With nutritional ingredients and some creativity, popsicles can be just as healthy as they are refreshing, and these three recipes prove it. Created by dietitian Tori Martinet, MS, RD, these sweet treats are a far cry from the plastic-wrapped, sugar-packed popsicles of our youth, but we think you'll find them equally as delicious and satisfying on a hot Summer afternoon. Or, you know, a chilly Winter morning. Let's be real, we've slurped down our share of Otter Pops in every temperature.
The recipes speak for themselves: chock-full of sweet fruit, creamy yogurt, and even a couple vegetables. One important popsicle-making tip, though: "Make sure your freezer is COLD," said Tori, who's also the director of wellness and nutrition at Restaurant Associates, the company behind the cafes at the Smithsonian Institutes and the Met. A warm freezer can turn your popsicles to slush and attract bacteria for food-borne illnesses. "Get a separate thermometer and make sure your freezer is set to zero degrees Fahrenheit or below, that the door seals completely, and that your freezer is not overly full," Tori told POPSUGAR.
Keep reading to try the sweet recipes for yourself.
Perfect for Summer and full of vitamin C and antioxidants, these popsicles are "a celebration of the stone fruit that's in season right this minute," Tori said.
Ingredients for peach puree:
1 1/2 cups fresh peaches
1 cup fresh orange juice
Ingredients for cherry puree:
1 cup cherries, pitted
2/3 cup pomegranate juice
Directions:
Puree the peach and orange juice and set aside.
Separately, puree the cherries with pomegranate juice.
Pour peach puree into each popsicle mold until 1/3 full.
Optional: Add a handful of chopped cherries to the peach layer.
Freeze for 1-2 hours, until slightly firm.
Pour cherry puree on top of the frozen peach puree, until each mold is 2/3 full. Freeze for another 1-2 hours.
Top the molds with remaining peach puree. (Optional: Add more chopped cherries into the final layer.)
Place sticks into the popsicle and freeze overnight.
Makes approximately 10 popsicles.
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2Chocolate Greek Yogurt Pops
Image Source: Tori Martinet
These decadent pops make for a perfect post-workout treat, Tori told POPSUGAR, thanks to "a balance of carbs, fats, and proteins, plus a hit of antioxidants from dark chocolate."
Ingredients:
2 cups lowfat, plain Greek or Icelandic-style yogurt
1 cup milk (skim, low-fat, almond, oat, or soy all work)
5 oz. quality dark chocolate (Tori recommended 70 percent)
3 tbsp. maple syrup
Directions:
Break up the chocolate into small pieces and place in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave on low at 30 second intervals, stirring between, until chocolate is melted. Allow to cool slightly.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Pour into popsicle molds and freeze overnight.
Drizzle with a little additional melted chocolate, and add optional toppings like chopped almonds or coconut.
Makes approximately 10 popsicles.
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3Tropical Green Refresh
Image Source: Tori Martinet
Tori described this hydrating popsicle as "your favorite green smoothie made into a frozen treat!" It comes with nice boosts of iron and potassium as well.
Ingredients:
1 cup mango
1 cup pineapple
2 cups coconut water
2 handfuls spinach (or other mild-flavored greens)
Squeeze of lime
Directions:
Add the ingredients to a blender and blend until very smooth and bright green.
