Summer officially begins in one day! After the long, cold winter we had here in New York, all my friends and I are so excited about the beach, back yard BBQ's, and listening to live music outdoors at the local Tikki bar.
It's already getting pretty hot and steamy out there. This is the time of year when we naturally begin to crave lighter foods that contain more water. We eat more fruits and and salads and cold foods and shy away from the rich, heavy meals like baked casseroles and pot roast, gravy and mashed potatoes. This is Nature's way of making sure we get exactly what we need to keep us cool and provide energy in the hot and sluggish weather.
One of the most deliciously refreshing ways to cool down in the summer heat is to eat popsicles. I remember as a kid, walking up to the corner store and buying those frozen, orange popsicles. They were about a nickel apiece back then and I could eat five or more of them - one right after the next. They certainly weren't the healthiest choice in the world, but I didn't know what I do now about nutrition. Those popsicles were nothing more than sugar, water and artificial flavors and colors. I make my own popsicles these days, from fresh fruit and ingredients I know are going to work for me, rather than against me.
Here is one of my favorite recipes: Coconut Lime Popsicles. They are so easy to make and taste like summer on a stick! This recipe does call for 1/4 cup of sugar, but you can reduce that a bit if you desire. I substitute coconut sugar for the white sugar in this recipe. It's a bit healthier and won't cause your blood sugar to spike as quickly as regular sugar. I also use almond milk instead of the skim milk.
These aren't calorie free, sugar free or fat free, but I don't believe in that stuff because those types of foods aren't REAL. These Coconut Lime Popsicles are made from REAL ingredients that are good for you. So forget about the sugar, fat and calories and just enjoy them. And then go do some gardening, go for a walk, or play baseball with the kids afterwards.
Here's the recipe: Coconut Lime Popsicles!
Enjoy!
Yours in Good Health,
Cynthia
Recipe and photo from: Yummly.com
