains. A bowl of this hearty oatmeal will leave you feeling full on only 206 calories. It counts as one-and-a-half SmartCarbs, one PowerFuel and one Extra.
6. Kiwi Strawberry Slushie >
A delicious and healthy slushie might just sound too good to be true. But this recipe will prove it’s not. Ice, strawberries, kiwifruit, lemon juice, and water are blended together for a perfectly scrumptious frozen treat. You’ll not only get all the vitamins out of the strawberries, but the kiwi, too. Kiwi’s green flesh is full of nutrients like vitamin C, K, E, and folate and potassium. One of these slushies is just 73 calories and one SmartCarb—making this one of our ultimate strawberry recipes!
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Read More7. Strawberry Pineapple Popsicles >
Treat yourself to one of these healthy popsicles for a fun way to fit more fruit into your day. Easy-to-make, these popsicles combine fresh or frozen strawberries and pineapple with some water. Freeze in a popsicle tray and—voila! You’ve got some gourmet-looking homemade popsicles that are packed with vitamins and minerals. Pineapple is known for having high amounts of vitamin C and manganese. One popsicle is just 32 calories and counts as half of a SmartCarb.
8. Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad >
Strawberry recipes don’t always have to be a dessert. Combining strawberries with iron-rich spinach punches up the nutrition factor of this yummy salad. It’s light-but-filling and makes a great flex lunch. On the Nutrisystem plan, it counts as one SmartCarb, one PowerFuel, two Vegetables and one Extra. If you’d rather have it for dinner, just add a PowerFuel, such as some chopped nuts or chicken, and you’ve got a balanced meal.
9. Healthy Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Daiquiri >
If you’d like to enjoy a tasty strawberry daiquiri without the empty calories from the alcohol, then we’ve got you covered. This non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri recipe is absolutely packed with strawberries—both fresh and frozen—as well as some zesty lime juice. You’ll feel as though you’re indulging but will only be sipping a mere 55 calories per drink. A serving also counts as one SmartCarb on the Nutrisystem plan.
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Read More10. Strawberry Chocolate Protein Popcorn >
The unlikely flavor combination of strawberries, chocolate, and popcorn just works in this tasty popcorn treat. Whether you’re enjoying a nighttime movie or you just need an afternoon snack, this sweet popcorn will satisfy your cravings and only has 151 calories per serving. After popping your kernels, the popcorn is misted with coconut oil cooking spray, sprinkled with chocolate protein powder and mixed with freeze dried strawberries. It counts as one SmartCarb and one PowerFuel.
11. Strawberry Delight Fro-Yo >
If you are looking for a delicious treat that won’t do any diet damage, this healthy Fro-Yo is a great choice. It features four cups of frozen strawberries blended together with honey, plain non-fat yogurt and fresh lemon juice. It’s smooth and creamy to satisfy your craving for something indulgent—even though it’s low in calories. On the Nutrisystem plan, it’s one SmartCarb and one Limited Extra.
12. Strawberry Kiwi Fruit Leather >
This homemade fruit leather is one of our favorite strawberry recipes. It’s such a sweet treat that it’s almost shocking to realize it uses not only fresh kiwi and strawberries, but also a cup of spinach! You’ll need a food dehydrator for this recipe—which is a great tool for making other sweet-but-healthy snacks such as dried fruit. Packed with vitamins, this healthy fruit leather treat is only 65 calories per serving. It counts as one SmartCarb and one Extra on the Nutrisystem plan.
The post 12 Strawberry Recipes Sweet Enough to Eat appeared first on The Leaf.
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