Sugar is one of the biggest culprits for weight gain and poor nutrition, but as summer gets into gear, the temptation for ice cream and frozen popsicles (not to mention all the other yummy sweets out there!) only grows.

Here are four recipes to fight back against the sugar cravings and pacify that sweet tooth, while still staying healthy.

1. Strawberry Coconut Energy Bites

A new take on the traditional energy balls, this with a little more ‘summer flare.’

Ingredients:

• 2 cups strawberries (freeze-dried are best)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/2 shredded coconut (unsweetened is best)
• 1 cup almond butter
• 1 cup rolled oats

How To:

1. Mix (on low) oats, almond butter, coconut, flax seed, and honey in a large bowl.
2. Roll mixture into bite-sized balls and place on parchment paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or more!)
3. Blend strawberries until powdery.
4. Roll balls in strawberry powder. Eat immediately, or refrigerate until ready to eat!

2. Sweet Summer Fruit Salad

A great alternative to a traditional greens, including fresh fruit and a light poppy seed dressing: summer fruit salad.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups greens (lettuce, spinach, cabbage, etc.)
• 1 cup chopped fruit (ex: mandarin oranges, blueberries, strawberries)
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2-3 tbs. poppyseed dressing.

3. Banana Popsicles

try these sweet (and healthy!) Banana Popsicles.

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas (I love to use frozen ones for an even colder, fresher taste!)
•  1 cup milk (I like skim the best!)
•  1 cup vanilla yogurt (you can use Greek yogurt if you’d like)
•  1 tbs. honey
•  1/4 cup pineapple chunks (frozen, if you’d like)
•  1/4 cup orange juice

How To: This is super easy, just blend and enjoy!

4. DIY ‘Rocket’ Fruit Pops

Remember those red white and blue popsicles? Those were a staple for me every summer, but they’re packed with sugars, corn syrups, and a bunch of other yucky ingredients. Here’s a recipe that subs fruits and yogurts instead.

Ingredients:

• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 pint raspberries
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup Greek yogurt (non-fat or whole is fine)
• 1/4 milk (non-fat, or desired preference)

How To:

1. Blend blueberries and 1 tablespoon honey. Pour mixture into popsicle molds (about 1/3 full). Freeze for about 30 min.
2. Combine and whisk yogurt, milk, 1 tablespoon honey in bowl.
3. Add yogurt to popsicle molds (divide so that each popscile is about 2/3 full. Freeze for about 30 minutes.
4. Blend raspberries and 1 tablespoon honey. Pour over yogurt mixture equally.
5. Add sticks to each popsicle and freeze (preferred time about 2 hours).

*First and last recipe ideas are adapted from Mom’s Sugar Solution: 150 Low-Sugar Recipes for Your Kids’ Favorite Foods, Sweet Treats, and More!.