Healthy Treats for Children

[bluelacedredhead]

It's hot and humid and my toddler Grandson is sitting on the floor sucking on an icecube. I'm making jokes about it being a "natural" flavoured popsicle. But it did start me wondering what I could make for him that would help cool him down, be pleasing to the palate of a child under 18 months and yet be healthy?
(Can you tell I've not been around small children for many many years?? :confused: )

[Lavandula Girl]

I used to put watermelon slices into the freezer, and then let the kidlets gnaw away, but I'm sure there's someone somewhere who would berate me for not cutting it up into non- chokable bite sized pieces first. Everything's a hazard these days! You can get popsicle forms and then puree the fruit first, I guess.

[bluelacedredhead]

Lavandula, I think that's an ingenious idea. Seedless varieties would be best I guess, but it only takes a minute or so to take the pits out..And what child doesn't love the taste of a fresh slice of watermelon??
I'll check into popsicle trays at work tomorrow.
Now I wonder what other taste-full delights others might have to recommend?

[mobi]

Hey ! my little guy is one and he just loves watermelon and muskmellon.My son also likes the fruit smoothies I make with my vitamixer. :D Mobi

[gulfcoastguy]

Chocolate dipped frozen banannas, pulped and frozen blueberries or strawberries in ice cube tray etc.

[bluelacedredhead]

More great ideas! Except he's a little young for chocolate yet but he sure does love his bananas. Apparently, he eats at least one a day..

[dirtundernails]

We use the popscicle molds with juice and Kool Aid. Found them at the dollar store section of the grocery in Sturgis. I tried yogurt, but I think they stir it while freezing, because ours were streaked with sharp ice crystals. Maybe it was whipped up frothy? Or whipped cream folded in... When it's not a choking hazard, frozen grapes are yummy. Cucumber has a cooling effect on the body. Watermelon in its unfrozen state cools our kids and hydrates (the backs of their forearms, mostly- then dirt sticks on).

dun

[nikki]

We have two of those froozen drink maker things and I just use 100% juice- nothing fancy and they love those. For an extra fun treat making ice cream in a kick can is always good too- though not as healthy!

My kids are a touch older (2 1/2 and almost 5 now)- In the summer I let them loose in the garden- they eat peas, radishes, ground cherries, lettuce, spinach, baby sqaush and cleaned out my currents so far this year. Last year when the tomatoes and cucks started-(almost there this year) they would help themselves! This brings me back to my childhood and picking whatever I wanted to eat, washing it off in the horses water and munching away!