10 Skinny Cold Treats for Hot Summer Days
As the temperatures outside rise, the temptation to dive into a high calorie cold treats skyrockets too… not exactly a bikini-friendly move! Here are 10 delicious cold and thoroughly taste-tested treats that will keep you looking sexy in your swimsuit and all year round.
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Remember when you could eat an ice cream sandwich by the pool without worrying about your beach bod? Well, if you shop smart, you still can! There are some delicious ice cream sandwiches out there that won’t expand your waistline. Some top picks: Tofutti Cutie Cookies N’ Cream sandwich is vegan and dairy free and just 130 calories! Julie’s Organic Ice Cream Petite Juliette Vanilla Sandwiches are another great option. At only 100 calories per sandwich, they are the perfect treat to satisfy that summer ice cream sandwich craving. My all-time favorite is Skinny Cow’s Vanilla No-Sugar Added. These low fat, no sugar added treats have only 140 calories and 4 grams of protein! The challenge is eating just one!
Frozen fruit bars
The familiar refreshing, frozen goodness that comes on a stick now contains real fruit. You can make your own fruit bars, or try one of these store-bought options. 365 Mango Flavor Fruit Bars are fat free and have only 110 calories. Plus, they contain vitamins A and C. Whole Fruit Fruit Bars are another delicious option. The strawberry ones are our favorite and are only 70 calories! Outshine Coconut Water bars are just 60 calories, and they’re made from fruit puree so they are an excellent source of vitamin C. Outshine also makes seasonal fruit bars like peach, raspberry, blood orange and grapefruit.
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Chocolate dipped frozen bananas
Chocolate dipped frozen bananas are a healthy and refreshing summertime treat that can be made in just five simple steps. Step one: freeze bananas on popcicle sticks. Step two: melt chocolate (I prefer dark chocolate to balance out the sweetness of the bananas). Step three: Dip frozen bananas into chocolate. Step four: Freeze dipped bananas for at least 30 minutes. Step five: Enjoy! Store a few in your freezer for a convenient grab-and-go snack. To keep these irresistible treats less than 200 calories, use small bananas and go easy on the chocolate.
Nonfat Greek yogurt with fresh fruit
Satisfy your cold, creamy cravings with some nonfat Greek yogurt. Add ¼ cup of fresh strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries or peaches to a 6 oz. cup of non-fat vanilla or plain Greek yogurt and put it in the freezer for 10 minutes. You’ll end up with a naturally sweet, rich and creamy snack for less than 200 calories. For some added sweetness, try adding 1 teaspoon of honey or some dark chocolate chips.
Smoothies
A cold and tasty smoothie is the perfect antidote to a hot summer day where you aren’t feeling like cooking anything in your kitchen. When made with the right ingredients, a smoothie will help cool you down and fill you up with nutritients you need. A classic berry smoothie, made with fresh summer fruit and non-fat yogurt, skim milk, coconut milk, or almond milk provides calcium and potassium, along with a bonus of fiber and antioxidants. For a simple and delicious berry smoothie, blend berries of your choice with 1/2 cup skim milk and 2 tablespoons non-fat Greek or non fat traditional yogurt. For extra pizzazz, add a dash of vanilla extract, orange zest, and cinnamon. You can also make smoothies using veggies, whey, pea or brown rice protein powders and other nutrient-rich ingredients.
Mix-n-Match Smoothie Chart
Make your own Popsicles
Make your own healthy pops with the Zoku Quick Pop Maker which freezes fresh fruit juice or dairy-based purees into popsicles in just 7 minutes.
It’s a healthy alternative because you can use your own fresh ingredients and you can choose to skip any added sweetener or control the type and amount that you add. It also allows you to be as creative as you want and can be a fun way to get kids to eat more fruit. For dairy-based options, just blend together Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and pour into the Zoku. Others make creamier chocolaty versions using low-fat chocolate pudding with fresh fruit, like raspberries, strawberries or banana slices. Classic fruit-based pops can be made with a wide variety of 100% fruit juices or fresh fruit mixed with juice, milk or yogurt that you blend. Some of my favorite combinations include strawberry-watermelon and cherry-yogurt.
Frozen grapes
Some of the best and most nutritious frozen treats are also the simplest. A great way to cool down in the hot weather is with frozen grapes. If you’ve never had frozen grapes before, you’re in for a sweet surprise! Plus they’re little nutritional gems. Grapes of all colors – red, green and black – are a natural source of potassium and healthy antioxidants known as polyphenols. Grape polyphenols may contribute to a healthy heart, and may help defend against a variety of age-related illnesses.3/4 cup of grapes contains just 90 fat-free calories. Frozen grapes couldn’t be easier to make: just rinse and de-stem your grapes, and freeze them for 2 hours. You can also use frozen grapes in your favorite summertime beverage in place of ice cubes.
Almond milk frozen desserts
A frozen treat based on a nut? That’s right! Almonds are nutrient-rich and high in calcium, magnesium and potassium. And almond milk makes a perfect base for dairy-free frozen treats. This powerful nut is an excellent source of protein and is naturally high in fiber and low in sugar (hint, hint, great for making desserts without added sugar!) Almonds also contain antioxidants like vitamin E. You can make your own almond milk-based frozen desserts or try a store-bought variety like SO Delicious Almond Milk frozen treats – available in seven delicious flavors! I’m giving a shout out to their “tasty four”—chocolate, cherry amaretto, cookies and crème, and vanilla, all of which come in under 130 calories per ½ cup serving and provide 5 grams of fiber! SO Delicious Almond Milk Frozen Desserts are non-GMO, gluten free, and kosher! Go ahead, have a dessert you feel good about!
Real ice cream
Let’s face it, sometimes there’s nothing like the real thing. The good news is that you can enjoy real ice cream without feeling guilty. Look for a slow-churned variety, like Dryer’s or Edy’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream, that has incredible taste with half the fat and one-third fewer calories compared to regular ice cream. Struggling to keep portions under control? If you regularly stand in front of the freezer wanting just one more spoonful, their serving cup size is your new best friend! Edy’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream Cups are available in nine flavors, ranging from 160 to 190 calories.
My favorite? Coffee. It’s a refreshingly cool java treat for just 160 calories.
http://www.edys.com/SlowChurned
Arctic Zero
Wouldn’t you love to eat an entire pint of delicious ice cream without feeling guilty and unhealthy afterward? Well, Arctic Zero lets you do just that! Why eat a nearly 1,000 calorie pint of ice cream when you can indulge in a 150 calorie pint instead! Arctic Zero is made with high quality whey protein, is gluten free, and comes in seven different flavors like chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream, coffee, vanilla maple, and more! Arctic Zero also makes bars that come in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and orange cream. I like to call these “super desserts”, as they are both nutritious and delicious. Try Arctic Zero treats on their own or use them to make lower-calorie shakes and smoothies instead of regular ice cream.
Best Skinny Cold Treats for Hot Summer Days is a post from: Appetite for Health