The weather may not have gotten the memo about summer, but your kids probably did. And they most likely want some kind of mid-afternoon snack. While the weather may not be extra hot, all that running around could mean a need for your little ones to cool down.
A plethora of tasty treats await any eager shopper regardless of their store of choice. The problem, often, is sugar.
Making frozen treats can mean a fun chemistry experiment of mixing tastes without adding a ton of sugar to the snack.
It’s simple, thanks to some inspiration from instructables.com. Start with popsicle molds. Then gather up a grouping of possible ingredients: Fruit, yogurt, juice. You can even throw in healthy additives like flaxseed oil. Make sure to clean all fruit in cold water and remove leaves and peels.
Experiment with flavors by making smoothie puree. Put the yogurt in and make new creations. Start with basics like strawberries and bananas. Let your little one mix flavors. Challenge them to new flavors like carrots and a mango and apple juice. Mixing new foods with familiar ones will be a fun experiment for you and your child. Plus, he or she will probably give the carrots a go.
Once you have a puree — or many purees — that you enjoy, fill the popsicle molds. Be sure to leave room for expansion. Lastly add sticks.
A four-hour rest in the freezer and vwala! Smoothie pops.
If you start the process in the morning, you’re house will be clean in time to serve the frozen fruity concoctions. Just in time for the kids to drip all over the house and allow you to start the cleaning all over again!
Chef Gigi Gaggero 