Isn’t it nice to have a cool, refreshing treat on a hot summer day? Well, this is possible, even if you seek to live a healthy lifestyle. But before saying much more, it is good to point out two important things. First, the best possible thing we could ever drink for health and life is pure water, If you’re not clear on that fact, please check out 8 Functions of Water That Will Wet Your Appetite and Benefits of Drinking Water. The other thing to remember is that even though all sugars don’t affect us in the same way, it is still best to consume even the most healthiest sugar in moderation. For more on this second point please check out 7 Reasons to Limit Your Sugar Intake.
Now that we’ve reviewed these points consider several recipes below, for cool treats that will liven up your health routine. Enjoy!
Orange Crush1
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup orange juice concentrate
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 2 cups soy milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
- 12 ice cubes
Steps
- Cut the banana into chunks
- Blend all ingredients (except ice) until smooth
- Gradually add ice while blending until thick
- Garnish with fresh orange slices
Piña Colada2
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1/4 tsp. coconut extract
Steps
- Slice bananas into chunks, combine with remaining ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.
- Add more or fewer banana chunks according to desired consistency.
- For firmer consistency place thick mixture directly into freezer and freeze for 30 to 60 minutes.
Frozen Lemon Custard3
Ingredients
- 12.3 ozs. silken tofu
- 1/4 tbs. lemon juice
- 3 tbs. honey
- 3 tbs. light olive oil
- 1/16 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. fresh lemon rind
- Dash of turmeric
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts
Steps
- Place all ingredients, except nuts, in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Line muffin tin with eight paper muffin cups. Sprinkle chopped nuts into the bottom of each muffin cup and pour tofu mixture into the cups.
- Place in freezer for several hours or until set.
- Serve with Lemon Glaze (recipe below)
Lemon Glaze4
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tbs. lemon juice
- 1 tbs. turbinado sugar
- 1 tbs. cornstarch
Steps
- Bring the pineapple juice and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add sugar and stir with a whisk to dissolve.
- Mix lemon juice and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to boiling liquid and stir until thickened.
- Cool slightly before serving.
Healthy Pineapple Whip5
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple
- 1/2 cup coconut milk (add more as needed)
- 1-3 tbs. honey maple syrup or agave nectar (to taste)
Steps
- Peel, core and cut one fresh ripe pineapple into chunks. Spread chunks on a lined baking sheet and freeze until solid (for at least 24 hours).
- Place frozen pineapple chunks in a food processor together with 1/2 cup of coconut milk. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides and add more milk as needed to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Taste the pineapple whip and add sweetener to your liking. It the pineapple wasn’t super ripe and sweet, add a little honey, maple maple syrup or agave. Process once more to incorporate the sweetener.
- To achieve a soft-serve-like look, fit a piping bag with a star tip. Fill the pineapple whip into the bag and pipe into serving bowls in a swirling motion.
Peach Blush6
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup soy or nut milk
- 3 cups peach slices, fresh, frozen, or canned
- 1-2 tbs. golden flaxseed meal
- 2 fresh apricots, cut in half
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- 1-2 bananas, sliced and frozen
- 4-5 ice cubes, optional
Steps
- Put the peach slices, ground flaxseed, and milk into blender or food processor and process until smooth.
- Add the apricots, strawberries, bananas and ice cubes and process until creamy smooth.
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh peach slices.
Papaya or Mango Pleaser7
Ingredients
- 2 cups ripe papaya or mango pureé or juice
- 1 cup ripe pears or peaches
- 2 cups pineapple juice + 1 tbs. lime juice
- 1 tbs. cashew or almond butter
- 1-2 tbs. soymilk power, optional
Steps
- Blend all ingredients until creamy smooth
Golden Apricot Nectar8
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/4 tsp. orange zest
- 4-5 apricots, fresh or canned
- 1 tbs. golden flaxseed meal, optional
Steps
- Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh apricot slices
- Serve chilled
Cranberry Cocktail9
Ingredients
- 1 qt. pineapple juice, cold
- 1 1/2 cups cranberries, fresh or frozen
- 1-2 drops mint extract, optional
Steps
- Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth and foamy
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint
Watermelon Juice10
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh watermelon (more as desired)
- 1/2 lime, squeezed, optional
- 2-3 tsp. honey, optional
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish, optional
Steps
- Place watermelon cubes in blender and blend until completely smooth
- Add to taste if desired and blend, optional
- Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint leaves
- Serve chilled
Sources:
- Barbara Watson, Amazing Health Cookbook, p. 120, Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2012.
- Ibid., p. 121
- Ibid., p. 121
- Ibid., p. 113
- https://leelalicious.com/pineapple-whip-soft-serve-like-frozen-dessert/#recipe
- Rosalie & Frank Hurd, Better Choices, p. 19, Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2013.
- Ibid., p. 22.
- Ibid., p. 21
- Ibid., p. 35
- https://lexiscleankitchen.com/2-minute-watermelon-juice/#wprm-recipe-container-496986
Photo by: Olena Rudo