Icy Treats are Great Snacks

When I was a kid, my family installed a hand-crank ice crusher on the side of a cabinet next to the kitchen sink. Awesome! I totally enjoyed tossing in a few ice cubes and cranking out fresh crushed ice.

Don’t judge; there is a difference. Crushed ice at home adds to the enjoyment. What goes on the crunchy, edible ice, completes the treat.

After a juice or soda, I would eat the ice, every last bit of it. A good method for ingesting water. Now the trick is to avoid carbs and calories with the ice.

Icy Treats for Home

  • Ice Tray Pops – Mix flavored water with muddled fruit and pour into an ice tray for freezing. You can use sticks to make pops or eat treats from a small bowl with a spoon.
  • Smoothies – It turns out that ice is a main ingredient in smoothies. The trick is to add flavor to any mixture. Another trick is to add color with fruits like blueberries and red berries. Flavor smoothies with vanilla extract, maple, caramel, coconut or cacao are other options. Low carb baking cocoa powder will work well in some mixes—try almond milk.
  • Margaritas – If you imbibe, make your favorite tangy, no-sugar margarita recipe and freeze overnight. Totally awesome margarita flavored ice will result. Scoop some into a small juice glass and eat with a spoon. Yum!

Tart, No-Sugar Margarita Recipe

Bonus: this simple no-added-sugar margarita recipe doubles as a cocktail or frozen treat. ALERT: be aware of the alcohol content and alcohol sugar carbs.

Margarita Ingredients

  • Silver tequila
  • No-sugar triple sec
  • Fresh lime
  • Water
  • Splenda

Small Batch (makes 3 or 4 drinks)

  • Juice 4 limes
  • Add 4 shots of tequila
  • Add 2 shots of triple sec (or 3)
  • Add 4 shots of filtered water
  • Add Splenda to taste
  • Shake mixture with ice and serve with ice.

Alternately, freeze mixture overnight for frozen drink treats.

Enjoy!

— Edward Draper