Summer, winter, summer, winter? Who the hell knows any more?!

I arrived at work in boots yesterday, but left in flip-flops. Bermuda’s weather is all over the place and we’ve thrown in some tank rain for good measure.

I arrived at the doctor’s the other day completely soaked through, mainly in the groin area, which was 1,000 per cent embarrassing.

Turns out “weatherproof” and “waterproof” are not the same thing. I definitely need some better gear for the bike.

We’ve had enough hot days, though, to be tricked into thinking summer is on its way. This means the kids have started to ask for icy treats and so I’ve stocked the freezer with some great options.

They love nothing better than a snow cone, but the sheer volume of sugar and artificial dye makes me want to die.

I occasionally let them have one ... I used to love the bright blue raspberry ones when I was a kid but, ugh, it kills me now.

However, I’m trying to let them make more of their own choices and so at something like the Ag Show, we’ll usually say “just one red light thing”.

That gives them a little choice and balance, and we usually try to get a side of veggies in too.

In case you missed it in previous columns, “red-light” food is stuff that usually we would try to avoid (total junk like Skittles, snow cones, sodas etc).

“Yellow-light” foods are “sometimes” foods — treats with real-food ingredients such as plain potato chips or home made cookies.

“Green-light” foods are “go” foods, things they can have all the time such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, eggs and nuts/seeds.

So, “red-light” frozen treats would be things like rainbow ice cream, those giant, artificially dyed popsicles or neon shades of sherbet.

Here’s a way better list for you. Some you can make and some you can buy, depending on how much time you have.

Healthy frozen treats for kids!

Frozen watermelon popsicles

This is so easy. It’s literally a triangular wedge of watermelon (about 1 inch thick), shoved on a popsicle stick and then frozen. It’s icy, fruity, sweet and the perfect way to cool off. For more pictures, see Facebook.

Frozen grapes

Have you ever tried just throwing grapes in the freezer and dishing them up as a snack? They’re icy and delicious too.

They are a choking hazard though, so try popping them in a snack net first for teething infants. For toddlers and young children, make sure they are sitting down (rather than walking around snacking) and supervise this one. Don’t be put off, it’s a really great option if you are safety conscious too.

Mott’s Freezer Bars

These are probably the best option when it comes to traditional popsicles. These are fruit juice only and dye-free. The sugars are a little high, so try cutting them in half.

Fruit and juice-only pops

There are a number of fruit/juice-only brands on the market — Chloe’s is a good one. Just be careful about brands that say “sugar-free”. Make sure they are free from artificial sweeteners too.

Fruit and vegetable juice pops

Ruby Rockets (Supermart) are the all-stars here. They are my favourite option for kids. Really low sugar, sweet enough and healthy enough to have every day.

If your kids are used to regular options, then these might be a hard sell, but if you are just starting out, then they will likely be a huge hit.

Waitrose options (Supermart)

The whole Waitrose range is free from artificial dyes, but they have really vibrant fruit/vegetable-based dyes so they are super appealing.

Most do contain sugar, but there are a couple with smaller serving sizes too, which is a plus.

Be careful if you have a wheat-intolerant or coeliac on your hands, as some of the juice pops do contain wheat (weird, I know, but it’s true).

•The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified nutritional therapist trained by the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in the UK. Please note that she is not a registered dietitian. For details: www.natural.bm, 236-7511 or, Facebook, Natural Nutrition Bermuda