Kefir Ice Pops, Or Why My Kids Get Popsicles for Breakfast

Since Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner... my kids want popsicles constantly.  I can't stomach giving them sugar, dye and artificial flavor disguised as a treat.  Instead, we make our own ice pops nearly every day.

I purchased 3 molds (each makes 8 smallish lollies) for about $2/each.  If you don't have molds, then simply use small paper cups (3 or 5 oz) and cut straws or wood sticks.

When I give the kids their kefir smoothies at breakfast (instead of as an after school snack) we usually have a bit left over since their bellies are already pretty full of GF oats and almonds.  I pour the extra into the ice molds, add the sticks and freeze.  It's a simple matter to blend up another small batch of smoothie to fill the mold (or several molds) if needed. 

Our favorite ice pop flavors are:

• Kefir smoothie w/ banana, spinach, and mixed berries or strawberries (Berry-Licious)
• Kefir smoothie w/ banana, spinach, cocoa powder & honey (Chunky Monkey)

I'm so thrilled with these healthy treats that my kids get to enjoy them at any time of the day... popsicle for breakfast, sure thing!  I always balance breakfast with protein and a complex carb, so eggs usually go with the ice lollies.  Yum! 

*For those who like a lower GI sweetener, use Palm (Coconut) Sugar which has a GI of 35 or a bit of stevia.  The riper the bananas, the less sweetener needed.  You can also soak dates in water overnight and use them in the smoothies instead of sweetener. 

**Quick prep trick... we make containers of smoothie prep to keep in the freezer.  This ensures a tasty, icey smoothie and makes prep a lot easier in the mornings.  By allowing the bananas to get nice and ripe on the counter, then peeling and freezing, they don't go bad and are the prefect icey sweetness for the smoothies.  

***My kids love our kefir smoothies so much that my 4th grade daughter, Kaylee just did a "How To" speech on making kefir smoothies.  She took the ingredients to school and everyone in her class got a smaple.  She said, "Everyone loved them, Mom!".