Refreshing Desserts to Cool You Off

This summer has shown some record highs, but that isn’t stopping us from taking advantage of the outdoors. Hiking, swimming, biking — there are so many ways we can get out and be active, even if it’s socially distant. While we are out enjoying the beautiful, albeit hot, weather, it’s important to stay hydrated. Sipping on water and munching on hydrating foods like watermelon and cucumber will help, but there are other sweet treats that can cool you off, too. We found some delicious and refreshing desserts that give you a little energy, and even have some added nutrient benefits. Try one of these easy-to-make recipes to help you cool off. Mango Avocado Vanilla Gelato Given its simplicity, this Mango Avocado Vanilla Gelato dairy free/gluten free gelato is sure to become your summer staple. Juicy mangoes are an essential summer fruit, providing a daily dose of vitamin C in just one cup. They also contain vitamin A, which means they’ll cool your body all the while calming your skin. Mangoes are just one of the many refreshing ingredients in this tasty treat. Between the avocado and coconut healthy fats, one cup of this scrumptiousness is sure to leave you feeling satiated.  Orange Banana Smoothie Pops When the summer heat gets the best of you, reach for the freezer. It doesn’t get any simpler— or tastier— than Orange Banana Smoothie Pops you can make in 10-minutes. Plain yogurt alone is 85 to 88 percent water and the added bonus of high potassium can replenish those electrolytes that your dehydrated body needs. Throw bananas, oranges, and limes into the mix and you have a vitamin-packed dessert bursting with tropical flavor. Creamy Watermelon Coconut Milkshake This Creamy Watermelon Coconut Milkshake is dairy free, gluten free, and vegan, offering all of the flavor you’ve been craving. Coconut milk and water-rich watermelon will keep you hydrated and energized, while the chocolate will add a punch of fun to the fruity concoction. Pro tip: opt for unsweetened dark chocolate. The antioxidants increase hydration and skin density, helping you stay protected under the hot summer sun, says Healthline experts. A milkshake has never been so beneficial! Aperol Spritz Trifle On especially hot days, there’s nothing more refreshing than your favorite cocktail. So why not make it into a dessert? Enjoy happy hour and dessert all in one with this Aperol Spritz Trifle.  Orange zest atop chilled custard? The thought of it alone is cooling. This recipe is full of vitamin C-packed oranges  that contain half a cup of water in just one serving. Serve this rejuvenating treat at any outdoor gathering and your praises will surely be sung.  Banana Pops These healthy Banana Pops combine dark chocolate, which is rich in heart-healthy flavonoids, with bananas, a great source of potassium and fiber. Add some nuts and you’ve got a crunch and some healthy fats. Plus, these classic treats get bonus points for also being easy to make, kid-friendly, and healthy. If you’ve got freezer space, you can also make a big batch of them and have them ready for unexpected play dates. — By Ashley Camuso

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The Best Spots for Healthy Ice Cream in NYC

Sure, Pinkberry’s fro-yo has fewer calories than a Mister Softee cone, but there are much better options for healthy ice cream (okay, healthier) in New York City if you know where to look. (And you know we’re all about conscious indulgences as part of a healthy lifestyle.) Instead of going low-fat and using artificial sweeteners and additives, these churners and freezers simply start with better ingredients. Think milk and cream from grass-fed cows, organic sugar (yes, it’s still sugar!), and unprocessed fresh fruit. That not only means the frozen treats they make are better for your body, they’re also naturally more delicious. (Fresh fruit = more flavor! Grass-fed dairy = super creamy!) And by the way, we’re using the term “healthy ice cream” loosely. Many of these are totally dairy-free, if that’s more your style. Here’s where to grab a healthy, delish cone, pop, or sundae—whether you’re a legit New Yorker or are planning a visit soon. Where to Find Healthy Ice Cream in NYC Ample Hills This artisanal Brooklyn ice cream maker uses the highest quality ingredients, including cream from grass-fed cows and organic cane sugar. They’re upgraded takes on classic flavors—like Peppermint Pattie (mint chip) and Raw Deal (cookie dough) are to die for—and they’ve got locations all over. One of those happens to be at the beach in the Rockaways. Just sayin’. RELATED: 3 Incredible Benefits of Coconut Oil Van Leeuwen Van Leeuwen wins the award for cutest yellow ice cream trucks, which drive around both NYC and Los Angeles. It also has many brick-and-mortar locations, where it serves its homemade dairy and vegan ice creams, all made with the best ingredients, like locally-sourced organic milk and organic coconut milk. Their flavors are crazy creative, too, like Earl Grey Tea or Lemon Meringue Yogurt Tart. Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Vegan soft-serve made with just three clean ingredients—fruit, water, and organic cane sugar? Yes, please. The toppings don’t hurt, either. Try the Crunchy Salty sundae, for instance, with banana and dark chocolate soft serve, warm peanut butter, sliced bananas, and dark chocolate chips. RELATED: What the Founder of Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit Eats at Home People’s Pops If you took the freshest seasonal fruit from the farmers’ market, added a little sugar, and froze it, it would taste something like People’s Pops. Which is basically what they do, except they do it so well, it tastes better than you could ever make happen at home. (Photos: Ample Hills, Chloe’s Soft Serve Fruit)

