Summer is officially here, and that means hot days in the sun. Ice pops are one of the most refreshing treats you can have, but most of them also have some of the most processed and artificial ingredients out there. Whether you want to give your kids a healthier treat, or you’re an adult like me who isn’t ashamed to slurp on something frozen on a stick, these are the brands to get:
Outshine
This brand’s big claim to fame is their huge variety of flavors and real, non-GMO ingredients. They use real fruit, and sweeteners like fruit and vegetable purees and juices. Their healthiest pops are the fruit + veggie bars, which include the Blueberry Medley. With only 35 calories and 9 grams of sugar, it’s one of the lowest-calorie bars you can get. In addition to the fruit + veggie bars, Outshine has regular fruit bars, yogurt bars, and fruit + tea bars, which are new. The Peach + Black Tea bar has 60 calories and 13 grams of sugar. The kids’ bars are smaller, with 40 calories and 9 grams of sugar, and come in flavors like Strawberry Banana and Tangerine Strawberry. There’s even 1 gram fiber in the kid bars, thanks to pumpkin and cauliflower purees.
Brewla
These are ice pops with the adult taste in mind. Founded by a brother and sister from Southern California, the pops are based on coffee and tea drinks. The tea is real, so the pops are infused with important minerals and antioxidants. The Strawberry + Hibiscus Tea flavor has 20% of one’s daily requirement for zinc, 20 calories, and only 3 grams of sugar! Other flavors include Cherry Pomegranate + Red Tea, Root Beer Float, Tropical Fruits + White Tea, and Peach Ginger + White Tea, which has the most sugar at 10 grams.
GoodPop All-Natural Frozen Pops
Started in Austin Texas, and practically an overnight sensation, GoodPops have both dairy and non-dairy bars. All the dairy pops are between 80-120 calories, while the non-dairy are 40-70 calories. There are three dairy bars: Coldbrew Coffee, which has 8 grams of sugar and 80 total calories, Chocolate Milk, and Banana Cinnamon. The non-dairy section is more extensive, with refreshing flavors like Watermelon Agave (11 grams of sugar), Oranges ‘n Cream, and Hibiscus Mint.
DeeBee’s Organic TeaPops
Created by a mother with a PhD, this family-owned ice pop company was launched in 2103 in British Columbia. Now available all over Canada, in California, and the American Midwest at stores like Whole Foods and Safeway, these ice pops combine delicious fruit and tea in a refreshing frozen form. All ingredients are non-GMO and there’s no refined sugar. There’s also vegan and kosher-friendly! Flavors include Raspberry Citrus, Chocolate Fudge, Pink Lemonade, and Tropical Mango, which has only 25 calories and 7 grams of sugar. There are also coconut-cream bars (in Strawberry Shake and Orange Cream) and Super Fruit Freezies in Grape, Tropical, and Strawberry. Pops are between 30-120 calories.
Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt
If you’re looking for something more in the way of a dessert pop, Yasso is a terrific brand. Made with Greek yogurt and other real ingredients, each bar has been 80-100 calories, 13 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein. The fruity choices are Coconut, which has 90 calories, and Strawberry, with 80. My pers onal favorite is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, which is 100 calories. Some other delicious flavors include Cinnamon Bun, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Black Raspberry Chip, which is brand-new!