Kid-Approved DIY Popsicles & Frozen Treats

If your child loves sweet frozen treats, during hot weather or any time of year, this blog post is dedicated to you! You may be experimenting with DIY pops at home already, or thinking about diving in. While there are lots of options at the grocery store, some have more wholesome ingredients than others, and lots of parents with kids who have feeding and nutrition challenges wonder how they can get more nutrition. The good news is: frozen pops are a great way to increase hydration, nutrients, and variety!

The bad news? When kids have a certain flavor or texture ‘expectation’ set up with previous yummy popsicle experiences, it can be a trial and error type experience when introducing DIY varieties. If you ‘try and error’ too many times with a selective, sensory-sensitive type eater, they might start eyeing your homemade treats with distrust.

Here’s how to streamline prepping for a successful DIY frozen treat intro experience!

Don’t overdo the ‘woo’

I would not start with supplements and green powders off the bat. It’s also awesome to use simple, everyday ingredients and stick with them. If you do want to add some supplemental nutrition: start simple and don’t mess with the recipe too much. I like recipes with a few ingredients, max. Once you know your kid likes the base recipe, when you make the next batch, take two of the popsicles and add 1/8 to ¼ of the serving size of the supplement you would like to provide- mark those pop so you know which ones are supplemented and taste test them before offering to your child.

Or, mix a small amount- a tablespoon or around 10% of the volume of the popsicle mold- with the new ingredient- choose one to add nutrition that will not affect the color too much (yogurt, fruit or veg juice, coconut water, nut butter, etc). One is for you to try before you give it to your little one, and the other is for them to try if you feel it passes the initial taste test- you don’t want to taste any difference or just a very slight difference from the original recipe. If you end up successfully incorporating small additions- find the level that works and stick to it- continually altering the recipe may lead to the opposite of the ‘safe and same’ experience kids with eating difficulties are often looking for.

Consider sensory experience and texture preferences

Consider your child’s everyday flavor preferences- fruity and other sweet flavors, like chocolate and vanilla. Start looking for your initial recipe in this flavor profile.

Does your child bite into cold popsicles, crunching away merrily? Then it’s important to consider creating that ‘crunch’ in your homemade version. Water and sweetener balance is key- the higher the fluid content, the harder the pop. Adding more sweeteners like maple syrup or simple syrup works to increase the crunch factor, as well. If you add too much fruit, veggie, or powdered supplements, this will affect the crunch factor significantly due to the fiber content.

Do they like creamy sensations and flavors? Do they need higher-calorie treats? Aim for recipes with yogurt, milk, nut butter, coconut milk, avocado or other ingredients with higher fat content.

Also, make sure you can get a smooth pop experience by using a high-powered blending machine of some sort. I have had my Vitamix for years and love it, but they are on the pricey side for the initial investment! There are many great brands out there now, just do your research (there are a few recommendations I have used successfully with clients in the equipment section).

Flavor tips: frozen tastebuds decrease the sweet sensation, so be cautious when trying to decrease sugar immediately. Other frozen treats your kid may be trying are higher in sugar and flavor, so start with that in mind- match the sweet. Over time, once you have won them over to the DIY side, you can start to decrease the sweetness a bit! Stevia, natural fruit juices, coconut water, maple syrup, and honey (for kids over 1), are all great options. Simple syrup (included in many recipes) is a budget-friendly mix of cane sugar and water heated gently over the stovetop to dissolve the sugar crystals. Also- adding citrus like lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit brightens and gives DIY pops that crave-able, sweet and sour taste!

Consider equipment

If you want smooth textures, invest in a good blender. If you have a kid that loves frozen yogurt ‘tubes’, get DIY BPA-free plastic or silicone tubes. If you have a kid that is working on fine or gross motor coordination, aim for a smaller pop mold or easier-to-hold handles. If your child has a hard time getting messy, make sure the style you choose has a spot at the bottom to catch the melting liquid, and be ready with wipes or napkins and a bowl if they need to take a break/set it down. You can even find pop molds in animal and other creative shapes!

If you don’t have the cash or don’t want to commit to a particular method yet, small Dixie-type cups, ice cube trays, and wooden popsicle sticks are great. Add wax paper or saran wrap on top to keep the sticks in place.

A quick note about sensory sensitivity

Some kids really have a hard time with the sound of blenders, which can deter parents from using them. A few ideas: there are ‘quiet’ versions out there used in restaurants, you can blend in a room with a closed door to dampen the sound, or blend while they are with another caregiver or at school.

High-powered blenders

• Vitamix blender
• Ninja blender
• Blendtec blender

Molds

• Zoku Classic Pop Molds
• Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds with Drip-Guard Handle
• Mini Silicone Popsicle Mold
• Stackable Popsicle Mold
• Manba Collapsible Popsicle Molds
• Tube style molds
• Dino style molds
• Cute Shapes smaller molds
• Plastic Ice Pop Sticks with Funnel

Sticks

• Natural wooden sticks

Your child may have lots of fun making the popsicles with you, this is a sensory opportunity and activity with the potential for smells, licks, or tastes! Using the words ‘You can…’ vs. ‘Do you want to?’ or ‘Let’s do this’ can increase their trust and feel your leadership and support in the activity vs. pressure or force to participate.  Use autonomy-supporting and confidence-boosting language during the kitchen activity. They may be able to join for the whole kitchen activity or just key elements: pressing the blender buttons, pouring ingredients or the final product into the blender or the molds, adding the sticks, etc.

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