Here’s a refreshing and healthy summer treat for your little ones. These fruit and greens packed rainbow popsicles are a great snack option on a hot summer day. They are colorful, fun and have no artificial colors or flavors making it nutritious and delicious.
Kids like colorful things and they love anything sweet and cold. I always have a hard time keeping my son away from ice-cream and frozen yogurts. But they are loaded with sugar unless it is homemade with no added sugar or flavorings. These rainbow popsicles are a fun alternative to such summer treats and they are always a big hit amongst kids all ages.
Benefits of these colorful Rainbow popsicles:
These rainbow popsicles are loaded with fresh fruits making it nutritious and healthy. You have not one or two, but 6 different kinds of fruits, greens making it a super nutritious snack that is equally delicious as well.
Strawberries – Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C which is important for good eye health. Vitamin C is also vital for a good immunity. Kids need a lot of vitamin C to help protect them from scurvy.
Orange – Oranges are again a great source of Vitamin C. They are also rich in potassium and contain soluble fiber making it very nutritious. Including oranges regularly in your babies’ diet will help prevent frequent coughs and cold.
Spinach – Spinach is a store house of essential vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of vitamin A, C, K, E, folate etc. They act as a natural laxative due its high fiber content and prevent constipation in babies and kids.
Banana – Bananas are a great source of potassium, important vitamins and minerals. They also have a significant amount of fiber which is very essential for good health. Bananas also gives an energy boost to the kids, making this very filling.
Mangoes – Naturally sweet mangoes are a good source of good carbohydrates and natural sugar. Like bananas, they will keep your babies up and running. They are also a good source of many essential vitamins and minerals.
Pineapple – Pineapples are again rich in Vitamin C which is important for babies’ immunity. They also contain an adequate amount of vitamin B1, magnesium and fiber. They are rich in anti-oxidants as well making it a great fruit to include in your babies’ diet.
Blueberries – Blueberries are a rightly called as super foods as they are loaded for essential vitamins like A,E, K, B complex and vitamin C. They are also rich in calcium, phosphorous, potassium and fiber.
Substitutions:
Honestly this recipe is so versatile. You can add more layers, omit layers, add more fruits, greens etc.
You can add a bit of steamed beets to the red layer and puree it along with strawberries to bring a more intense red flavor. Also, fresh fruits can be substituted with frozen ones. No strawberry? Just omit it and go ahead with the other layers. Also raspberries work well as a substitute.
Orange juice can be substituted with any other juice of your choice.
Other greens like kale or green kiwis are a great addition for the green layer.
Bananas are added along with the greens to give it some sweetness. You can always substitute it with any other sweet tasting fruit.
Mangoes, pineapple – You can use either canned or fresh fruits for these. Don’t have either? Just skip this layer and go ahead with the rest.
Blueberries- Frozen blueberries work very well. Also, blackberries can be added to this to intensify the color.
Yogurt, coconut water, almond milk, coconut milk all make great additions to the recipe. If you wish to include any of these ingredients, you just add a ¼ cup or so while blending each layer.
Another great hack is to use those fruit yogurt cups and blend it up as one of the layers.
How to make these Rainbow popsicles.
These rainbow popsicles need a bit of planning / time as compared to the other popsicles due to its multiple layers.
To get started off with the recipe. First puree the layer that you want to go in the bottom of the mold and add it to the popsicle mold. You will then have to freeze it until it is set and hard so that when you add the next layer, it does not mix with the previous layer.
You would repeat the same process for all the layers.
I find that it takes minimum 1 to 11/2 hours for each layer to set properly.
If you aren’t very particular about each layer having distinct colors, you can add the layers after 30 to 45 minutes in the freezer.
When all the layers are set and you wish to serve, you will just have to show the popsicle in running water for 15 to 20 seconds and gently pull the stick out.
Serve immediately and be prepared for a mess.
I would highly recommend making your baby/ toddler wear bibs if possible, to make it easier to clean up the mess.
RAINBOW POP RECIPE:
Toddler rainbow popsicles
Prep time – 10 minutes
Cook time – 5 hours
Serves – 6 to 7 popsicles
Toddler rainbow popsicles
Ingredients
For the Red layer
1 cup strawberries
1/3 cup orange juice
For the Green layer
11/2 cup spinach
1 banana
For the yellow layer
1 cup chopped mangoes
½ cup pineapple
1 tsp lemon juice
For the purple layer
1 cup blueberries
½ banana
Method:
Wash and prep all the fruits needed for the popsicle. Set it aside.
Combine the ingredients mentioned for the red layer in a blender. Pour a tbsp or more so that less than ¼th of the popsicle mold is full. Insert the popsicle stick until it touches the bottom of the popsicle mold.
We recommend using a clear popsicle mold like this one here. You can see how to pour for each layer with these clear popsciles. If you prefer to avoid plastic molds and use stainless steel molds ( I know I do) then these ones are the best!
Set it in the freezer to set completely.
Make the Green layer by blending all the ingredients needed for the green layer. Remove the frozen mold and again pour less than 1/4th of the green puree into the mold. You will pour this over the red layer.
Set it in the freezer to freeze completely.
When the green layer has frozen well, make the yellow layer by blending all the ingredients mentioned for the yellow layer. Pour less than 1/4th of the mango pineapple puree into the mold on top of the green layer.
Again, set it in the freezer to set it completely.
Now make the final blueberry layer by blending the ingredients mentioned under purple layer. Add a tbsp or more of the puree until the popsicle mold is almost full. Set It to freeze in the freezer.
To unmold the popsicle, show it in running water for 10 to 15 seconds and slowly pull the popsicle out.
Serve immediately.