Sides: Cinnamon Cream and Berries

I found the most gorgeous, most plumpest blueberries just the other day and I was happy to send off some fresh fruit in the lunch boxes today after resorting to fruit strips for a day or two.

What kicks this simple (but delicious) side up a notch is adding cinnamon. If you have a cinnamon grinder, all the better. Cinnamon is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium. There have been a lot of studies that have shown that cinnamon can help relieve pain, boost cognitive function and memory, is a natural food preservative, has an anti-clotting effect on the blood, reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cells, and much more.

Don't you love it when someone tastes great and has amazing health benefits?

Cinnamon Cream and Berries

(makes 1- easily doubled)

• 1-2 fresh strawberries
• 5-10 blueberries
• 1 spoonful of vanilla yogurt (I used Activia)
• cinnamon, preferably fresh ground

Dice strawberries in bite sized pieces and add to a 4 oz. container. Add blueberries and top with a spoonful of yogurt. Sprinkle cinnamon to taste, cover and pack.

Sides: Blueberries on a Lemon Cloud

Lemons and blueberries go together like strawberries and chocolate.

The combination is just oh so right. 

Blueberries on a Lemon Cloud

• 1/2 package of 3.4 oz lemon instant pudding
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 container whipped topping
• blueberries

Wisk pudding and milk until well incorporated. Refrigerate for 1/2 hour. Fold in whipped topping. Place a cloud of the lemon mixture in a small container and top with blueberries.

Leftovers would be great as a filling in crepes with blueberries or kiwi.