Nothing beats the summer heat like the taste of a cold popsicle. I have many childhood memories of making sweet, cold treats with my mother and sisters to enjoy on hot, humid Texas summer evenings. Sticky fingers and all, those memories never fade.
As parents we worry about the amount of sugar we give our children, but these sweet treats don’t have to be loaded with sugar. There are many options out there for making your own low-calorie, low-sugar homemade popsicles. For instance, taking ripe fruit and pureeing it makes for a quick, easy way to enjoy a popsicle with your kids and/or friends.
Watermelon popsicles are an excellent way to use large watermelons and create a crisp, sweet treat. Besides that it tastes great, watermelon is excellent for heart health, because it contains lycopene, which is also associated with protection against cancer. It has lots of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, B6 , C , calcium, and magnesium. It also helps with sore muscles, because it contains an amino acid called L-citrulline. It’s also low in calories!
Engage your kids and/or friends with this easy-to-do watermelon popsicle recipe:
Step 1: Cut your watermelon into chunks and remove seeds. Choose a seedless water to save time.
Step 2: Place the cut pieces into a food processor or blender.
Step 3: Puree the watermelon. 
Step 4: Place the pureed watermelon into popsicle containers or into paper cups with a popsicle stick.
Step 5: Place in freezer for 3-4 hours or until frozen.
Step 6: Remove from freezer, soak popsicle container in warm water until popsicle comes loose, or peel paper cup off of popsicle. 
Step 7: Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Watch and see how excited your children and friends react to this fun, easy recipe. You can also add some fresh mint for additional flavor. Other fruits that work well as popsicles are honeydew, mango, cantaloupe, and any type of berry.
For other popsicle ideas, I like Real Simple’s recipe ideas. They have great low-calorie, easy recipes.
EatingWell.com also has creative, low-calorie popsicle ideas. 
My favorite is the Red, White, and Blue popsicle, which is great for upcoming Labor Day weekend parties. Here are more popsicle recipes from EatingWell.org.
For more ideas on how to use watermelon and other great resources, see KidsEatRight.org and the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
By Megan Carrier
Eat Fit Health Intern
Graduate Student, Drexel University
MS in Human Nutrition