Blackberry Bowl

I love experimenting with oatmeal. It's so easy to dress up and alter in small, fun ways. This week was blackberry oatmeal week. Each day I pureed up 0 % greek yogurt with 1/2 a cup or so of frozen blackberries and then threw in some oats, peanut powder and chia seeds. Why blackberries? Well, first off...the colour....need I say more? :)

But of course, blackberries offer some great health benefits that make them a good candidate for pretty much everyone!

Blackberries are actually an aggregate fruit (basically a group of seeds combined - similar to a raspberry), rather than a true berry. Each little seed is referred to as a "drupelet".

Blackberries contain potassium, magnesium, and even some calcium, while also providing a source of Vitamins A, C, E and B. The purple colour comes from anthocyanins, which are recognized as antioxidants (antioxidants help protect cells from free radicals, which may be implicated in various diseases including both heart disease and cancer). At least two studies published have shown potential benefits for blackberries to help improve brain function, and other studies have shown them to have potential for anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Although cooking the berries may diminish some of the berries antioxidant powers, eating them cooked, pureed, fresh or frozen, all seem to offer positive benefits. I don't live in a part of the world where these berries grow naturally, but they are almost always available in the frozen section for a "not-ridiculous" amount of money :) (Just don't ask about the raspberries....)

How do you love to eat blackberries?

How do