Low-Sugar Treats to Beat the Heat
- Banana Ice Cream
- Sugar-Free Fruit Pops
- No-added sugar lemonade
- No sugar added fruit and yogurt smoothie
With the sun beating down on Madison, the high temps can make it hard at times to keep your family safe, healthy, and happy all at the same time. To help, we’ve put together some fun low-sugar treats to serve your kids to help them cool down and keep their teeth bright and strong.
Banana Ice Cream
Ice cream is a summertime favorite. But the extra sugar in it can lead to cavities. Bacteria that live in your mouth consume the sugar and produce acid that wears away tooth enamel.
If you have some serious ice cream consumers in your family, consider swapping out the real stuff for banana ice cream once in a while. Full of banana goodness and with no added sugar, this frozen concoction might just do the trick.
To make it, you’ll need a nice, yellow banana. Make sure the banana is soft and ripe enough to give the ice cream enough sweetness. Slice and place in an air-tight bag or container. Freeze until hard, at least two hours or preferably overnight.
After the banana is frozen, take it out and place it in a food processor. Pulse and occasionally scrape down the processor. Keep blending until the banana reaches an ice cream consistency. At this point, you can add in fun extras, like nuts, coconut, or peanut butter. Mix, then place the mixture back in the bag or container and freeze until firm.
No Added Sugar Fruit and Yogurt Smoothie
Another fun ice cream alternative you can try making for your family is a no added sugar fruit and yogurt smoothie. To make two servings, place eight ounces of frozen berries–these can be mixed berries, blueberries, or strawberries–in a blender. Add six ounces of strawberry yogurt and up to one cup of your favorite milk. Blend until you reach the desired consistency.
A benefit of these smoothies are the great tooth-boosting antioxidants in the berries.
Sugar-Free Fruit Pops
Another fun summer treat is popsicles. But conventional popsicles often are full of sugar and very low in nutrients. Turn this nutrition profile upside down by making your own sugar-free fruit pops.
Simply blend your children’s favorite fruit in a blender and pour into pop molds to freeze. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little fruit juice to thin it out. You can feel good knowing that you’ve served them whole fruit, and they’ll have fun enjoying cold pops on a hot summer day.
No Added Sugar Lemonade
What child doesn’t ask for lemonade when it’s blazing hot outside? But the extra sugar in the drink might give you pause.
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative, try making your own fruit-sweetened version. Mix one-half cup of lemon juice with two cups of white grape juice, one cup of water, and one-half teaspoon of lemon zest. Chill until cool and serve with a smile.
For more fun sugar-free drinks, read: Five Flavored Water Recipes for the Workweek
Pediatric Dentistry in Madison, Wisconsin
We here at Affiliated Dentists hope that you and your family are enjoying a safe and happy summer! If we can assist you in keeping your children’s teeth healthy, please contact our office today.
Affiliated Dentists offers general and pediatric dentistry in Madison, Wisconsin.
Low-Sugar Treats to Beat the Heat brought to you by Dr. Mark Gustavson
