Everyone in my family has drunk my Kool-Aid, so to speak.  My husband and my teenage daughters all have bought into my way of eating for the most part, understanding the connection between what they eat and how they feel (and in the case of my daughters, how they look.)  Although my 11-year-old son, whom I lovingly refer to as Mr. Picky, has been a little slow coming around.  My son quietly wishes I was a “cool mom.”  You know, the kind that buys “unhealthy food,” as he calls it.

Believe me when I say that he is not deprived of treats.   I know enough not to be one of those parents who prohibits her children from eating a grain of sugar or a not-homemade graham cracker.  But there are certain food substances that do not cross my front door.  Ever.  One of those is artificial colors.  So when my son asks me “why can’t we have ____?” (insert disaster-packaged-food-marketed-to-kids), I usually go on about why those food-like impostors are bad for our health or I just say, “because I love you too much.”  And he rolls his eyes.  There is less eye-rolling than he did a year ago, but that still annoys him.

So just before dropping my sweet boy off at sleepaway camp for 13 whole days, my husband was reminding him to shower (going in a pool or a lake doesn’t count) and brush his teeth, use sunscreen and keep hydrated.  As soon as I opened my mouth, Mr. Picky looked at me and said, “Don’t worry, Mom.  I got it.  Don’t forget to eat protein.  No high-fructose corn syrup and not too much junk food.”   Of course, I was like, “What?  I wasn’t going to even mention food.  Have the best time!  Love you so much!”  Busted.

Because Mr. Picky will be at camp on the 4th of July, I surprised him the other day with these red, white and blue popsicles.  Of course they are all natural.  But really natural, not like the “natural” food companies liberally use when marketing many products.  I had no idea if they were going to turn out good or boring or what.  I mean after all, they’re made out of …fruit.   What a concept.  And some coconut milk sweetened with honey.  Zzzzzzzzzzz…….

I personally think these are very exciting and the perfect answer to Bomb Pops, especially if you use these cool stainless steel popsicle molds which you can find here.  I tasted each mixture before freezing to make sure the sweetness was just right, otherwise these are very straightforward and you can make them today for the 4th if you want.

They were a huge hit with all my kids, including Mr. Picky!  My girls thought they tasted like a really fresh-tasting sorbet.  My son gave me such a nice compliment when he said, “Wow, Mom.  These are actually pretty good.”  And then he had a second one.   I miss him already.