These popsicles make eating healthy really cool

Freeze! Back away from the same old box of pops.

Nothing tastes better on a hot summer day than fresh-from-the-freezer homemade ice pops. Here are some fresh ideas from Parkview Nutrition Services to help keep your kiddos cool.

Watermelon, Lime and Ginger

Nothing says summer like the bright taste of watermelon and lime. Sprinkle these pop with lime zest for an extra kick of flavor.

Ingredients
1 small seedless watermelon (chopped)
¹⁄3 cup fresh lime juice
¹⁄3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ginger (grated)
Pinch of fine salt

Directions

1. Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture into 10 3-ounce or eight 4-ounce ice-pop molds, dividing evenly.
3. Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until they’re firm (at least 4 hours and up to 4 days).

Nutrition Information
Servings: 8
Amount per serving: 1 ice pop
Calories: 64
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g

Triple Berry

So simple, so yummy! You can use boysenberries, pitted cherries or other favorites instead of the combination of fruits here.

Ingredients
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries (hulled, sliced)
1 cup raspberries
¼ cup lemon juice
²⁄3 cup sugar

Directions

1. Bring ¹⁄3 cup water and the sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Then, set aside.
2. Puree the blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and lemon juice in a blender until smooth. Add the sugar mixture and blend until combined.
3. Pour the mixture into 10 3-ounce or eight 4-ounce ice-pop molds, dividing evenly. Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until they’re firm (at least 4 hours and up to 4 days).

Nutrition Information
Servings: 8
Amount per serving: 1 ice pop
Calories: 44
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 11 g

Grape, Green Apple and Kale

Frustrated with youngsters who won’t touch leafy greens? Pack super-food kale into popsicles, along with grapes and apples, and they’ll never know how healthy this tasty treat really is.

Ingredients
2 cups white grape juice
2 cups seedless green grapes
2 cups kale (stemmed, torn)
2 ripe bananas
1 green apple (chopped)
Pinch of fine salt

Directions

1. Puree all ingredients in a blender until smooth.
2. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing with a spatula to remove as much liquid as possible.
3. Pour the mixture into 10 3-ounce or eight 4-ounce ice-pop molds, dividing evenly. Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until they’re firm (at least 4 hours and up to 4 days).

Nutrition Information
Servings: 8
Amount per serving: 1 ice pop
Calories: 106
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 28 g