By: Elite Nutrition Intern – Amanda McKinney
It’s officially summertime! Kids are out of school, people are at the pool and the local fro-yo shops are “hopping”. I L-O-V-E fro-yo, ice cream and everything related to ice cream, but even ice cream lovers like me would eventually get bored if we had it EVERY hot summer day! So here are a few ice cold snacks idea to tantalize your tastebuds! They are guaranteed to keep you cool and satisfied!
1. Orange-Sicle This snack helps you stay cool and hydrated in the hot summer sun, and is a lot of fun to make and eat!
Ingredients:
- Oranges
- orange juice
Final Product: Frozen orange in orange
How to:
- Cut an orange in half and scoop out all of the oranges insides.
- Then put a little bit of orange juice and the oranges insides into a blender and blend it up.
- Then pour the mixture into the empty orange peel and put in the freezer to freeze. Once frozen, ENJOY!
2. Yogurt Smoothie Pops (makes 6–8 pops)
These delicious frozen treats are so fun for the kids to make. With fruit, high-protein yogurt and juice, they’re good for them, too.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups (500 mL) Greek yogurt
- 1½ cups (375 mL) frozen strawberries
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 cup (250 mL) apple juice
- 2 tbsp (30 mL) honey
- Plastic cups or moulds + Popsicle sticks
What to do:
- Combine all ingredients in the blender.
- Blend on high for about 30 seconds until fully combined and smooth.
- Divide between cups, or moulds and insert a Popsicle stick into the centre of each.
- Freeze for 6–8 hours until completely set, remove from cups or moulds and serve.
3. Frozen Bananas
A little chocolate always makes everything taste better! 
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup sweetened dry cereal
- 3 firm bananas
- 3/4 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
How to:
- Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil or waxed paper. Place cereal in plastic bag. Tie bag and crush with rolling pin. Put crushed cereal on waxed paper and set aside. Peel bananas and cut in half width wise. Insert a popsicle stick into cut end. Set aside on cookie sheet.
- Place water in the bottom of a double boiler. Place the pot over medium heat on stove. When water begins to simmer lower heat but keep water simmering. Place chocolate chips in top of double boiler. Melt chips, stirring occasionally. (chips can also be melted in a microwave, on high for 30 seconds, then another 15 seconds).
- Once chips have melted, dip banana into chocolate using a wooden spoon to help cover banana completely.
- Roll the banana in the crushed cereal and put on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining bananas. Freeze for 3 hours or overnight
4. Island Refresher Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 3/4 C. pineapple, cubed
- 1/2 C. frozen mango
- 3/4 C. vanilla soymilk
- 3 Tbsp low fat cottage cheese
- optional: 1/2 tsp unsweetened coconut flakes, 1 Tbsp flax
How to:
- blend all of these ingredients together, and top with coconut flakes or flaxseed for an extra fiber!
5. Blood Orange & Creme-sicle
This is a spin on a regular popsicles, instead of just sugar and water this popsicle gives you some fiber and protein!
Ingredients:
- 1 small blood orange, peeled and segmented
- 1/4 C. sugar
- 1/4 C. water
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3/4 C. orange juice
- 1/4 C. 1% milk
How to:
- cut orange slices lengthwise into 1/4 inch thick slices
- boil sugar and water in saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to simmer, add orange pieces and cook for 1 minute
- remove from heat and add vanilla. Combine blood-orange-sugar syrup, orange juice, and milk in a bowl
- pour mixture into ice-pop molds, insert sticks, and freeze for about 8 hours
It’s almost the 4th of July so grab the kids, or your significant other, and try any of these delicious snacks to make your 4th even more tasty!
