#safebeat4life
Register for screening
Home ≫ Sudden Cardiac Arrest ≫ Heart Health

A Healthier Frozen Treat for Hot Summer Days

Yogurt Peach Pops

American Heart Association

Want to beat the heat with a cold treat this summer? Consider a healthy frozen yogurt pop with peaches.

"It's a tasty low-calorie recipe that provides protein, potassium and calcium that is also kid-friendly and easy to prepare," said Linda Van Horn, a registered dietitian and chief of the nutrition division at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

These homemade pops contain just three ingredients: A smidgen of honey, a 16-ounce package of frozen peaches, and one cup of plain, fat-free yogurt. "Many other yogurts on the market can contribute double the calories, fat and sugar," Van Horn said.

Peaches – the main ingredient – have potassium and vitamin A, as well as fiber. "Frozen unsweetened peaches are especially useful, but fresh or unsweetened canned peaches or any other fruit could also be used," she said. "Fruits that are especially tasty in a frozen dessert are strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, or tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, guava or papaya."

At a time when many people are carefully watching their budget – and maybe their waistline – these homemade pops give you more bang for the buck.

"At 66 cents per serving, they are less than half the cost of commercial options," Van Horn said. "At the same time, they're a sweet, refreshing treat that is nutritious and very low in sugar compared to popular sugar-sweetened popsicles and commercial frozen yogurt bars."

Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce package frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed, divided use
  • 1 cup fat-free, plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

  1. Put 1½ cups peaches, the yogurt and honey in the bowl of a food processor. Process for about 1 minute, or until the mixture is pureed. (You can also put the ingredients in a large bowl and use an immersion blender to puree.)
  2. Transfer the puree to a bowl or large liquid measuring cup with a spout. Chop the remaining peaches into bite-size pieces. Stir into the puree, along with any liquid from the package.
  3. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, filling each one almost to the top. Freeze overnight.
  4. At serving time, hold the popsicle molds under warm running water to loosen the popsicles.

Quick Tips

  • Cooking Tip: This recipe yields about 3 cups. The size of your popsicles may vary depending on the size of your mold.
  • Keep it Healthy: Reduce the amount of fruit by ½ cup and stir in ½ cup low-fat granola to make breakfast popsicles!
  • Tip: Don’t have popsicle molds or sticks? Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. Cover it with plastic wrap. Push a toothpick through the wrap and into the center of each cube. When the cubes are frozen, pull off the plastic wrap, and you'll have bite-size popsicles.
  • Tip: You can replace the package of frozen peach slices with one 15-ounce can of peach slices, packed in their own juice.

Story Credit: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/06/30/a-healthier-frozen-treat-for-hot-summer-days

Click here to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletters.

Please help us prevent these types of deaths from occurring. For as little as $1 per week, you can support preventative heart screenings and save a life! It only takes a minute to donate. Help us save a child's life today. Thank you. -The SafeBeat Team