Cold treats can help us feel cool on the hottest day.  While we'd like to satisfy our cravings for ice cream and other frozen desserts, we don't want the excess calories and fat.  It's time to search out great recipes that will provide what we love without the negative consequences.  Ultra rich ice creams are not essential for enjoyment.  We can select lower calorie, healthier options and still have the same satisfaction.

Frozen treats can be as simple as freezing fruits like grapes or blueberries and eating them as they are.  One of my own favorites is frozen blueberries in milk.  Pour a half cup of fat free milk into a bowl and flavor it with the sweetener of your choice.  Add a half cup or so of frozen blueberries and stir.  The milk will freeze to the surface of the berries making them a delight to eat. 

Another fruit that is good frozen is bananas, which can be dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in chopped nuts if you like.  A half a banana speared on a popsicle stick and dipped is so good.  Frozen fruits can be incorporated with milk in a blender to make frozen smoothies.  Use your imagination to prepare these healthy treats, and get your vitamins right in your dessert or beverage.

An ice cream maker is a great appliance for freezing lower calorie desserts.  If you use one, follow the manufacturer's directions.  You can use it to make not only ice cream, but healthy fruit sorbets and frozen yogurt. 

If you don't have an ice cream maker, you can still do it the old-fashioned way - by partially freezing the mixture in a metal pan, stirring it now and then, before freezing completely.  This is the way that sorbets were made before modern ice cream makers were invented. 

Once again, Calorie Count members have contributed amazing recipes by using the Recipe Analyzer.  We hope you enjoy the variety.

• Simple Lemon Sorbet - Easy to make with great lemon flavor.  The addition of lemon zest intensifies the taste.


• Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles - Creamy and delicious, made with fresh strawberries, these are also easy to make.


• Chocolate Popsicles - Made with tofu, which is undetectable, these have the bonus of over 4 grams of protein per serving.