The heat is on and nothing tastes better than something sweet and chilly! You may be tempted by slushies, ice cream, giant smoothies and lemonade, but steer clear, these frosty treats are full of sugar and empty calories. Grab one of the following cool summer treats instead and keep calories in check while cooling off.
1. Frozen Yoplait Go-Gurt: if you have kids, your fridge might be stocked with these little yogurt tubes already. These little tubes taste great when frozen and they’re way better for you than an ice cream cone! Just 80 calories for a tube and you get a bonus shot of calcium too!
2. Fizzy Delight: in the mood for something carbonated and sweet? Skip the soda and make your own fruity delight instead. Just mix club soda with fresh squeezed lime juice and a fruit flavored Crystal Light on the go packet. Serve over crushed ice and you’re set!
3. Strawberry Milkshake: forget the drive-through, make your own refreshing and healthy shake at home. Sub this for your usual snack and add some protein and fruit to your day. Just blend 1 cup non-fat milk, ¼ tsp vanilla extract, ½ cup quartered frozen strawberries and two packets of Splenda together with ice.
4. Gone Bananas! Cut a banana in half and insert Popsicle sticks into each end, roll in your favorite flavor of yogurt and freeze on wax paper. Wa-lah – healthy frozen, coated bananas!
5. Say “Yes” to Ice Cream Sandwiches! Make your own low-cal version at home – simply break a chocolate graham cracker sheet in half and add fat-free whipped cream. Just freeze and enjoy!
6. Blueberry Ice: load up on antioxidants and cool off – combine 2 cups fresh blueberries with ¼ cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Heat blueberries, water and sugar in a saucepan until sugar dissolves; bring to a boil and cook until berries have burst. Mix in lemon juice. Pour into Popsicle molds or Dixie cups (cover with foil and instead Popsicle sticks) and freeze.
7. Grape Expectations: this is as simple as it gets folks – just freeze a combination of green and red grapes and munch away! Dust with cinnamon for an extra tasty delight.
8. Lite Iced Mocha: skip the pricey, high cal coffee shop variety and whip one up at home. Combine ½ cup cold coffee with ½ cup 1% milk and 1 tbsp chocolate syrup – shake with ice and enjoy.
9. Skinny Root Beer Float: this is one of the easiest makeovers around! Take 8 ounces of diet root beer and add one scoop of non-fat vanilla frozen yogurt – that’s it!
10. Portion control it! Keep portion savvy fruit bars (such as Dreyer’s Whole Fruit Bars) and Skinny Cow Fat Free Fudge Bars on hand. You’ll have a fast and tasty treat, for less than 100 calories!
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personalhealth and necessary treatments.
