What kid doesn’t love popsicles? There is no better treat on a hot summer day! Unfortunately, many store-bought varieties contain lots of sugar, artificial colors, and very little nutrition. Why not make your own this summer, and let the kids join in on the fun! These icy pops are refreshing, taste great and are good for you too! Plus they are simple to make. All you need are popsicle molds and a bit of creativity. Or make some DIY molds with paper cups, plastic wrap and wooden craft sticks. Easy-peasy!
Fruit And Yogurt Smoothie Pops
Popsicles for breakfast? Yes please! When you make popsicles with yogurt and fresh fruit, kids get protein, vitamins and minerals on a stick — a creamy grab-and-go snack for those mornings when you are rushing to get to the beach or swimming lessons — or anytime at all! Greek yogurt has more protein, but since it’s extra thick, add a little whole milk to thin it out before you begin. Start with plain or vanilla Greek yogurt, milk, and whatever favorite summer fruits your kids love. Try raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries, cantaloupe or honeydew melon, mango, pineapple, papaya, banana, or mix and match any number of fruits! Then add honey or agave for an extra touch of sweetness. For a smooth texture, blend your ingredients in a blender or food processor, pour into popsicle molds and freeze until hard.
Fruity Lemonade Pops
You can find freshly squeezed lemonade with all natural ingredients in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. Tart and refreshing, lemonade is even better when frozen. Pour the lemonade into your popsicle molds about 2/3 full. Then add a few slices of fresh strawberries, kiwi, mango and blueberries. Freeze until solid and pass them out to the kids when they need an afternoon break from playing outside. These pops will disappear before they can even begin to melt!
Orange Banana Pops
These popsicles are similar to the Fruity Lemonade Pops, but less tart. Perfect for kids who prefer sweet over sour. Start by pouring fresh, pulp-free orange juice into your popsicle molds about 2/3 full. Add a few slices of fresh banana and freeze until solid. Freezing helps stop bananas from browning so it’s a win-win! The bananas will also help fill their little tummies, and contain magnesium, potassium, and tryptophan to help make kids sleepy, making this a great before bedtime dessert.
Watermelon Popsicles
If you thought your kids loved watermelon before, wait until they try it frozen! Watermelon is the ultimate summer fruit. Refreshing, juicy and naturally sweet, seedless watermelons can be blended with a dash of fresh lime juice, poured into popsicle molds, and frozen until solid. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? The kids may just want to snack on these all day long, unless Mom and Dad get to them first!
Defrost your popsicles for 5 minutes before serving or run your molds under warm water for a few seconds. This will help melt the outside and loosen them up, making them easier to remove from the mold, and ready to enjoy!
This June, July and August, TheRTAStore is featuring a special DIY Kids blog series. Next month we will bring you another fun, boredom-busting activity you can enjoy with your kids this summer, so stay tuned! And visit our website if you missed June’s DIY Kids installment, Grow Your Own Kitchen Herb Garden!
At TheRTAStore we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) cabinets, Pre-Assembled cabinets, and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let one of our friendly kitchen designers help make your kitchen dreams come true!
