Of course, we all know what eating ice cream all month long would do our swimsuit fit, so we’re going to have to choose our ice cream moments with care.

You don’t have to give up refreshing treats during the summertime, though.  Enjoy those yummy, but high calorie treats, sparingly, and substitute some refreshing low cal treats the rest of the time.

Here’s some ideas to get you starting thinking about refreshing low calories summer treats:

Chilled watermelon – Many melons lose their flavor when chilled, but watermelon is always tasty.

Popsicles – You’ll have to be careful the calories here, but the best bet is to make your own out of healthy juices.  You can create you own delicious flavor combinations, too.

Frozen candy – You can’t get too carried away with this sweet treat, but if you manage portion size, you can get an icy cold sweet fix without damaging your calorie count. You may have tossed your candy bar into the freezer when you were a kid, so just adjust to the grown up version.  Choose a favorite bar (I think Milky Way is great frozen), but it into small pieces, put into a freezer bag and toss into the freezer.  You can grab a tasty bite when you need it.

Sno-cone – Another childhood favorite of mine, but now I make mine without all the sugary syrup.  Substitute juice or other healthy flavoring to taste.

Frozen juices – Put your orange juice or other favorite into the freezer and let it get slushy.  Scoop into a martini glass, and it’ll look pretty as well as taste good.

Celery – Full of hydrating water, celery provides a little crunch as well.  Add a smidge of peanut butter (but don’t get carried away) for a little protein if you’d like.

Cucumbers – These are one of my favorite summer snacks.  Have them chilled and plain, squeeze on a bit of lemon or lime, sprinkle on chili powder or flakes, add a splash of balsamic vinegar, or add them with tomatoes to make a refreshing salad.

Tomatoes – I used to eat these straight from the vine when I was a kid.  If you have a garden, you can too!  But if not, find a good farmers market and stock up.  I think tomatoes taste best when they’re at room temperature, or maybe even warmed a bit from the sun.  Just bite into them, add a little salt and pepper if you’d like, and picture yourself in the garden.

Chilled water – One of the all purpose refreshments, you can spritz in up a bit with some lemon or lime.  Drink lots – it’s good for quenching your thirst and for the rest of you, too.

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: The List Maven