Strawberry Yogurt Dip

**This post was developed and written by Nancy Gammack, RD when was a dietetic intern and volunteer for Ignite Nutrition.

Unfortunately living in Calgary means that many months of the year fresh fruits and vegetables are not in season and therefore the price to purchase these foods can be quite expensive! From an economical standpoint it can often be better to buy frozen fruits or vegetables in the off season.

Did you know that from a nutritional standpoint frozen is a great option too?

Upon harvesting, produce is quickly frozen at its peak freshness and this can help preserve its taste and nutritional components until it gets to your kitchen, making it just as healthy as fresh!¹

However, I feel that fresh produce has a certain texture and satisfaction that frozen foods just can’t suffice! Therefore, when the summer months roll around, I know I want to take advantage of the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables available! Being aware of what is in season can make purchasing fresh produce more economical as they are often cheaper when they are in season! Spruce Eats has a great link showing what foods are in season in Alberta, which can help you when trying to find the best deals on fresh produce.

Strawberries are one of the fruits on this list that are in season in the summer months! I feel that frozen strawberries, although delicious, are just NOT the same as fresh! Fresh strawberries maintain their firmness while still being juicy and sweet and are an amazing addition to a large variety of dishes and desserts. Plus, they are a great low-FODMAP fruit!

However, what I don’t like about fresh strawberries is how quickly their freshness deteriorates! Unless I buy them specifically for a recipe, I often find that I can’t finish a carton of strawberries before their texture goes off. Therefore, I wanted to create a dip that can help make sure the older strawberries don’t go to waste! Of course you can make this recipe with fresh strawberries, but it also works great to finish up those older strawberries that may not taste as delicious on their own anymore.

I can’t reassure you enough that this dip is super simple and takes very little time, and that is what I love about it! All you need to do is simply throw it all in a blender or food processor and call it done! I use Greek yogurt in this recipe because it adds a little extra protein to the dip, but if you need a low-FODMAP alternative you can easily use a lactose free yogurt as well. This recipe is great as a dip for a summer potluck when served with your favourite low-FODMAP fruit like pineapple, or cantaloupe or even for breakfast with our Homemade Gut Friendly Granola.