It has been a HOT summer, which for me means having to call up a company like General Air Conditioning – Yucaipa, CA to fix the damn AC and in the meantime feasting on lots of ice cold drinks and snacks to stop me from sweating. But there is a downside. Sure cold treats can help keep you cool when the AC can’t but the problem is, most cold treats aren’t all that healthy. Popsicles, ice cream, and fruit juices are packed with sugar and can derail your progress (ice cream cone the size of your head anyone?).
I want to keep cool and I want to snack and I want to hit my goals. What do I do? Well I’ve figured it all out, I’ve come up with 3 healthy treats that will cool you off and keep you on track.
Berry & Mango Yogurt Pops
Popsicles are great for summer but usually loaded with straight sugar and aren’t exactly healthy treats. These yogurt pops are low calorie, high fiber and freaking delicious, not to mention you can get a small dose of your BCAAs to boot.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Yogurt
- 1 scoop Scivation Xtend Blue Raspberry
- 1 scoop Scivation Xtend Mango
- 1 cup berries, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup berries, fresh or frozen
- Popsicle mold that holds 8
Blend your fruit separately and place in separate bowls. For frozen fruit allow to thaw for 10 minutes or so before blending or you’re going to have a hell of a time getting them to blend. (You can always add a dash of water if you’re struggling.) I used mango and mixed berries but you can really use whatever you want. Divide yogurt in half and place in separate bowls and mix a scoop of Xtend in each. Stir until blended. Now you can either layer your fruit of choice with the yogurt into your popsicle molds, or dump the fruit into your respective yogurt and mix together before spooning into the molds. Either works just as well, though you’ll have a firmer pop if you mix. Place popsicle sticks or straws in the center of each pop and down to almost touching the bottom of the mold. Freeze for 4 hours. Remove from mold and enjoy!
Macros:
Berry Pop
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 12 g
Fiber: 5 g 
Sugar: 7 g
Fat: 0 g
Calories: 69
Mango Pop
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 15 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sugar: 11 g
Fat: 0 g
Calories: 81
Recipe yields 8
Green & Pink Smoothies
Smoothies are one of my absolute favorite healthy treats. You can pack so much goodness into them AND they are portable. Does it get any better than that?
Green Matcha Mint Smoothie
Sneaking spinach into smoothies is an awesome way to get those greens in. I also love Matcha for its health benefits and for the non jittery energy boost I get from it. Toss in some fresh mint for a refreshing, summery surprise and you have the ultimate green smoothie.
Recipe yields 1
- 30 g baby spinach
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 1/2 tbsp honey
- 3 mint leaves, torn*
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Yogurt
- 1 cup cashew milk
*optional
Macros:
Protein: 15 g
Carbs: 35 g
Fiber: 9 g
Sugar: 20 g
Fat: 2 g
Calories: 214
Dragonfruit Smoothie
Dragonfruit (the pink kind known as Pitaya) not only has superfood benefits but it turns everything a ridiculously gorgeous color. Toss in some mango for sweetness and some chia seeds for the Omega 3s and you have an incredibly nutrient dense smoothie.
Recipe yields 1
- 2 oz mango
- 1/2 pack pitaya
- 1/2 cup Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla Yogurt
- 1 cup cashew milk
- 15 g chia seeds
Macros:
Protein: 14 g
Carbs: 36 g
Fiber: 13 g
Sugar: 19 g
Fat: 6 g
Calories: 258
Literally all you have to do is throw the above ingredients into a blender, blend and pour into a tall glass.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches
This isn’t the most low calorie dessert– but this is one of those healthy treats that make up for that by being packed with protein and fiber. So it’s basically a meal in the form of an ice cream sandwich– and who could possibly be upset about that??
Recipe yields 4 sandwiches
- 6 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 6 tbsp cocoa powder
- 4 teaspoons Stevia or other zero cal sweetener
- 4 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup protein spread (I used Fluffbutter’s Brownie Batter flavor)
- 1/2 cup cashew milk (I used Silk unsweetened vanilla cashew milk)
- 1 pint Halo Top Creamery vanilla ice cream
- Ghirardelli chocolate chips
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine coconut flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, baking soda, salt and sweetener. Add protein spread and combine well. Then add milk and stir until well combined. Form into 8 balls and flatten on cookie sheet to about the size of your palm or slightly larger. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Do NOT over bake. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, divide pint into 4 even amounts and distribute onto 4 cookies. Top with the remaining 4 cookies. Heat chocolate chips in microwave until just melted. Drizzle melted chocolate on top of cookie sandwiches. Freeze for 1 hour. Let sit for a few minutes after removing from freezer and enjoy. 
Macros:
Protein: 27 g
Carbs: 49 g
Fiber: 12 g
Sugar: 22 g
Fat: 25 g
Calories: 529
What are some of your favorite healthy treats for summer?
Image credit: Shutterstock
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