Low-Fat Summer Fruity Treats

There's no doubt about the fact that summer is a time for indulgence. We indulge in time off for those summer road trips and vacations, in the latest summer books, and in the best summer treats that keep us cool when the weather gets hot. For the most part, indulging in a little treat here and there is never a bad thing, but if you're looking for some low-fat summer treats that will leave you less than guilty for having a second serving, you're in the right place. Here are four of my favorite ideas for some guilt-free treats to indulge yourself in this summer.

Fruit Salad:

Serving a fruit salad is one of the easiest, most enjoyable summer treats that I can think of in the summer. There are so many options and ways to do it. You can choose your favorite summer fruits: do a fruit salad of melons only, choose your berries carefully, or do a combination of all of your favorites. You can serve the medley of fruit plain, or add some whipped cream, which is low in calories and fat to give it a little extra texture. My favorite way to enjoy a fruit salad is to mix the fruit in with the whipped cream and add a bit of coconut flakes.

Fruit Juice Popsicles:

Popsicles are especially fun for the kids this summer, and really easy to make. All you need is the popsicle tray (which you can find pretty easily at most grocery stores) and your favorite kind of fruit juice. You just pour the juice into the tray, pop in the sticks, and pop them into the freezer over night. In the morning you'll have deliciously low-fat, cold treats to fend off the hot summer day.

Yogurt Pops:

Yogurt pops are similar to the fruit juice popsicles, but the idea is a little different. Just mash up some of your favorite summer berries -- strawberries and blueberries are my favorites -- add a little bit of low-fat milk and yogurt and mix until you have somewhat of a thick consistency. Then, like the fruit juice pops, you put them in the popsicle tray and leave them in the freezer over night. In the morning you'll have creamy popsicles to enjoy throughout the day.

Baked Apples:

I loved baked apples because they're similar to apple pie but without the crust, which cuts down in some of the fat, and they're easy to make. You just core the apples and stuff them with a mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon. You can add raisins or your pick of nuts to the mixture if you'd like. Then you put them into a baking pan with about a cup of boiling water and bake for half an hour to forty-five minutes -- until the apples are tender but not mushy. They're easy and delicious, and for a little extra treat, you can serve it with a scoop of your favorite low-fat ice cream.