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This summer don’t let your kids gorge themselves on ice cream and other unhealthy treats. Beat the heat with easy to make and healthy treats that use Florida citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. These naturally sweet treats have far fewer calories than ice cream treats and cost just pennies to make.  Stock up Florida citrus and buy bulk boxes of orange and grapefruit assortments so that you can whip up these treats at a moment’s notice. Many of them are so easy to make that you can make them with your kids and teach them how to make healthy food choices.  All of these treats are kid tested so you can be sure if your child likes Florida citrus fruits he or she will love these treats.

Orange ice – This fun twist on a traditional lemon ice has a little more flavor and is the perfect afternoon treat on a summer day.  In order to create refreshing orange ices you will need to gather some fresh Florida oranges, sugar, water and some fresh squeezed Florida orange juice. First, you need to cut the oranges in half and remove the orange segments. Place the cleaned out orange halves in the freezer to chill. Then take the fresh orange juice and mix it together with a few cups of water and three quarters cup of sugar.  Place the mixture in a pan and boil over a medium heat until the mixture thickens. Next, stir in some lemon and orange peels. Boil until mixture has a slushy consistency. Remove from the heat and cool the mixture down. Once cooled, pour the mixture into the orange halves you placed in the freezer earlier and return the halves to the freezer. Every so often check the ices and smash up the ice with a fork so that the mixture does not get too solid. When ready, eat and enjoy! 

Citrus sorbet – Sorbet is a lot easier to make than people realize. It’s a low calorie treat that is great for the whole family. To make a Florida citrus sorbet simply mix some fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice together and put the mixture in a pan with some sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add in some grated orange and grapefruit peel. Pour into a chilled bowl or container and refrigerate in a very cold refrigerator for a few hours.  Don’t put the mixture into the freezer or it will freezer into a solid block of ice. Turn the refrigerator up a few degrees and use that to chill the mixture instead and it will chill into a slush consistency that you can serve and eat.

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Article contributed by Hale Groves, providing fresh fruit baskets, gift baskets and Florida oranges and citrus, including delicious navel oranges, honeybells, ruby red grapefruit, valencia oranges, tangerines and more! Visit HaleGroves.com for more information.