Easy, Healthy & Frozen Treats

Beat the Dog Days of Summer (and… Texas Fall) with these yummy, cold treats.

Summer may be winding down, but here in Austin we know the weather is going to keep on steaming right into Autumn.  Love it or hate it, we’ve got to find a way to beat it.  I love a good sweet treat and have no problem with the occasional junk food splurge, especially during the relaxed and lazy days of summer.  But now that the kids are back in school, it’s time for us to get back to our routine and back to eating healthy on the regular. 

I’m a firm believer in nourishing our bodies and our brains with food. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it though! 

Bananas

I don’t know about you, but our house has some sort of weird bizarro banana universe.  If I buy one bunch of bananas, my kids devour them in 2 days and back to the store I go.  If I buy 2 bunches, its like they suddenly hate bananas and all but two bananas go brown.   Who knows!  All I know is I often find myself trying to use up ripe bananas before they go full on mush.  (Stay tuned for some of the best banana bread recipes on the inter webs – trust me – I’ve tried 90% of them!)

So if you need to use up some bananas and also need a cool treat, look no further! 

  • These frozen banana bites are a fun healthy option for a cool treat!  Bigger kiddos could help with the dipping.  So yum!
  • These frozen bananas on a stick are simple and fun.  Anything on a stick goes over well with my kids. 
  • Don’t be scared to try these vegan fudge pops.  They’re made with black beans (say whaaat?!), avocado, and bananas.  You can’t get much healthier for a frozen treat!  Healthy fats, protein, and natural sugars.  

Frozen Fruit

If bananas and chocolate aren’t your thing (gasp), or maybe you’re just looking for something on the lighter side, try freezing any fruit you have around.  Freezing fruit can stretch your dollar because nothing goes to waste.  Or try buying fruit that is already frozen.  You can often find organic frozen varieties for a fraction of the cost of fresh.  

Check your nearby Costco or Sam’s for the absolute best value.  

So whether you freeze it yourself or buy it already frozen, you and your family are sure to find a few more healthy options that won’t break the bank and will keep you cool. 

Frozen Grapes:   I “make” these all the time.  Simply wash your grapes, pull them off the stem, dry them a little with a paper towel, and pop them in the freezer.  If you’re feeding them to toddlers, you probably want to slice them first.  These are great if you’re used to a sweet treat after dinner.  They are perfectly satisfying. 

Frozen Blueberries:  Like I mentioned earlier, you can buy a big bag of organic blueberries for a fraction of the cost of fresh ones.  Keep them in the freezer and just pour a handful out for a snack.  They thaw really quickly and my toddler loves them.  Beware – they are super messy and will turn your kids into smurfs.  Bust out the good bib or just strip them down to the diaper to make clean up even easier.  

Frozen Watermelon:  Slice, freeze, and eat.  Perfection.

Popsicles:  If you want to something a little fancier, make popsicles.  You can use any mold you have and any fruit you have.  Just pop all the fruit in the blender, then pour them in the molds and freeze.  This is especially great for teething toddlers. 

Easy Frozen Bites

Frozen Yogurt Bites:  There are a ton of recipes out there, but really all you need is your kiddo’s favorite yogurt, and maybe a piping bag or plastic storage bag to make it easy.  (If its already in a squeezy pouch, you don’t even need another bag.)  Fill your bag with the yogurt, cut the tip, and squeeze them on a parchment paper lined tray.  Pop them in the freezer for a few hours, then enjoy!  How easy is that?!  

And guess what? You can use this same method with applesauce.  Applesauce frozen bites!  My kids devour them.  So do I! 

Frozen Breast Milk or Formula:  Yep.  Even the tiny babes can enjoy frozen treats.  Pour breast milk or formula into a mold.  Freeze it and then serve however best suits your little one.  I personally loved these mesh self feeders. 

Splurge! 

Okay, okay.  I won’t leave you totally hanging.  These are NOT healthy at all, but they are perfect for your next birthday party or backyard camp out.  

Frozen S’mores:  The weather may not be calling for a campfire yet, but you can still enjoy this classic treat.  In my opinion, these are even tastier!  And I’ll be honest.  Sitting around a campfire with precious children adorably roasting marshmallows sounds amazing.  In reality, it’s tiny kids running amok with metal skewers, and me trying to make sure no one loses an eye or burns off a hand.  Not fun.  Not even a little bit relaxing.

So make a box of instant chocolate pudding, grab some vanilla ice cream, and build your sandwiches between graham crackers!  You can do it in a square or rectangular pan to keep it contained.  Once they’re stacked, stick them in the freezer to set.  Enjoy a few hours later!  No-one loses an eye or a finger and I don’t have to suffer through an anxiety filled evening. Win-win. 

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake:  Simply buy a box of your favorite ice cream sandwiches. Working quickly, unwrap each one and build your cake into whatever shape you want.  Promptly re-freeze.  After an hour or so, take it out and “ice” it with whipped cream or cool whip. Pop it back into the freeze until it’s cake time.  Enjoy! 

Last but not least, I must share with you this amazing, frozen, healthy-ish pumpkin spiced latte.  Yes, I’m that girl.  I love love love the PSL.  But I don’t love all the calories or the ridiculous price, and I don’t love to drink it unless the air is cool and crisp.  This smoothie is the perfect way to get my fix!

 Stay cool, friends! 

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