By Amie Valpone, thehealthyapple.com

Amie Valpone, HHC, AADP, Editor-in-Chief of TheHealthyApple.com and a Manhattan based Culinary Nutritionist, Personal Chef, Professional Recipe Developer and Food Writer specializing in simple Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free “Clean” recipes for the home cook. Visit Amie on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Here's a fun, refreshing ice pop recipe that you can make with your Auntie this summer to cool off on these hot August days!

Summertime Strawberry Basil Green Tea Pops – Gluten-Free and Vegan

Ingredients (Makes 16)

1 pound strawberries, hulled
2 tsp. freshly squeezed orange juice
2 cups green tea, brewed and chilled
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped

Instructions

In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend for 30 seconds or until mixture is smooth.
Divide mixture between Popsicle molds, and freeze for six hours.
Enjoy!

Strawberries and Oranges are great sources of Vitamin C, which is important for growth and repair of body tissues, helps to heal cuts and wounds, and keeps teeth and gums healthy.

Agave Nectar is sometimes known as agave syrup. It is a natural liquid sweetener derived from the sap of the blue agave plant, which is native to southern Mexico. Although this plant contains a high carbohydrate content that results in a super-sweet syrup similar to honey and pure maple syrup, it has a low glycemic index; this means you and the kids get the sweetness without the unpleasant sugar rush and blood sugar spike that is caused by many other sugars.

Green Tea is made from unfermented leaves and contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants fight free radicals, which are damaging compounds in the body that change cells, damage DNA, and can cause cell death. The antioxidants in Green Tea can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage that they cause.

Photo: Courtesy of Amie Valpone
Published: August 13, 2012