A Sweet Way to Stay Hydrated
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It’s official! Summer in Florida has arrived - the high today is going to top out around 90! The one thing that I find hardest during these hot months is how to stay hydrated… without just drinking boring ole’ water! Now don’t get me wrong water is critical! And you should be drinking half your body weight in oz. of water every day (so if you weight 150lbs you need at least 75oz. of water per day). What I was l was looking for was a yummy treat that could help keep me hydrated with all the beach and pool days I see on the way. So I thought I would try my hand at making homemade popsicles. Have you seen the ingredients in the store bought ones? Most are loaded with sugar and lots of words I cannot pronounce and I have fallen into the trap of looking for the sugar-free variety only to realize they have sucralose, aspartame and Splenda as the “sugar” of choice. I started making popsicles for my son when he was teething and used breastmilk and then started adding fruit puree and now that we’ve passed that stage I was looking for a healthy medium that was a little on the sweet side. Then it dawned on me to try coconut water. Have you tried coconut water? It’s got a nice sweet flavor and is basically nature’s form of Gatorade without all the added sugar and coloring. According to Healthline, “Coconut water may be the perfect beverage for restoring hydration and replenishing electrolytes lost during exercise. Electrolytes are minerals that play several important roles in the body, including maintaining proper fluid balance. They include potassium magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.” This is why I chose coconut water to be the base of my popsicle and making them is extremely easy! Lately, we’ve been making our popsicles with organic strawberries since they are in season, but any tropical fruit would do the job. Whenever I buy produce I always check the Dirty Dozen list to see if it’s something I need to purchase organically and strawberries topped the list this year so if they aren’t in season I purchase them frozen. The Dirty Dozen is published each year by the Environmental Working Group so we, as consumers, know which produce has the most pesticide exposure so we can make more informed choices when purchasing. Popsicle molds are easy to find and I have included the links to my two favorite kinds for little kids and big kids (that’s me!). The recipe is below! And as usual, I had a little helper in the kitchen. If you are looking for more healthy recipes and tips on eating healthier for you and your family sign up for my Women’s Health Workshop on May 23rd @ 6:15pm. Ingredients:2 cups coconut water6-8 strawberries Instructions: Put coconut water and berries in a blender or food processor and blend til smooth. Strain out the seeds and pour into molds. 1 – 2 – 3 done! Little Kid Molds: Nuby Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Frozen Pop TrayBig Kid Molds: Astra Gourmet Silicone Popsicle Mold
