Healthy Cold Treats

As temperatures rise in summer, there’s nothing quite like a cold treat to keep spirits up and beat the heat. However, ice cream and more traditional summertime treats , considering all the fat, sugar, additives and preservatives that they are loaded with, are not necessarily the best choice for your family. So what do you serve the little ones instead? Here are ten healthy cold treat alternatives that are guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike.

Watermelon Cubes

Ingredients</p>

1. 1½ pound seedless watermelon
2. ¼ cup mint leaves
3. 1 tablespoon lime juice
4. 3 tablespoons sugar
5. A pinch of salt

Instructions

Three simple ingredients are all you need to whip up this frozen treat. Cut the watermelon from the rind, dice it and blend it along with the mint leaves, lime juice, salt and sugar. Pour the juice into an ice tray and freeze with a lollipop stick inserted into each cube.

Fruity slush

Ingredients

1. Homemade or 100% fresh fruit juice

Instructions

Pour the fruit juice into an ice tray and freeze. Once ice cubes are formed, put them in a blender and pulse until you have a delicious fruity slush.

Strawberry Popsicles

Ingredients

1. 2 pounds strawberries
2. 2 tablespoons sugar
3. 2 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions

Wash, hull and slice the strawberries. Coat them in sugar and leave for about 30 minutes. Once you see the strawberries have begun secreting juice, blend them along with the lime juice until you have a puree. Pour the puree into popsicle molds and freeze overnight.

Banana-Orange Smoothie

Ingredients

1. 2 frozen bananas
2. 1 ½ cups non-fat yogurt
3. 1 cup orange juice

Instructions

Put the bananas, yogurt and orange juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Spicy Mango Sorbet

Ingredients

1. 1 ½ cups frozen mango
2. 1 fresh banana
3. 1/3 cup lime juice
4. ½ cup maple syrup
5. A dash of cayenne powder

Instructions

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a freezer-safe container and chill until firm. Scoop out and enjoy!

Fresh Fruit Popsicles

Ingredients

1. 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
2. 2 pounds strawberries, hulled and sliced
3. 1 mango, peeled and sliced
4. 2 pounds blueberries
5. Coconut water

Instructions

Divide the sliced fruits evenly among Popsicle molds. Pour coconut water into the molds until it covers the fruits. Freeze overnight.

Peach Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients

1. 4 cups frozen sliced peaches
2. 3 tablespoons honey
3. ½ cup non-fat yogurt
4. 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

Place the frozen peaches, honey, yogurt and lime juice in a fruit processor and blend until creamy. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the freezer.

Frozen Banana Treats

Ingredients

1. Bananas
2. Flavored yogurt
3. Grape-Nuts

Instructions

Slice the banana, dip the slices into the yogurt and coat them with Grape-Nuts. Freeze for an hour. Thaw slightly and enjoy.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Ice Cream

Ingredients

1. 8 oz cream cheese, softened
2. 1 cup milk
3. ¾ cup sugar
4. 1/8 teaspoon salt
5. ½ cup heavy cream
6. 1 cup cleaned and hulled strawberries

Instructions

Blend the cream cheese, milk, sugar and salt until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and whip in the cream. Store in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Pour into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make ice cream. Chop the strawberries and add to the ice cream maker before it is done.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Chocolate Sandwich Base

Ingredients

1. ½ cup melted butter
2. ½ cup maple syrup
3. 2 eggs
4. 1 tsp vanilla extract
5. ½ cup whole wheat flour
6. ¼ cup cocoa powder

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease two 8x8” pans. Place parchment paper in each pan. Combine the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together the dry ingredients separately. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and combine well. Transfer the mixture to the parchment paper and spread it evenly. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, until the sandwich base is set. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the ice cream sandwich

Use the Strawberry Cream Cheese Ice Cream from the recipe above, or any other homemade ice cream. Soften the ice cream slightly so that it can be spread. Place one of the sandwich bases on a piece of plastic wrap and spread a thick layer of ice cream over it. Cover with the other sandwich base. Wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and cut the sandwich in half. Cut each half into 6 equal pieces. Wrap each piece individually and return to the freezer.