*I’m a PediaSure SideKicks Partner and am a sponsored blog partner, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.
With weekend bar-b-ques, swim lessons, and park play dates in full swing, it’s definitely starting to feel like summer around here!
Around our house that means a lot of things, including more lax bedtimes and, often, less nutritious eating then I normally strive for… This week alone we’ve already grilled hotdogs and cooked s’mores in the backyard with friends, we have an end of T-ball pizza party tonight, and an end-of-school milkshake party in a few days.
Overall, I love the relaxed schedule and opportunities to get our party on – but I also jump at the chance to grab a healthier treat when I can this time of year. Which is why I’m loving this frozen dessert our contributor Alli came up with that incorporates Pediasure’s Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie mix.
It’s such a win-win. The kids still feel like they’re getting a frozen treat and I know I’m being stealthy and sneaking in some fruits and even a veggie! Add sprinkles of your choice and these are great for celebrating summer birthdays, the 4th of July, and anything else you can come up with.
Here’s Alli with the recipe…
I have a four-year-old and a two-year-old, so when it comes to picky eating…I feel like quite the professional.
It wasn’t always this way. They used to be such good eaters. But something happened in the last six months that turned my healthy snacking boys into…well…mac n’ cheese fiends.
And that’s all they’ll eat!
I’ve also learned the hard way that forcing fruits and vegetables just doesn’t work. It’s best to let the phase (which we all hope it is) pass.
Enter PediaSure Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Mix. This stuff is worth its weight in gold, let me tell you.
Not only do my kids love the smoothies, but you can add it into so many other recipes. And it’s packed with real fruits and vegetables (but they are none the wiser, trust me)!
For the Fourth of July this year, I decided to make these frozen treats.
Festive looking, no?
Here’s how to make them…
What you need:
- One scoop PediaSure Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Mix (strawberry banana)
- 10 1/2 graham crackers (cut into quarters/rectangles)
- 1 cup vanilla nonfat Greek yogurt
- I cup thawed frozen reduced fat whipped topping
- Red, white, and blue sprinkles
To make:
First, line a 9×9 square pan with foil, making sure the ends of the foil extend over the pan.
Arrange half the graham pieces, in 3 rows of 7 pieces each, on the bottom of the pan. (You’ll want to leave a space between each one, since you’ll be cutting these later)
Add one scoop of the PediaSure Sidekicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Mix (strawberry banana) with the Greek yogurt and whipped topping.
Then blend until smooth. Your mixture should be quite thick.
Using a spatula, carefully pour the mixture over the arranged graham crackers.
Top with remaining graham pieces, aligning over the graham pieces on the bottom layer.
Freeze for four hours.
Use the foil handles to lift dessert from pan. Then cut between the grahams to make your bars.
Don’t worry about making them perfect, because you’ll be covering the sides with sprinkles later.
Tip: Let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature before cutting.
Once your bars are cut, it’s time to sprinkle. This is a great way to involve the kids. Just sprinkle red white and blue in any pattern you can imagine, to make your frozen treats 4th of July ready.
After sprinkling, place your bars onto a sheet of aluminum foil and re-freeze until ready to serve.
Enjoy!
To learn more about PediaSure SideKicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie mix, checkout our Strawberry Banana Coconut Energy Bites and visit PediaSure.com or check out their Facebook Page for even more great recipes.
*Pediasure partnered with bloggers such as me for its PediaSure SideKicks Fruit & Veggie Smoothie Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. PediaSure believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. PediaSure’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
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Alli