M is for...Melon Pops!

With summer just around the corner, the warm weather and sunshine will have your kids running around outside and enjoying the heat. It's important to keep your children hydrated by providing them with plenty of water. A fun way to keep your kids cool while the sun is shining is to make them these delicious melon popsicles! This tasty and sweet recipe is nutritious and filled with water that will also help your kids stay hydrated.

What you will need:

• 1 1/2 cups cantaloupe chunks
• 1 tablespoon of 100% orange juice 
• 1 1/2 cups honeydew chunks
• 1 tablespoon of lemon or limeade 

To make the melon pops in layers, you need to make the cantaloupe and honeydew mixtures separately. First, puree the cantaloupe chunks with the orange juice in a blender. You can divide this blended mixture evenly into mini paper cups with popsicle sticks or into popsicle molds. Next, place the cups in the freezer   for about an hour or until they become firm. You can then puree the honeydew chunks and lemon or limeade and add this mixture to each of the frozen cantaloupe mixtures. This will now create two separate layers of fruits and colours! 

Nutrition facts on the snack:

These little melon pops are filled with nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B. They are also low in energy so your kids will still be hungry for meals if you serve them as snacks during the day! Since melons are packed with water, you can be sure that these pops will help to quench thirst. 

Tip: You can use other combinations of fruits and juices to make even more colourful layers!

Recipe and photo from: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/mint-melon-pops-10000001073881/

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for…Yogurt-Pops?

These tasty frozen treats will become a favourite in your house!

What you will need:

• Yogurt (ex. plain, fruit-filled or vanilla…your choice) 
• Mixed diced fruit of any kind (ex. blueberries, banana, cherries, strawberries)
• Popsicle sticks
• Small paper cups (ex. Dixie® cups) or popsicle mold/tray
• Large metal spoon

Gather enough yogurt and fruit to fill the popsicle mold or paper cups. Add the yogurt and fruit into a medium sized bowl. Let your kids do the mixing! Once the ingredients are mixed, it’s time to pour the mixture into the popsicle mold or cups.

If you are using paper cups, place a popsicle stick in the middle of each cup. If you are using a popsicle mold, they will probably come with plastic sticks to place in the middle of each yogurt-pop.

Now it’s time to wait…overnight. Place the mold or cups in the freezer overnight to let them freeze. Your kids will be hurrying to the fridge in the morning to check on their finished frozen snacks!

Once frozen, these snacks are perfect to serve when you’re in a hurry because usually a popsicle mold makes at least four yogurt pops at a time.

Nutrition Facts on the Snack:

Yogurt-pops are a nice alternative to serving ice cream sundaes or popsicles because they are lower in unnecessary added sugar and fat. You might be thinking that fruits contain sugar and yogurt can contain fat and you’re absolutely right! The difference is that the fat and sugar found in yogurt-pops are natural and not added, making them a bit healthier. Making your own yogurt-pops is also much cheaper than buying store-bought frozen treats.

Another great benefit of yogurt-pops is that they are loaded with calcium. We know how important calcium is in skeletal and bone health so these yogurt pops are definitely a great addition to your child’s diet.  

And last but not least, we can’t forget about the blend of vitamins that are packed into this little snack.

Tip: Add granola to the tops of the yogurt pops before they go into the freezer to turn them into upside-down frozen yogurt parfaits! Or, add different flavours of yogurt in layers to create fun patterns!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/feeding/healthy-eating/the-20-best-snacks-for-kids/?page=6
Photo #1 credit: http://www.missteenwellingtoncounty.com
Photo #2 credit: http://2modern.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/pops_1.jpg