The Healthy Baking Hack You’ve Got to Try

Want to take your baking up a nutritional notch? Here’s a super simple healthy baking hack: Add vegetables! Baking is a creative and meditative activity that truly nourishes the soul—and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t nourish your body, too. RELATED: Easy, Delicious Recipes for Gluten-Free Baking Maybe you’ve already replaced white flour with nutrient-dense flours, like those made from almonds or coconuts. Maybe you’ve already switched to healthier sweeteners like coconut sugar, dates, or raw honey. Well, now that you’ve taken the unhealthy stuff out, it’s time to add nutritious ingredients in. Here are some of my favorite ways to add healthy and delicious vegetables into your creations. Don’t worry—you don’t have to sacrifice a bit of sweetness. Healthy Baking Hack: Add These Veggies Beets: A Baking Boss Those roasted beets in your fridge (or even the canned ones in your pantry!) are pure magic when puréed in a food processor and blended with dark chocolate. Consider them nature’s red velvet, versatile in cakes, cupcakes, bars and even pancakes. Beets lend moisture—which means that you can dial down the oil or butter—beautiful color, and natural sweetness. They’re also loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and other minerals and nutrients. Sweet Potato: Pastry Powerhouse I love keeping baked sweet potatoes in the fridge to have for breakfast or to add to my salads. But when the baking mood strikes, I take one out, mash it up, and get happy. Loaded with vitamins A, C, and plenty more (fiber, too!), sweet potatoes can be incorporated into desserts incognito, as they are in these chocolate cupcakes. They can also take center stage, as they do in these sweet potato pie cookies. RELATED: Are Sweet Potatoes Really Healthier than White Potatoes? Zucchini: Beyond the Zoodle Zucchini is delicious roasted, baked, and noodled. But grate it and mix it into brownie batter, and you’ve got a real winner. Just add about 1–1 ½ cups of grated zucchini to your favorite brownie recipe (making sure to squeeze out all of the excess liquid, first). They will probably be on the fudgier side and will still taste amazing, plus you’ll get added essential nutrients and antioxidants. Of course, you can also make a delicious zucchini bread. Here is a favorite (which also uses sweet potato!). Cauliflower: Cruciferous Chameleon Consider cauliflower the tofu of the easy-to-bake-with veggies. It really takes on the flavors that it’s exposed to. It also works especially well as a substitute for sour cream or cream cheese in recipes that call for those ingredients (like coffee cakes). Just add some fresh squeezed lemon juice to puréed, steamed cauliflower—around 3 tablespoons per cup of purée along with a drizzle of coconut oil or milk—and you’ll have power cream instead of sour cream. Happy (veggie) baking! Solana Nolfo is a holistic health coach and wellness advocate who is Nutritious Life Certified and also certified by The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She is an active baker who enjoys developing recipes for empowered baked goods that feature nutrient-rich, real food ingredients. Solana also has over 15 years of expertise in marketing and communications. She received her BA from Barnard College, where she was an active student leader and graduated with honors. She credits her San Francisco-based mom with encouraging her to live a Nutritious Life; she used to be embarrassed of her school lunches (seaweed, always!) but is now proud of her trendsetting roots. Solana lives in New York City with her husband and cookie-loving twin sons and bakes something with bananas almost every weekend. For baking inspiration, follow her on Instagram at @solanastar.

9 Effortless Red, White, and Blue 4th of July Recipes

4th of July recipes are special. Just ask Pinterest. It’s one of the few times a year that no matter your culinary skills, you’re bringing something somewhere or serving something somewhere because festivities are everywhere. And if that something is red, white, and blue, you get MAJOR cool points from pretty much all of America. So, today I’m sharing some of my most patriotic, healthy recipes that put the Murica in Happy Birthday Murica. And don’t worry, these 4th of July recipes won’t have you sweating it out in the kitchen.  In fact, they’re effortless, so you’ll have more time to spend winning a fierce game of corn hole. 9 Effortless 4th of July Recipes: Make your own red, white, and blue chips. Thinly slice beets (red!), parsnips (white!) and purple potatoes (blue-ish!). Lightly drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees until crispy. Create a patriotic dip with a kick.  Dip blue corn tortilla chips in plain, white Greek yogurt mixed with ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Whip up a festive flag-like fruit salad.  Combine sliced strawberries, blueberries, sliced apple & mint, or try pomegranates, blueberries & sliced dragon fruit. Slice up some crunchy veggies.  Serve slices of white jicama with red, chunky, homemade salsa. Serve in a blue bowl. Fire up the grill.  Grill a healthy, grass fed beef burger and top with a slice of tomato, white onion, red-leaf lettuce & crumbled bleu cheese. Serve with blue potato oven roasted fries. Add color to your simple salad.  Assemble an endive salad with dried cranberries and/or radish and drizzle with a blueberry vinaigrette dressing. Discover the different colors of corn.  Prepare a basket of red, white and blue corn on the cob! Bonus: Red corn contains anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants and blue corn has more protein and vitamin A than white corn, so load up on these vibrant colored kernels. Mix and match colorful kebabs.  Mix and match your favorite red, white and blue protein and veggies like chicken, pork, shrimp, scallops, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and cubed blue potatoes or purple onion, and eggplant (hey purple is close to blue and blue is hard to find in nature!). Make a simple sangria. Combine a bottle of white wine with 1 cup fresh raspberries, 1 cup fresh blackberries, 1 cup sliced white peaches and 2 tablespoons agave.