Whole302010 – SUPERfood SPOTLIGHT
Why we like it
Contains all 9 essential amino acids – which makes goji berries the only fruit to be a complete protein source
More Vitamin C than oranges and more beta-carotene than carrots
Excellent plant based iron source with more than 15x the iron that spinach has!
Known as an antioxidant powerhouse! are especially high in astaxanthin – an antioxidant that helps protect your skin from sun damage.
Powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
5 ways to use it
- Eat whole, dried berries by adding them to smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal or trail mix
- Soak berries for a couple hours in enough water to cover them, separate berries and water and drink the nutritionally infused water!
- Eat cooked in soups or infused in tea (try: green tea bag + lemon wedge + 1 tbsp dried goji berries)
- Add to baked goods such as granola, cookies, or muffins as you would any other dried fruit
- Sprinkle on salads or roasted vegetables
Goji Berry Smoothie
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp soaked goji berries
- ½ orange
- ½ cup strawberries
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 scoop protein powder
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and mix
Calories: 245 Fat: 8 Carbohydrates: 30 Fiber: 8 Protein: 17
If you have already used this superfood before – let us and your fellow challengers know how you add it to your MCC meals. If you have never used it – what has been your favourite way to incorporate Goji Berries into your everyday?
To be honest, I was a little disappointed with the taste of the goji berries. If you add it to things, like a salad however, you don’t notice the taste. I guess the health benefits make it worth eating.
When I was in China, people I worked with gave me these berries (grown locally) to try. THey did warn me that they worked wonders to combat constipation! They would steep the dried berries in tea, then eat them at the end.
I like to put them in warm cereal in the morning – they plump up and are better than when just eaten dried.
Good to know they work that well with constipation! I like eating goji berries when they are hydrated as well, I find them less bitter.
I have had the goji berries in the snack that had the almonds, walnuts, goji berries and cocoa nibs and they have a different taste, but were good mixed with the nuts. I liked that there weren’t too sweet. I will have to try the goji berry smoothie! I didn’t realize how powerful they were until I read the blog!!
I didn’t realize the health benefits of goji berries. Hear about the juice all the time but have not tried it. I like them in the trail mix and have thrown them into salads. I like them because they aren’t too sweet.
I have been putting them in the chia pudding instead of the raisins…a little less sweet but still good.
I like the idea of a shake in the morning so I will be trying this recipe. I also like tea in the evening, instead of snacking, so I will try the tea idea.
After the challenge, when I can go back to the seed cookies which I love, I will be substituting goji berries for raisins also…basically, I will try to sub them in for raisins wherever possible.
Have a good week.
I had tried gojii berries previously, but as mentioned by Roxanne, taste was a little disappointing (maybe I was expecting a powerhouse taste to go with the powerhouse berry!). I do like using them on my salads though, and use them and barberries in place of raisins and cranberries in cookies. I’m a real fan of anything tart and/or sour, so that’s the appeal for me.
Aileen, thanks for the idea about the tea…I will definitely try that!
I haven’t tried goji berries yet but heard it does wonders. One of my friend told me ” it taste awful but it works” . Thanks for providing ideas how to use them.lets share the ideas so to gather we all can succeed.
I haven’t tried them yet but I’m interested in adding them to my salad for a new taste. Thanks for the ideas!
I tried them in the goji berry salad and they were ok. I didn’t realize how healthy they were until I read this blog! Wow! I will definitely start adding them to more meals. Also to my kids meals!
Thanks for the recipe I can’t wait to try it. I love all the ideas. I think we need to keep this blog going even after the challenge! 🙂 Cheers!
for sure! It is a great support system, there are always little tips or ideas that you can pick up!
I have tried Gojo berries for the first time with the challenge and will definitely keep them in my pantry. I really like the trail mix recipe that is included with the snack ideas. It is a great boost and helps to get you through the day.
This challenge was the first time I tried the berries. I have to say I enjoy the flavour they add. I’ve had them in salads and, when I am out of fresh fruit, I have them with my oatmeal in the morning. I will continue to use.
I haven’t tried the berries yet. I will definitely try to find more recipes so the whole family can benefit.
I find Goji berries a little too dry. I enjoy them a lot more when the berries have time to rehydrate some like in a warm oatmeal. I also add them to my homemade salad dressing and let them soak in before pouring the whole on the salad itself. I will try Aileen’s idea in tea.
My neighbor makes a cranberry + goji berries sauce/jam and she loves it with chicken. She said, she got the recipe online.
I like adding a bit of fruit to my sparkling water so will have to try goji berries as well as the salad and trail mix idea listed above. Thanks.
I always have had them dried but today I tried them in tea and it was quite nice.
Goji berries on their own are a bit hard to eat – somewhat bitter and dry. But mixed in with a trail mix – almond slivers, pumpkin seeds, walnuts – I find them enjoyable. I love the seed cookies, I will try them in that recipe (in addition to chocolate chips).