It’s summer and it sure feels like it! There’s no air conditioning in my attic office and the heat can get to be unbearable. I do have a small fan but that’s not enough. When I take a mid-morning or afternoon break, I want something that’s cool and refreshing. I choose healthy snacks most of the time and occasionally indulge in delicious low calorie frozen treats because nothing else will do!
I’ll share with you some of my favorite treats and snacks for hot summer days and nights along with a few new ideas I’ve recently come across online that I can’t wait to try!
Low Calorie Healthy Frozen Snacks
- Frozen Fruit
Top on my list of healthy frozen snacks is fruit. Low calorie frozen fruit can be quickly and easily prepared and enjoyed in a cool refreshing fruit salad or smoothie. Or just skip the fuss and enjoy frozen fruit pieces right from the package.
My favorite frozen fruit are berries including raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. I also enjoy frozen blueberries, sweet cherries, and pineapple chunks. Yum! There are lots of choices. What fruit do you like best that you might try?
- Edamame beans
Edamame beans can be enjoyed frozen, right from the package. Edamame beans are specialty soybeans that seem to be popular in many Asian countries. Edamame beans can be eaten raw. They are grown specifically for the ready-to-eat market.
A potential problem with edamame beans is that most of the beans for sale in the grocery stores here in the United States come from China.
Given the possible food safety issues with Chinese imports, I prefer to find and purchase edamame beans grown and packaged here in the United States. That can be easier said than done. Read the package label carefully to see if you can find the country of origin before you buy. It’s worth the effort.
These make a yummy, refreshingly cool, low calorie and healthy treat! The calorie count is typically less than 100 calories for ½ cup.
I found a recipe for delicious looking Vanilla Orange freezer pops on the EatingWell site. The original recipe was published in the July/August issue of EatingWell Magazine in 2009.
These pops include simple everyday ingredients: orange juice, low-fat vanilla yogurt, a small amount of added sugar, and a little vanilla extract. Preparation couldn’t be easier. Just whisk the ingredients in a bowl and divide the mixture among freezer-pop molds or small paper cups, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze. (click the link for the recipe)
Each frozen pop will have about 53 calories with 10 grams of total carbohydrates.
Another recipe I just have to try from the EatingWell site is Chunky Peach Popsicles. I love peaches. The recipe looks great! Ingredients include ripe peaches, the juice of 1 lemon, some freshly squeezed orange juice, a small amount of sugar and some vanilla extract.
Preparation is a little more involved than with the Vanilla Orange Pops but not much. If you have a food processor it should be a snap! Each prepared popsicle will have about 33 calories with 9 grams of carbohydrates (most of which likely come from the natural and added sugar). Compare that with Edy’s All Natural Fruit Bars, which have 70-80 calories or so per bar and 15-20 grams of sugar!
(click the link for the recipe)
Low Calorie Frozen Treats
I’m no different than anyone else. As good as healthy can be (if you make the right choices), sometimes I want something a little sweeter and richer tasting. Here’s a few low calorie frozen treats that make me smile!
Earlier this year I wrote about enjoying my own homemade frozen cake treats. My recipe for Low Calorie Gingerbread is a favorite.
- Low Calorie Gingerbread
Allow one small piece to defrost at room temperature for a few minutes. The piece of cake will be cool but there shouldn’t be any ice crystals. (In the colder months of the year, by all means, gently warm each piece in a microwave oven!) Only 90 calories each. Very satisfying. Check out my recipe.
- Snickers Mini Ice Cream Bars
Wow! Are these good! The hard part, of course, is having only one piece instead of the suggested 4 pieces per serving (or more!). Are these mini bars a healthy treat? No. Satisfying? Yes!! The combination of ice cream, peanuts, peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate is my idea of awesome.
With only 90 calories per piece, I can allow myself an occasional splurge. I do need to keep in mind that each little 90-calorie piece includes 3 grams of saturated fat and 7+ grams of sugar. So one piece needs to be enough!
- Weight Watchers Strawberry Smoothie Low Fat Frozen Yogurt Bars
I tried these for the first time only a little while ago. Another wow! Is it good for me? Maybe not, but it may be a little better than the Snickers Mini Ice Cream Bars.
Each bar has only 60 calories per bar, less than 1 gram saturated fat, and about 10 grams of sugar. Not too bad for a treat. Give them a try. The rich, smooth taste is wonderful!
Hope these low calorie frozen treats and snacks help you stay on track with your low calorie eating during the warm months of the year.
Till next time, watch those calories, treat yourself occasionally, and eat healthy food otherwise!
