3 Healthy Frozen Treats That Will Cool You Down This Summer

by Catherine Santino

Summertime is officially here, which means ice cream shops are open for business — and offering extremely tempting sweets.

While it's important to occasionally treat yourself, there are plenty of alternatives that can keep you (and your health goals) on track this summer. The following three healthy frozen treats are not only sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and cool you down during the hot summer months, they are also super easy to make at home!

1. Watermelon Sorbet

This dish can be an incredibly refreshing treat during those hot summer days (or after a workout!), and could not be easier to make. Best of all, it only contains two ingredients:

• 3 cups watermelon, diced
• 1 teaspoon lime juice

First, cut up some watermelon into chunks and freeze them overnight on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The next day, fill a food processor (or heavy-duty blender) with the frozen watermelon pieces, along with some lime juice.

Now blend until smooth. If the pieces are too frozen, you may need to add some warm water to help the process along. Eat immediately for a softer texture, or transfer into a container and freeze for 3–4 hours to firm up the mixture.

Not only is this a light, sweet treat for a hot summer day, it also provides a few health benefits. Watermelons are 92 percent water (hence the name), so a serving of this sorbet can help you stay hydrated in the heat.

2. Peanut Butter Banana "Ice Cream"

Bananas mimic the creamy texture of ice cream when blended, so this tastes just like the real thing! Here's what you'll need:

• 3 large, ripe bananas
• 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A dash of cinnamon
• Sea salt to taste
• Roasted peanuts for topping

To prepare, cut up the bananas into small pieces and freeze them until they are solid (at least 1-2 hours). Then, place the banana chunks in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This might take a while — and will be quite loud —since the pieces are frozen. After a few minutes, the consistency should be thick and creamy enough to fool you into believing it's actually ice cream!

Next, add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sea salt, and anything else you might like in there. Pulse the blender a few more times to mix everything together completely. If you like, top with additional peanut butter and crushed roasted peanuts.

The potassium in the bananas and protein in the nuts will also boost your energy levels, making this healthy frozen treat a great pre-workout snack!

3. Peach Strawberry Yogurt Ice Pops

This is one of the most fun (and easy) healthy frozen treats to make during summertime. It includes dairy in the form of Greek yogurt, which is much better for you than the refined sugars found in ice cream. It'll also help keep you fuller, longer.

Here's what you'll need to make these tasty, refreshing ice pops:

• 3 cups strawberries, pureed to 1 1/2 cup
• 3 cups peaches, peeled and sliced, pureed to 1 1/2 cup
• 4 tablespoons honey, divided
• 2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt

Begin by blending the strawberries with 2 teaspoons of honey and set aside. Then blend the sliced peaches with the remaining 2 teaspoons of honey. Scoop in layers of the fruit mixtures into the ice pop molds as follows: 2 teaspoons strawberry puree, 1 teaspoon yogurt, 2 teaspoons peach puree, and repeat. A fruit puree should be your last layer.

Gently tap the mold on a hard surface to make sure all of the layers settle. If you're feeling fancy, use a small spoon to drag the mixture from the bottom to the top of the mold a few times to create a swirled pattern. If you see any air bubbles, gently tap the molds to remove them. Insert the ice pop handles, freeze for 6 hours or more, and enjoy!