10 healthy recipes for ice pops to help you cool down this summer
Jul 14, 2018, 5:10 AM
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s now full-fledged summer. Many Utahns are spending hours outside in the sun and in the heat.
While water is a great way to cool down and maintain your hydration, it gets boring. Hydration is important to keep your heart healthy. It helps you get the most out of your exercise, deliver nutrients throughout your body and protects your organs. Proper hydration also allows your body to effectively cool off when it’s so hot outside.
Read more about the whys and hows to hydration in my previous KSL.com article.
With that said, one of the most delicious ways to stay hydrated is by eating ice pops. They’re cold, refreshing, flavorful and can be full of nutrients.
Skip the grocery store Popsicles, and set up a fun activity for your kids to make and then eat their very own, packed with nutrients. It’s an economical, fun and healthy way to engage your family.
Check out these delicious dietitian-approved ice pop recipes:
1. Kombucha Berry Popsicles via Jenna Gorham, registered dietitian
2. Strawberry Chia Pudding Pops via Samantha Osterhaus, registered dietitian of Mindfully Well blog
3. Red, White, and Blue Fruit Pops via Colleen Kokx, registered dietitian of Mitten Dietitian blog
4. Pistachio Cardamom Kulfi via Dixya Bhattarai, registered dietitian of Food Pleasure and Health
5. One Ingredient Grape Popsicles via Lindsey Janeiro, registered dietitian of Nutrition to Fit blog
6. Berry Cheesecake Bomb Pops via Kaleigh McMordie, registered dietitian of Lively Table blog
7. Pineapple Coconut Ice Pops via Tracee Yablon Brenner, registered dietitian of Triad to Wellness
8. Cherry Greek Yogurt Homemade Popsicles via Kelli Shallal, registered dietitian of Hungry Hobby blog
9. Mint Chocolate Chip Popsicles via Lindsey Janeiro, registered dietitian of Nutrition to Fit blog
10. Avocado Fudgesicles via Rachael Hartley, registered dietitian of The Joy of Eating blog
What to do if you’re worried about sugar intake
As a non-diet dietitian, my philosophy about added sugar is that sugar plays a role in enhancing the flavor of foods. There definitely is space for added sugar in our diet. I encourage my clients to critically think about whether or not the added sugar enhances the food you’re eating.
For example, this watermelon limeade would taste fine without added sugar, because the watermelon is sweet on its own, but is it delicious without added sugar? It may not be tangy enough, or sweet enough, so a touch of sugar will definitely make it taste better.
On the other hand, if you’re so concerned about added sugar that it takes so long to go grocery shopping, or you find yourself being preoccupied with how much sugar you’re eating or guilt for eating something with more added sugar than you’d like, that’s not healthy, either. Take some time to think about what’s reasonable for you, and try to pay more attention to the taste of a food than its nutritional density — it’ll help you reduce stress and guilt which is healthy.
So, bottom line, be aware of how your food choices affect your stress levels — if they add stress, you’re not improving your health and well-being.
