Healthy and Delicious Pudding Pops

Summer is coming. The days will be long and full of terror. Ok, maybe not terror, but they’ll definitely be full of children constantly asking for food and that’s almost the same, right? My kids are at an age where they’re pretty good at getting their own snacks, but I’m still the one responsible for making sure there have a variety of healthy foods to choose from.

I’m also the guardian of desserts — the job comes with a cape. If my kiddos want a sweet treat, they know to ask first. Not to brag, but I make pretty mean desserts. I have a brownie recipe that’s to die for and these chocolate chip cookies are divine, but I can’t let my kids eat butter and sugar all day; I’m pretty sure that’s frowned upon. That’s where these healthier pudding pops come in.

I’m constantly looking for ways to get protein into my kids, especially my two grainetarians. I wish they were vegetarian, but that would require them to eat vegetables and they are green food averse. One way to up their protein is with Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt has approximately double the protein of regular yogurt and is a good source of probiotic bacteria, which are good for gut health. I’m also always looking for things that are quick and easy and this recipe fits the bill.

If you want to get even healthier, you could make these pudding pops with chocolate pudding made with avocados. I will definitely try this recipe because, along with trying to up my kids’ protein consumption, I also have two kids on a calorie boost diet. Using avocados is a good way to increase the healthy fats they eat.

The pudding is made with whole milk (for a few needed extra calories), but choose whatever works best for you. It may seem contradictory to try to increase calories for a healthier snack, but I calories from Greek yogurt, avocados, or whole milk are a world above those from added sugar or hydrogenated vegetable oil any day.

I’ve already called dibs on one the pudding pops from the batch I made today. I plan on enjoying the deliciousness while sitting on my iron throne, or muskoka chair, whatever.