Healthy Gluten-free Blueberry Snacks

Nutritious Wheat-free Treats to Provide the Benefits of Berries

Jul 23, 2008

Parents of children with celiac disease can give their kids these healthy gluten-free blueberry snacks to provide them with the health benefits of eating berries.

Blueberries need to be eaten fresh or frozen in order to provide all of the nutrients for which they are so well-known. When they are cooked or processed the anthocyanins - very important antioxidant flavanoids - are destroyed.

The following gluten-free snacks are simple and easy to make with a child. Of course, the child will need help with any sharp utensils that are used for cutting and chopping. All of the treats use fresh or frozen blueberries, or blueberry juice.

Blueberry Celery Canoes

Wash, dry and trim 4 celery stalks. Spread gluten-free yogurt or cream cheese down the hollow length of the celery stalk. Place fresh blueberries in a row along the stalk, on top of the spread.

Blueberry Apple Sauce

Take a snack-sized apple sauce, mix in some fresh or frozen blueberries and a pinch of cinnamon. This can be eaten as is or used as a dip with gluten-free crackers or pretzels.

Blueberry Rice Cakes

Spread gluten-free yogurt or cream cheese on a gluten-free rice cake. Add fresh or frozen blueberries as a topping. This is great with a glass of skim milk or gluten-free rice milk.

Blueberry Parfait

In a parfait glass make layers of gluten-free yogurt, gluten-free cereal, and fresh or frozen blueberries, ending with the berries on top. Other fruit or raisins can also be added as an additional layer.

Blueberry Fruit Cup

Open a small snack-sized can of mixed fruit, preferably without added sugar. Put it in a dessert dish and add some fresh blueberries. Put a dollop of gluten-free yogurt on top. The store-bought fruit cup can be replaced with a home-made choice.

Blueberry Smoothie

Pour into one glass for an older child, or into two smaller glasses for younger children. Children enjoy the purplish blue color of the smoothie.

Blueberry Dip

Mix fresh or frozen blueberries with a snack-sized gluten-free yogurt. This can be used as a dip for gluten-free crackers or pretzels. It is also very nice with veggie sticks such as carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Blueberry Bagel

Spread peanut butter, gluten-free yogurt, or gluten-free cream cheese on a gluten-free bagel. Top the spread with fresh or frozen blueberries. Fresh blueberries can be used to create a face or spell words on the bagel.

Blueberry Pops

Mix ½ cup blueberry juice with 1 cup of apple sauce. Fill popsicle molds with the mixture. Other juices can also be used with the blueberry juice or in place of it. These are great treats for hot days.

Besides being delicious, these treats all provide children who have gluten allergy with the wonderful health benefits of blueberries.

The copyright of the article Healthy Gluten-free Blueberry Snacks in Food Allergies is owned by Stella Walsh. Permission to republish Healthy Gluten-free Blueberry Snacks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.