It’s been slowly cooling down here in Michigan, but then we get a random 98-degree day.
Which is awesome, but it also practically guarantees that my kids are going to want ice pops.
Now, I always try to use what’s on hand, and what’s going to satisfy their sweet tooth.
Yes, I realize that I could totally go buy fruit ice pops at the grocery, but honestly, why?
I make sure that I keep our deep freeze (if you don’t have a deep freeze, I’m so sorry-it’s my favorite thing ever) stocked with all kinds of frozen fruits and veggies, like:
- Mango
- Strawberries
- Mixed berries
- Peaches
- Blueberries
- Spinach
- Kale
- String beans
- Sweet Corn
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
Having a variety of frozen fruit and veggies means that putting together a healthy side for meals is fast and easy, and it also means that I can make things like smoothies and ice pops happen pretty much any time I get a craving or the kids start begging.
Without a trip to the grocery. Because (totally honest here) sometimes I just do not have the energy to chase my boys and fill my cart. We’ve officially passed the stage where one or both can ride in the cart safely (and without crying that they’re not a baby), so grocery trips are…well, they’re slightly stressful.
Which is why I cannot wait for school to start so that I can shop alone.
I mean, how amazing will it be when I can drop The Baby at preschool and high tail it to Meijer or Target to get the one thing I need, and then walk through all of the other aisles with my coffee? It’s going to be magical, I tell you.
We have one.more.week.
And I cannot wait.
But I disagree. I was talking about how the weather here in Michigan is rivaling the heat in Texas lately. We have been swinging between 75ish and 98ish…not all in the same day, but over a few days, and it’s crazy.
Thankfully, I started unpacking winter clothes over the weekend so the boys have some long pants for the “cooler” days. We still haven’t adjusted. Don’t judge.
So. It was (not kidding) 98 degrees here, which means the sprinkler was out, the swim trunks were on, and the kids wanted chocolate smoothie pops.
But I wanted them to have some fruit too. That way, when they eat all of them, I don’t feel quite so guilty (plus it adds another layer of flavor).
I decided to make some super easy vegan mango chocolate smoothie pops (though you can just make the smoothie and skip the freezing step if you want). And the kids loved them (like super-hard-core loved them). These vegan-friendly smoothie pops are a treat the whole family will love.
Easy Vegan Mango Chocolate Smoothie Pops
- 1 cup frozen mango
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries or 6 super large frozen ones
- 2 tablespoons organic chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon marine collagen
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 cup coconut water
.
Grab a high powered blender (I cannot live without my Vitamix
Pour the coconut milk, water, and coconut water over the top.
Blend everything together until there are no more lumps. You may need to use your blender’s tamper to ensure that your smoothie ends up smooth.
Pour your mixture into the popsicle mold of your choice, filling each one all the way to the top.
Our molds are rather small (intentionally so), so we ended up with 6 popsicles.
If you have larger molds, you may only be able to make 4.
Put the tops onto your popsicle molds
If you have trouble releasing the pops from your molds, run them under cool water for a second or two and try again. Check out these other healthy snack ideas for your sweet tooth cravings!
