Plum and Granola Yogurt Popsicles Recipe

 
Healthy snacking is one of my main New Year's resolutions for 2015. New Year's resolutions are easy to make but difficult to maintain. This is definitely one of the easiest resolutions to incorporate into daily life! For the many Americans who resolve to eat healthier in the New Year, focusing on healthy snacks is an easy way to improve the quality of your diet, especially when you add the Feel Good Fruit to your favorite snacking recipes.

These Plum and Granola Yogurt Popsicles are one of those healthy and easy snacks to make! The possibilities are endless, from what fruit you choose whether dried or fresh, which juice you incorporate, or what type of yogurt to use. Adults and kids both love them, and they're great for after school or an anytime snack!



I chose to use some delicious Sunsweet® plum products for my popsicles! The Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes are always a pantry staple and SO tasty, and the PlumSmart® Light juice has the perfect flavor, not too sweet. Both are something to definitely have on hand! Total feel good via the deliciously tasty and uniquely nutritious fruit – the prune. The prunes and juice, along with the granola and yogurt, make these popsicles a delicious, flavorful treat! 

Now I have to admit, I'm a new lover of prunes after making these popsicles!! I've never had the urge to try them before, since when you're young, prunes were never the cool thing to try! Who knew I'd actually end up loving them! And seriously... what a great way to get some extra fiber in your diet! After the recipe, you can find tons of useful info about these Sunsweet® products, as well as some interesting facts about prunes!

I'm super excited to try out more of these Sunsweet® prune products in some new recipes and see what other healthy snacks I can come up with to share with all of you! What are your favorite healthy snacks??

Plum and Granola Yogurt Popsicles 
4 popsicles

What you need:
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup PlumSmart® Light juice
1/2 cup Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes
1/3 cup granola
4- 5 ounce paper cups
4 sticks 

Directions:
1. Whisk together the yogurt and juice until smooth. 
2. Mix in the dried plums and granola, until combined. 
3. Scoop evenly into each of the four cups. 
4. Place a piece of aluminum foil over each cup with a hole slit in the middle. 
5. Insert sticks in the aluminum foil. 
6. Freeze until solid. Peel paper cup from the popsicle and serve!

Sunsweet® prunes and juices are an easy fix to help you stick with your healthy eating resolutions for 2015.

PlumSmart® Light: This juice is made from a special variety of fresh, juicy plums and has only 60 calories and 15g of carbs, and helps you stay fit on the inside by providing a good source of fiber. PlumSmart Light is a great addition to a smoothie.
    
Amaz!n™ Prunes: These little gems are a good source of fiber for only 100 calories per serving. Amaz!n Prunes are nature's perfect way to feel good with nutrition and delicious taste. Prunes also have a low glycemic index, which means they keep you feeling fuller longer. They add a powerful boost of nutrition and fiber to snack time or your favorite recipe.

Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes: Grab a handful of these delicious diced prunes for nutritious snacking. Toss them in cereal, oatmeal, salad or your favorite recipes for added flavor and fiber. One serving of Amaz!n Diced Prunes is a good source of fiber for only 100 calories. Add to your favorite snacking recipe for extra fiber and a fruit flavor boost.

Studies suggest the following positive effects from certain nutrients in prunes:

Bone Health: Prunes may promote healthy bones. Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi of Florida State University says, "Dried plums (prunes) are the most bone-friendly fruit that I have seen in decades. They are nature's solution to maintaining good bone health." Dr. Arjmandi hypothesizes that the many compounds and nutrients contained in prunes, such as vitamin K, potassium, copper and boron, likely work synergistically to have this positive effect. Additional research is currently being conducted to learn more about prunes and bone health.
    
Potassium: Potassium may help prevent hypertension and stroke and play a role in helping support cell energy by regulating fluid balance, nerve impulses and muscle contraction to increase energy.
    
Fiber: A diet containing foods with fiber can replace fats and sweets, and contributes to heart health.

Regularity: A fiber rich diet may contribute to maintaining a consistent digestive tract which helps lead to improved digestive health.

I hope this post is super helpful in your quest to eat healthier in 2015! Enjoy!
 
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

This post was shared at: Love Bakes Good Cakes, The Best Blog Recipes, A Dish of Daily Life, The Better Baker,