Healthy sweet treats to make and enjoy with the grandkids

Every kid has a sweet tooth. And that’s something that many of us never grow out of! So, embrace the sweetness, and enjoy the last few moments of summer by trying your hand at these simple yet sweetly satisfying recipes.

Each of our suggestions below is a tried and tested refreshing treat – just what everyone craves on a hot summer’s day, so they’re sure to be an instant hit with the grandkids. Plus, they’re each packed full of healthy fruit, so you’ll earn brownie points with their parents too!

Getting creative in the kitchen is a great activity to get the whole family involved in, so why not have a go at knocking up these summer fruit smoothies, rainbow layered ice lollies and fruity fro-yos, then get experimental by switching up the ingredients to create your very own family recipe.

Summer fruit smoothies

Whether you’re keen to kickstart your day the healthy way, or you fancy a little mid-afternoon pick-me-up, these smoothies are a cinch to whizz up and enjoy anytime.

Ingredients

• 2 apples
• 150g frozen raspberries
• 150ml natural yoghurt
• 2 tbsp porridge oats
• 1 tbsp honey
• ½ lemon
• 100ml milk

Serves 4

Method

1. Core and chop the apples.
2. Juice half a lemon.
3. Add all the ingredients into a food blender.
4. Blitz until smooth (you may need to stop the food processor several times to scrape around the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are evenly blended).
5. If the consistency is a little too thick, add extra milk just a little at a time.
6. Add a few ice cubes to each glass, pour and serve.

Rainbow layered ice lollies

These brightly coloured ice lollies look good, taste good and because they’re packed full of fruit, they’ll do your body plenty of good too!

Ingredients

• 1 medium banana
• 180g strawberries
• 150g fresh mango chunks
• 180g blueberries

Serves 8

Method

1. Start by making the red layer. Slice up half a banana and 180g of strawberries.
2. Blitz in a food blender until completely smooth.
3. Divide the mixture between 8 ice lolly moulds, filling each one by a third.
4. Next, give the food blender a quick rinse before moving on to make the yellow layer.
5. Add the remaining half of the banana and 150g of fresh mango chunks into the food blender.
6. Blitz until smooth.
7. Carefully spoon a layer of the mango purée into the moulds. Take care not to mix the layers.
8. Rinse the food blender again before moving on to make the blue layer.
9. Add 180g of blueberries into the food blender.
10. Blitz until smooth.
11. Carefully spoon a layer of the blueberry purée into the moulds, again take care not to mix the layers.
12. Add the lolly sticks to the moulds and freeze overnight.

Fruity fro-yos

This super healthy frozen yoghurt (or “fro-yo” if you want to impress your grandkids with the lingo!) makes the perfect after-dinner treat and it really couldn’t be simpler to make.

Ingredients

• 250g frozen mixed berries
• 250g Greek yoghurt
• 1 tbsp honey

Serves 4 

Method

1. Place all the ingredients into a food blender and blitz for around 20 seconds until it has a smooth consistency.
2. Scoop into bowls and serve.

Love getting creative in the kitchen?

Each Brio Retirement community is centred around enabling residents to pursue their passions. That’s why we organise a year-round programme of engaging workshops, talks and activities, designed to inspire you to have a go. If you’re a keen cook, there are plenty of foodie events which are sure to whet your appetite!

To find out more about life at Brio or to book a viewing, head to our Contact Page.

Retirement is the time to do all those things you’ve been putting off.

Find all the inspiration you need to make positive lifestyle changes that last at one of our Integrated Retirement Community’s; Beechwood Park in the Cotswold’s, Button House in South London and Landale Court, close to Aberdeen.