I'm always looking for creative ways to get more fruits and vegetables into my kids' diet. With summer approaching, and actually in full bloom on this side of the world, I am shifting from soups to smoothies and frozen treats. My kids love homemade popsicles, and I love them too because it's an easy way for me to sneak in stuff that they would never otherwise eat. I bought the molds at rite aid or target, you can find them online I'm sure, and I'm sure there is also a BPA free version of those, somewhere. I've just had those for several years and they have served me well.
You can get real creative with these, and throw a number of combinations into the mix. Some days, my kids aren't too crazy about their green smoothie. So rather than forcing them or tossing it away, I pour it into a popsicle mold for a later treat. Last year, I started adding leafy greens and chia seeds to the mix and this year, I added some green powder, and believe it or not, my kids didn't budge. They loved it! I even served it to 3 of my kids' friends yesterday, who were here on a playdate, and they all gulped it down.
So here is an example of a pretty green and good for you popsicle. The barley powder doesn't taste great, and it's pretty strong, so use it sparingly, and feel free to add more banana or other sweet fruit to cover the taste.
1 banana
1nectarine
1/2 cup blackberries
3/4 cup blueberries
3/4 cup raspberries
2 cups packed kale leaves
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
1/4 cup walnuts
1tbsp barley or spirulina powder
1/4 tsp stevia
A little note on Barley Powder and why it might be good to include it in your diet:
NUTRITIONAL VALUE - A concentrated source of nearly three dozen vitamins and minerals, barley grass is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, B1, B2, folic acid, and B12; calcium; iron; potassium; and chlorophyll. Unlike most plants, barley grass provides all nine essential amino acids (those which your body can't produce).
HEALING CLAIMS - Barley grass is a powerful antioxidant that is believed to help the body kill cancer cells and overcome a variety of ailments, including acne and ulcers.
Put everything in the blender, add 2 cups of water and mix. Add more water if you want a smoother consistency. Once the mixture is well blended and smooth, pour into popsicle molds and place in the freezer for several hours.
En Francais:
Melanger dans le mixer:
1 banane
1 nectarine
1/2 tasse de mures
3/4 tasse de myrtilles
3/4 tasse de framboises
2 tasses de feuilles de chou kale, ou cottes de bettes ou epinards
2cs de graines de lin moulues
1/4 tasse de noix
1cs de poudre d'algue, spirulina ou d'orge (c'est sous forme de poudre verte)
1/4 cc de stevia ou autre adoucissant naturel
2 tasses d'eau
Verser le tout dans des moules a glace et mettre au congelateur.
Have you ever heard of spa water? It's that deliciously refreshing calorie free drink composed of cool water in which mint sprigs and cucumber slices have been soaking. It is the perfect drink for hot summer days and I have often served it at parties instead of sodas. Well, the last two weeks have been exceptionally hot and last Sunday was the first day I had some time to be in the kitchen since we came back, and I had all the ingredients for a marvelously refreshing popsicle blend. Inspired by a recent post from www.nourishingmeals.com, I gathered the following ingredients in my blender:
