Frozen Drinks, but Healthier

The heat of summer has us all craving frozen treats, but that doesn't mean they have to be unhealthy. Nutritionist Joy Bauer stopped by to share 3 great new recipes for frozen drinks that cut down on the sugar without losing any of the great flavor.

Frozen Hot Chocolate
The weather outside is anything but frightful, and a frozen hot chocolate is so delightful -- but packed with saturated fat and preservatives. A store-bought frozen hot cocoa contains around 700 calories and 125 grams of added sugar! Joy's upgraded Frozen Hot Chocolate uses fat-free evaporated milk, which is a great creamy alternative and adds a boost of calcium. Even though there is still some added sugar in the upgraded recipe from ingredients like chocolate syrup and the evaporated milk, it still has only 37 grams of added sugar (that's about 25% of the original!). You can even change up the flavor profile by adding cinnamon for a Mexican hot chocolate spin or espresso powder for a mocha effect.

Cherry Slushie
A store-bought slushie can hit the spot on a hot day, but it contains large amounts of added unnatural dyes and high fructose corn syrup. This gas station goodie contains about 30 grams of added sugar -- about 8 teaspoons! Joy's healthy upgrade eliminates these unwanted ingredients, is sweetened naturally with frozen cherries and pineapple and has no added sugar. The fruit also adds fiber and antioxidants -- two things you would never get from the original slushie. This Cherry Slushie is great for family members of all ages, but for an adults-only twist, replace the sparkling water with some rosé for a light summer cocktail.

Pina Colada
Finally, Joy tackles the mother of all frozen drinks: the pina colada! While the tropical flavors may whisk you away, you'll end up getting bogged down by the stabilizers and gums found in store-bought mixes. This classic cocktail contains about 80 grams of added sugar and 500 calories per drink. Joy's spin on the Pina Colada uses naturally sweet, wholesome ingredients like fresh pineapple and shredded coconut, making this drink only 175 calories with no added sugar (and that includes the rum!). She's also replaced the sugar-packed cream of coconut with coconut milk and extract, giving you all of the flavor and none of the guilt.

Pull out the blender, because you are now ready to beat the heat and upgrade your summer. Cheers!