Fudgesicles to Beat the Heat

The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook is one of my all time favourite cookbooks!

It is packed full of delicious healthy meal ideas and most of them very kid friendly!  To top it all off, the writers of the cookbook, Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre, also have a blog where they post some of their most popular recipes and new recipes they have created since the book as been released. So, if all my raving about this book hasn't convinced you to invest yet, you can pop over to their website and 'test drive' some of their scrumptious recipes!

I think we can all agree, in the summer when the sun is shining, there is nothing better than a frozen treat. However, most of the usual options are packed full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Not the greatest options. Creating your own 'popsicles' is a fabulous way to tailor the ingredients not only to your taste but also to make sure they are healthy treats as well.

A super simple way of making your own popsicles is to simply select your favourite berries or fruit (fresh or frozen) blend with some water or even a rice or nut milk and then simply freeze in a popsicle mold. Not only are you avoiding the added sugars of most of the commercial popsicles but you are also getting all the health benefits of having real fruit, from the vitamins and minerals right to the fiber. Berries are also one of the lowest glycemic index fruits. For more of a 'creamsicle' treat, try adding some coconut milk to the blended fruit before freezing!

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However, if you are craving a creamier, more chocolatey option, try out this recipe from the Whole Life Nutrition's Blog.

8 medjool dates, pitted
1/2 cup water
3 medium avocados, pitted
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup honey
5 to 7 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
pinch sea salt
 
Place the dates into your blender or Vita-Mix and cover with the 1/2 cup water. Pack the dates down if needed so they are covered, for the most part, in the water. Let soak for about 30 minutes.
 
Then add in the remaining ingredients and blend until very smooth and creamy. Depending on your blender, you may need to add a little extra coconut milk or water.
 
Pour into small bowls and serve as pudding or pour into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 6 hours. Run under hot water to release. Source: www.NourishingMeals.com
 
Check out their blog for even more tasty treat ideas! Enjoy!!!
 
Disclaimer: Naturopathic Doctors strive to provide individualized health care. The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. This information shouldn’t take the place of seeing an ND for individualized health recommendations. 

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