Growing up, one of my favorite things about the summertime was going to the pool, playing different games such as Marco Polo (okay, actually, no because that game is really stupid in my opinion), Categories (definitely my favorite) or any other number of activities, and always taking a break to have a sweet treat with either a popsicle or ice cream cone. As much as the song that played with the ice cream truck creeped the heck out of me (still does to this day), I always got so pumped when I heard it coming down the street!
BUT little did I know that Spongebob's face with the creepy gum ball eyes (everything about this process is just creepy) or the addicting King Cones (where the best bite is the last one) were just loaded with artificial colorings, dyes and sugars and that I was at a huge risk for enjoying one! Fortunately, my parents never really let me have one because of the typical "it's too close to dinner," or "I don't have any cash on me" excuses, so I usually was in the clear. But to this day, I still love a good popsicle or ice cream cone when I can have one --- I simply just want to make sure I'm enjoying one without the harmful ingredients!
Anyways, enough about my childhood ice cream nightmares - moral of the story: popsicles are still awesome, and now as an adult, I use them as not only a sweet treat, but also an easy and simple way to add more veggies and fruits into my diet! They are SO refreshing for a hot summer day, and perfect for kids who struggle eating a plate of broccoli. So parents, this one is for you: blend up some of your favorite combinations and your child will never know ;)
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serving Size: 6 popsicles
Freeze Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Now, you can mix and match any fruits and vegetables together to make your own personal combination, but this is what I did:
Green popsicle:
1 cup kale
1 1/2 granny smith apple, cored
1 lemon
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup coconut milk
Red popsicle:
Frozen pineapple
Frozen mango
Frozen raspberries
1/2 cup coconut milk
Other additions:
Lime
Carrots
Celery
Spinach
Banana
Strawberries
Blueberries
Papaya
Peach
Cherries
Grapefruit
Blackberries
Orange
Pear
.......the options are endless!
Directions:
Using a juicer or a blender (I just used a Nutribullet) add in any mixture of fruits and veggies along with the coconut milk.
Blend until smooth.
Pour into the popsicle containers (usually 6 per set) and put on caps.
Store in freezer for up to 2 hours.
When wanting to eat, run warm water on the base to loosen up the popsicle, then pull out from the container.
Enjoy!
Happy Summer!
xoxo,
Kell