School is out and summer is here which means popsicles are a daily snack in our house! Healthy DIY popsicles are a quick and easy treat to make at home, a great way to get in added nutrients, (including veggies) into our children and serve as another way to involve our children in the kitchen.
Simple and Healthy DIY Popsicle Ideas
My girls love throwing all the frozen fruit they can find in our blender with coconut water. Their favorite popsicle they make and named is the “Berry Pop” with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mango, and coconut water. Don’t want to use a blender? Throw in small pieces of frozen or fresh fruit and then add coconut water. It looks pretty and it is a hydrating treat on a hot summer day. When purchasing coconut water, make sure to look at the ingredients and look for brands with just coconut water. I like this brand. Watermelon Pops are another one of our easy, no recipe required, go-tos with either blended up watermelon or watermelon with a little coconut water for extra hydration.
Two Healthy Popsicle Recipes
I love making a big smoothie for our morning snack or breakfast and then adding the leftovers into popsicle molds to freeze for later. Our favorite family smoothie lately is Chocolate Mango which has cauliflower for an added dose of veggies!
Chocolate Mango Smoothie Recipe:
- 1 cup frozen mango
- ½ cup frozen riced cauliflower
- 1 cup hemp milk (or your milk of choice)
- 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
Another frequently requested popsicle among my girls is Avocado Fudge Pops.
Avocado Fudge Pop Recipe:
- half an avocado
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- a pinch of sea salt
- 3/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
Why We Make Our Own Popsicles
If you prefer to buy popsicles at the store I recommend checking out the ingredients and avoiding brands with food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, and additives. Did you know food dye is a petroleum-based ingredient? No thank you! Unfortunately, food dye is found in many foods including popsicles, cereals, cereal bars, vitamins, and the bright orange cheese. Making your own popsicles is a great way to control what your family is ingesting, assuring they are made with real food ingredients. To learn more about Food Dyes and why we keep food dyes to birthday celebrations and holiday treats, check out this article.
Want to learn more about fueling your children’s bodies with nutrient-dense foods? Have a hard time getting enough fruits and veggies into your children’s diet? Want help transitioning your family to a more whole foods diet? Connect with Misa’s Clean Kitchen on Facebook or Instagram. I’d love to help! From healthy DIY popsicles to so much more, I’m here for you!
