A delicious and refreshing summer time snack of frozen watermelon popsicles!
Watermelons and summer go hand in hand don't they. There's just something just so refreshing about biting into the juicy fruit on a hot day. My fussy eater doesn't quite share my enthusiasm though! Although she is getting better at eating certain foods, it is still a battle trying to get her to try anything new. Her automatic response is always "I don't like it", before she's even got close enough to inspect whatever food stuff it is that she's dismissing!
The weather here lately has been fantastic but it can be difficult to keep little people hydrated and cool when all they want to do is play in the sun. Watermelons make fantastic snacks for kids as they quickly replace lost water and electrolytes. It has an incredible 92% average water content! It's also an excellent source of vitamin A, potassium and lycopene.
So yes, watermelons rock! But how do I get my kids to eat them I hear you ask. Well first up are these Watermelon Pops. They are so so easy to make but the simple addition of a stick to these frozen wedges of watermelon make them far more appealing to little eyes than chopped up pieces of the fruit.
My next watermelon experiment were these Watermelon Slushies. This is literally the most refreshing drink I have had all summer. Watermelon is such a good thirst quencher anyway, but blended up with ice you feel like you've drank a gallon of cooling water with just one glass.
A healthy and thirst quenching drink made with just watermelon and ice!
I didn't mention the watermelon word when I gave my fussy eater this drink. If she gets the slightest hint that what I'm giving her is even vaguely healthy then she will refuse to drink it. So I called it a pink princess drink and that seemed to do the trick!
Not only are these snacks ridiculously healthy, they are also very cheap to make. I bought this watermelon for £1.79 at Lidl and was able to make 8 Watermelon Popsicles and 7 Watermelon Slushies with it. That works out at just under 12 pence per portion. Considering how much you'll pay for a slushie or smoothie in a cafe, that's an absolute bargain!
Watermelon Pops
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Freezer
- Cuisine: European
Description
A delicious and refreshing summer time snack of frozen watermelon popsicles
Ingredients
- 1 large round slice of watermelon (cut 1 inch thick)
- 8 wooden lollipop sticks
Instructions
- Cut the slice of watermelon into 8 triangle portion. Use a knife to make a slit in the skin of each portion and push the wooden stick into the slit.
- Freeze on a plate or baking tray for 1 hour. You can then transfer the pops into freezer bags to store.
Watermelon Slushies
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: European
Description
A healthy and thirst quenching drink made with just watermelon and ice
Ingredients
- 500g watermelon
- 15 ice cubes
- 20ml water
Instructions
- Chop the watermelon into large pieces and put into a blender with the water. Blitz until the melon is broken up and then add the ice cubes and blitz again. You can add more water if you prefer and thinner consistency. Serve immediately
Coralie says
Absolutely love watermelon. Will try when the sun makes an appearance.
Vicky says
I'm praying for the sun to come out soon as well, when it does enjoy!
Jess says
Great way to get more fruit into the kids, and they find the slushies really fun.
Vicky says
So pleased your kids love these, great for the warmer weather as well.
Kim says
My little girl loves watermelon so I'll definitely be trying both these out on her over the summer.
Lucy Parissi says
I have been doing the whole watermelon shlushie thing too but it usually also contains tequila! Watermelon equals summer in my book - at least it did in Greece where I grew up. I can't say the (imported) watermelons here are one tenth as tasty as the Greek ones but they do work marvellously in drinks.
Ciara Attwell says
I remember having watermelon in Greece when I was a kid and it was incredible!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I am loving watermelon pops at the moment. Perfect on a hot day. They slushies should great too 🙂
Emma | Fork and Good says
These are great! I love the slushies!
Ciara Attwell says
Me too. So refreshing in this heat
Triona McKee says
Love these watermelon pops...I'm off to get a watermelon!great idea. I gave Amelia lots of watermelon on holiday & had forgotten she loved it!! Only problem in Ireland you have to buy a whole melon, loved that in the UK,choice of whole,half or quarter! Looks like we will be eating watermelon for the next week :-), will make the slushies xxxxx
Ciara Attwell says
I get mine in Lidl and they're a nice size. Whole but not too big!