Fresh Ontario Strawberries: Health Benefits & Recipes!

Ontario strawberries have arrived and boy are they delicious! Strawberries are an incredibly versatile fruit that are just as useful in savoury recipes as they are in the sweet dessert-type dishes. Not only that but they are packed with vitamins and minerals. Fresh Ontario strawberries truly are a delicious power house!

Health Benefits of Strawberries

In the summer months we need to stay extra hydrated and strawberries are 92% water making them a refreshing summer treat.

Strawberries are loaded with vitamins and minerals that contribute to overall health. These include potassium, manganese, magnesium, dietary fiber, and folate, a brain-building vitamin that is essential to keep your nervous system functioning properly. They are also exceptionally high in vitamin C!

Try These Delicious Recipes with Ontario Strawberries

I really love strawberries in their raw form but I also love adding them to different dishes. Here are a few of my favourite ways to enjoy them:

• In salads. Strawberries and goat cheese are a match made in heaven. Blue cheese is also a nice compliment
• Asparagus with chopped strawberries and toasted hazelnuts
• Yogurt and chia pudding toppers
• With pancakes and French toast

Strawberry Mini Cheesecakes

Cheesecake is one of my go-to desserts. Actually, the fat and protein from the cream cheese, and Greek yogurt in this recipe, make it less likely to spike your blood sugar when compared to other desserts. Yay for cheesecake!

These mini strawberry cheesecakes are great for a party or just to keep on hand when you’re feeling something sweet. Enjoy!

What You’ll Need:

Crust:

• 1 cup oat flour (1¼ cup rolled oats ground makes 1 cup oat flour)
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• ¼ cup sugar (raw cane sugar or coconut sugar are great options)

Filling:

• 16 oz. cream cheese
• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 3/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups fresh sliced Ontario strawberries

What To Do:

1. Pre heat the oven to 350F
2. Mix the oat flour, butter, sugar and cinnamon together and divide evenly into 12 lined muffin tins. With the bottom of a greased glass, press the mixture down firmly to line the bottom of the muffin tin liners. Bake crust for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
3. Mix the cream cheese, vanilla and sugar together with a hand mixer and add the eggs one at a time. Continue blending on medium speed until smooth. Pour mixture evenly into the muffin tins.
4. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until almost firm in the center.
5. Remove from oven and let cool. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt and fresh sliced strawberries.

What are some of your favourite strawberry recipes?

Our Power Up Mission is simply to educate our customers on the importance of using quality food as fuel.  For all your Power Up news make sure you check out Vince’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Make sure you follow @VincesMarket and #powerupwithvinces, sign up for our Power Up Newsletter and keep an eye out for nutrition tips and tricks from me, our in-house nutrition expert!

To our health & well-being,

Danielle