When the weather is hot, it’s all too easy to go over your budget buying store-bought frozen treats that often contain high fructose corn syrup, added sugar, artificial sugar, food dyes, and/or preservatives.  And it’s hard to find healthy snacks when you’re out and about at the pool, waterpark, zoo, and other community events.

But there’s no reason you can’t serve some healthy treats at home that will help you keep cool during those hot summer days. Check out these ideas:

Frozen Fruit: Yes, it is as simple as that. Freeze fruit & serve frozen. Some fruit you will need to cut/peel, while other fruit, like berries, you can put right in the fridge.

Tip #1: Most frozen fruit will work well in baked goods if they are thawed.

Tip #2: You can freeze a banana in the peel. The peel will turn black, but the banana inside is still good for baking. Stock up on ripe bananas that are discounted because they are getting too ripe and just toss them in the freezer and take out bananas as you need them to bake bread or cake. There is no need to use fresh bananas in baking bread or cake.

Tip #3: Apples & pears will need to be tossed in lemon juice or citric acid before freezing  or they will brown.

Tip #4: Stock up on fruit to freeze when it is in season. Often in-season fruit will be cheaper than fruit that is already frozen. Buy local if possible.

Tip #5: Toss (prepared) fruit in the freezer before heading on vacation so that you do not have to waste any fruit and you will have a sweet healthy treat ready for when you return.

Chocolate Covered Banana Chunks:

So simple to make, yet so tasty.

Frozen Chocolate Banana Chunks

2 large bananas (cut into large chunks)

⅓ C chocolate chips (use whatever variety you like, semi-sweet, milk, dark, vegan)

⅓ C natural peanut butter

unsweetened coconut or chopped nuts (optional)

Cut bananas into large chunks. Heat chocolate and peanut butter in the microwave on high for about 1 minute and then stir until smooth. Dip banana chunks in the chocolate mixture and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coconut or nuts if desired. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Serve.

Tip #6: After they are frozen you can store them in a container or baggie in the freezer and take out when desired.

Homemade Ice Cream:

Follow directions on your ice cream maker, or try making Ice Cream in a Bag.

Juice Popsicles:

No-Drip Juice Popsicles

1 C fruit ( I like to use grapes, berries, or mangoes)

1 C boiling juice (I tend to use apple juice because we always have that)

1 packet of unflavored gelatin

Dissolve gelatin in boiling juice. Puree fruit and juice mixture together. Pour in to molds and allow to freeze for several hours.

Yogurt Popsicles: It’s super simple to Frozen Fruit & Yogurt Pops.

Tip #7: If you do not own any popsicle molds you can pour mixture in paper juice cups (placed in a small cake pan or bread pan), cover the entire pan with tin foil and insert popsicle sticks where each cup is. Just tear away the cup when you are ready to serve.

What healthy treats do you make during hot weather?