Natural Snow Cones + #DrinkGoodDoGood

This post is sponsored by Naked Juice and the #DrinkGoodDoGood Campaign, opinions are my own. Find out why I'm posing with a pineapple. There's a good reason, really! Plus, one of my kids' favorite healthy treats for hot days. 

If you follow me here, on Instagram, or know me in real life, you probably have noticed I have a real passion for healthy holistic living and beautiful, fresh food. As Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." I know how much better I feel, mind and body, when I eat well, which is why I love inspiring others to eat well too. I always knew how lucky I was to have access to an abundance of local, organic fruits and veggies. Not only are our farmers markets bursting with colorful seasonal produce, I'm lucky enough to have my own little garden with tomatoes and squash. I know though, that not everyone is so lucky. So I have teamed up with Naked Juice  to take action on helping make fresh fruits and vegetables accessible to everyone. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know much about food deserts until recently, but I'm happy I have this platform to help and show you how you can help too. And it couldn't be easier. Just snap a selfie with a fruit or vegetable and post it with the hashtag #DrinkGoodDoGood and Naked Juice will donate an additional 10 pounds† of produce to communities in need. Naked Juice is partnering with Wholesome Wave to provide fresh produce where there is none – through the #DrinkGoodDoGood campaign. Naked Juice is kicking off the campaign with a 250,000-pound contribution and asking consumers to get involved as well. 

Here are some facts about food deserts that really surprised me: 

• Nearly 30 million Americans live in food deserts* without access to affordable, quality, fresh fruits and vegetables.
• It’s a crisis affecting nearly one out of every 10 people in neighborhoods across the country.
• What is even more alarming is that 60% of Americans** don’t actually believe food deserts exist in their own community.

I'm excited to be a part of helping provide produce to communities in need with my pineapple selfie and I hope you'll help too. Check out DrinkGoodDoGood.com for more information. I also had fun scrolling through the #DrinkGoodDoGood hashtag on Instagram and seeing everyone from Andy Cohen on Bravo, to Adrian Grenier, to Bobby Flay posting fruit and veggie selfies. Even Ellen is doing the #DrinkGoodDoGood thing! 

 

 Just like most kids, mine aren't always thrilled with all of the veggies that land on their plates. But I am so thankful that they excitedly grab whole cucumbers and carrots are the farmers markets to snack on as we walk around. And I'm reminded that kids are happy with simple, real food. No processed junk necessary.

One of my girls' favorite hot day treats is a homemade snow cone or slushy. It's one of the things I get asked to make almost daily. Kids absolutely love snow cones and shave ice, but they are usually made with artificially colored sugar syrups. The secret is that they are even tastier when made with real ingredients. A handful of ice and some juice or coconut water is all you need. 

Place about 1 cup of ice cubes in a high powered blender without any liquid. Blend away until the ice turns to snow.  

Spoon into cups with a wooden spoon. Aren't you glad you don't even have to wash the blender? 

Now you can get creative. I like a little coconut water and a splash of pineapple juice with passion fruit scooped on top. Or make it creamy with coconut milk and maple syrup. My girls like it best with kombucha or orange juice. Whatever you add, homemade snow cones, shave ice, slushies... whatever you want to call them, are a more nutritious way to cool off when the sweet tooth strikes.

*Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/956784/err143.pdf

**According to a survey by Wakefield Research

† The monetary equivalent of fruits and vegetables to be donated. Maximum donation of $500,000.

Natural Snow Cones

By yummy mummy kitchen
Published 08/17/2016

How to make a natural slushie or snow cone.

Ingredients

• 1 cup ice
• 1/2 cup juice or choice
• diced fresh fruit for topping (optional)

Instructions

1. Place ice in a high powered blender and blend until ice is finely ground into "snow." Transfer into a glass or glasses with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Pour just enough juice over the snow to soak it. Top with fruit or shredded coconut, if desired.

Yield: Makes 1-2 servings
Prep Time: 3 mins.

Cook time: 0 mins.
Total time: 3 mins.
Tags: healthy, kids, food for kids, summer, dessert, juice, slushie