Learn tips and tricks to get more health benefits from your favorite meals by incorporating blended foods.Want to get more health benefits from your favorite meals? Try incorporating blended foods. A food blend is essentially a puree. It’s thick like hummus, not like a soup. And, it's very different from the products of juicing. Food blends are a great way to enjoy comfort foods with greater health benefit. Try blending one food color a week and incorporate it into your cooking. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. Consider creating a carrot-sweet potato blend. You can add cinnamon and maple syrup for a sweet treat. You can also leave out the flavorings and mix it into pasta sauce, mac-n-cheese, soups or smoothies. A mini food processor is best for blending foods instead of a traditional blender, because blenders require you to add liquid. If you're using a blender, be sure to add as little water as possible. Health Reboot Feeling sluggish or in a rut? Give your body a mini vacation. Your body could use a little help detoxing. Having blended foods for just a day or a full week will help you reset. The human body needs to be filled with phytonutrients. Sticking to blends will help your gut microbiome. A reboot decreases inflammation and aids good gut bacteria. Sneaky Ice Cream Blend Blend frozen bananas, avocado, baby spinach, dark chocolate and honey or maple syrup in a blender or food processor. Freeze in a container and enjoy. Minute & 52 Second Blend Rinse canned, whole white beans (cannelini, butter, white kidney) with water. Pour in your blender or food processor. Add enough water for it to blend. Use it as a substitute for butter in cookies, salad dressing in tuna salad, and cream substitute in soup. Add olive oil and rosemary and serve with crackers. Listen in as blended foods expert, Missy Chase Lapine, joins Dr. Pam Peeke to share the ease of incorporating food blends in your meals. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins