Simple Healthy Dessert: Dairy-Free Caribbean Pineapple-Coconut Popsicles

Where I live, in south Florida, summer heat is just beyond brutal. You know if you spend anytime at all outdoors you’ll be a sweaty mess in about 5 minutes (at least this is my experience). Nothing cools you down or refreshes you faster on a sweltering hot summer Florida day than an ice cold Popsicle. Sadly though, most popsicles are basically just frozen sugar sticks. Sure, they cool you down real quick but I can tell you any relief you get from a frozen sugar stick will be very, very short lived. Sugar aside, I do have to say, I still love Popsicles. And they make fabulous fun healthy kids snacks! Best of all, they can still fit into a “eat clean” diet if you make them with the right ingredients.

But, because my nutrition standards are so high I have a hard time finding ready-made popsicles made from healthy enough ingredients to actually buy (ok, I’m a little fanatical). This is not a problem though since making your own super healthy Popsicles is SO incredibly easy. In fact, to not put the extra 3-minutes into making them yourself would almost be ridiculous. And I’m not over exaggerating about the 3-minutes either. If you can operate a blender you can make a frozen Popsicle. And if you are going to go to the bother of making a popsicle in the first place you might as well make it healthy. I say this all the time, but I’ll say it again here: junk food is ubiquitous, why on earth would you go out of your way to make junk food? I just seriously don’t get it?

 Frozen “Eat Clean” Treats

My Pineapple-Coconut frozen Popsicles (which were just featured on GoodBite) are not only super healthy and incredibly low in sugar (they have just 1 tablespoon of Agave nectar in the entire recipe!) they really do taste better than anything you could pick up in the frozen food aisle.  But don’t just take it from me. You know it has to be honestly and truly tasty if it can pass a taste test with the ultimate Popsicle connoisseurs, those in the 5-year and under age group! Kids (and even babies!) really do love these. It’s the perfect summertime healthy snacks for kids.

So, skip the cruise to the tropical island and instead enjoy one of these ultra-refreshing frozen pops alongside your little one. Rich in antioxidant vitamin-C and the digestive aid bromelain from pineapple plus immune-supporting lauric acid from coconut, this freezer pop treat delivers tasty satisfaction along with lick after lick of lots of good-for-you stuff.

Simple Healthy Dessert: Dairy-Free Caribbean Pineapple-Coconut Popsicles

Serves: 4

• 1 cup organic unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened, un-sulfured shredded coconut
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon pure lemon extract

Combine all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth and creamy. Divide mixture into four (4-ounce) Popsicle molds. Freeze for 4 hours and serve.

3 special thank yous!!! Thank you SO much to the ADORABLE baby model, Mia! (and to her mommy, my great friend Cherie Terek Fromsen) and also to my other great friend, photographer Debby Gansfor the fabulous photos and to the best mom ever, my own mom, Gail Ingram, for the fabulous food styling. Thank you all SO SO much for all that you contribute to all of my endeavors. XOXOXO