Superfood: Strawberries

Sweet, juicy, and loaded with vitamin C, strawberries are nature's healthiest dessert. These low-calorie berries are a rich source of anthocyanins which gives them their bright red color and antioxidant capabilities. Load up on strawberries to help protect against heart disease, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.

Video: Preparing Strawberries

Just four ingredients are needed for this indulgently sweet dessert. The combination of strawberries and Meyer lemon juice give this immune system-friendly dessert a double dose of vitamin C.

Recipe: Strawberries in Meyer-Lemon Syrup

Only six ingredients are needed to make this crowd-pleasing, kid-friendly dessert. Bananas and strawberries lend a healthy dose of fiber and vitamin C. To decrease the calories even more, choose sugar-free instant pudding mix.

Recipe: Strawberry-Banana Pudding

Cold and refreshing, this fruit-infused strawberry drink is antioxidant-packed. Blending strawberries, fresh lime juice, sugar, and water result in a sweet and tart non-alcoholic beverage. Throw in some ice cubes and give the drink a whirl in the blender for a slushy texture.

Recipe: Strawberry Aqua Fresca

Boost your beauty on the inside and out by digging in to this superfood-packed salad. Strawberries, spinach, asparagus, and walnuts are all beauty foods that help to nourish your skin and hair as well as provide heart-healthy benefits.

Recipe: Spinach, Strawberry, and Asparagus Salad

With less than 150 calories and just 2.8 grams of fat, this impressive warm weather dessert offers a wealth of nutrients from the strawberries, yogurt, milk, and eggs. Double the lavender simple syrup and keep half on hand to top raspberries, angel food cake, or ice cream.

Recipe: Lavender-Scented Strawberries with Honey Cream

Fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt give this smoothie a double boost of calcium while the banana and strawberries provide heart-healthy potassium to help lower the risk for heart attack and stroke.

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Recipe: Yogurt-Fruit Smoothie

This powerhouse salad uses only four ingredients and is the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. Because it each ingredient contributes antioxidants and vitamin C, reach for it next time you need to fight a cold or the flu.

Recipe: Strawberry-Marmalade Salad

Topping a salad with strawberries is a smart strategy for achieving optimal health because its fiber helps the body absorb nutrients. In addition to the many vitamins and minerals from strawberries, this salad has vitamin E and selenium from the pistachios, calcium from the feta cheese, and vitamins K and A from romaine lettuce.

Recipe: Herbed Romaine Salad with Strawberries

Round out your meal with a serving of orange liqueur-soaked berries topped with whipped cream. One cup of strawberries (the serving size for this dessert) contains a full day's supply of vitamin C.

Recipe: Strawberries Romanoff