4 low-cal treats to cool down after a workout
A summer run. An outdoor boot camp session. A kayaking excursion at a local lake. What do all of these activities have in common? They’re going to get you sweating this summer. And after crushing a warm-weather workout, what better way to cool down than enjoying a healthy, frozen treat? After your next summertime workout, savor one of these frosty sweets.
Frozen Yogurt “Cupcakes” [PopSugar]
At a mere 30 calories, these faux cupcakes won’t set you back much after a workout. But they might be just sweet enough to make you feel a little guilty. You only need four ingredients to make them: strawberries, bananas, vanilla Greek yogurt, and mini chocolate chips. Start by pouring a layer of vanilla Greek yogurt into mini silicone baking cups, then add a coating of naturally sweet strawberries and bananas, pureed in the food processor or blender. Add another spoonful of Greek yogurt on top and a few mini chocolate chips. Then freeze the “cupcakes” until they’re firm, at least an hour. Let them thaw for a few minutes before you sink your teeth into one.
Green Smoothie Pops [Live Simply]
If you like to power up with a green smoothie before your workout, refuel with a green popsicle afterwards. This green smoothie popsicle — a.k.a. the “Green Dinosaur” — is naturally sweet. It consists of spinach, banana, pineapple, water, and plain yogurt, plus an optional infusion of honey. Blend everything together, pour the mixture into popsicle molds, and let your pops freeze for a few hours before you enjoy the frosty dessert. You’ll probably forget that your treat contains greens thanks to the sweet flavors provided by the fruit and the honey.
Watermelon Sorbet [A Sweet Pea Chef]
You don’t need an ice cream maker to create this dairy-free treat. If you have a decent food processor or blender and a few simple ingredients, you can create this low-sugar sorbet. It starts with a quintessential summer fruit, the watermelon. Dice up a ripe melon and toss it in the food processor with a teaspoon of lime juice and a quarter-cup of warm water. You can add a small dash of honey if you’re craving a little extra sweetness, but keep in mind that this will also add calories.
Blueberry-Banana Ice Cream [MyRecipes]
If you’re missing ice cream this summer, there’s a lighter, dairy-free variety you can enjoy guilt-free after your workout. In place of heavy cream and sugar, this “ice cream” recipe incorporates frozen bananas to create a naturally sweet and creamy base. With the boost of light agave nectar, plus some fresh blueberries and unsweetened almond milk, this dairy-free confection almost tastes like the real thing. But you’ll be skipping the calories and most of the added sugar of a typical tub of ice cream. You can even omit the agave, if you like, to decrease the calorie count even more. SImply blend the bananas with some of the almond milk, then blend the blueberries with the remaining milk. Swirl together and freeze for a sweet and frosty treat.