On a warm day, there isn’t much better than reaching into the freezer for an ice lolly. They’re refreshing, nostalgic, and always seem to go down well with children (and adults alike). But if you’re trying to reduce ultra-processed foods (UPFs), you might have started looking a little more closely at what’s actually inside those colourful freezer favourites and researching non-UPF ice lollies.
And you might have been surprised. The list of ingredients is actually quite eye-watering.
Many traditional supermarket ice lollies contain more than just fruit and water. Some contain flavourings, colours, stabilisers, sweeteners and other ingredients that wouldn’t usually be found in your kitchen cupboard. These are the sort of things you don’t want to be eating – and you really don’t want to be feeding them to your little ones.
UPF-Free Ice Lollies
But does that mean ice lollies are completely off the menu?
Absolutely not.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy delicious non-UPF ice lollies, whether you choose carefully in the supermarket or make your own at home.
Are Ice Lollies Ultra-Processed?
Not all ice lollies are ultra-processed. A really simple ice lolly can be made from:
- Fruit
- Water
- Fruit juice
- Yoghurt
These are all normal ingredients you’d recognise and could use yourself at home. However, many shop-bought ice lollies are designed to last a long time, have a consistent texture, strong flavour and bright colour. To achieve this, manufacturers often add extra ingredients.
What Makes An Ice Lolly UPF?
A UPF ice lolly usually contains ingredients added during industrial processing rather than ingredients you’d use when making one yourself.
Common things to look out for include:
- Artificial flavours
- Artificial colours
- Emulsifiers
- Stabilisers
- Modified starches
- Sweeteners
- Glucose-fructose syrup
The easiest way to check is to turn the box over and read the ingredients. If the list is long and contains several things you wouldn’t cook with yourself, it’s most likely to be ultra-processed.
What Should Be In A Non-UPF Ice Lolly?
A non-UPF ice lolly should be beautifully simple.
Think:
- Blended strawberries and yoghurt
- Orange juice frozen into moulds
- Mango blended with coconut milk
- Frozen smoothies
A homemade strawberry lolly, for example, could simply contain strawberries, natural yoghurt and a little honey or sugar. That’s it. No colours. No flavourings. No complicated ingredients.
Why Are So Many Ice Lollies Ultra-Processed?
Ice lollies seem like they should be one of the simplest foods. After all, they’re frozen! But many manufacturers need products that survive transport, stay the same texture for months, have identical flavour every time and look brightly coloured as this makes them appeal to shoppers – and their kids. Extra ingredients help achieve this.
That doesn’t mean you need to panic about the occasional ice lolly, but if you’re actively reducing UPFs, it’s worth knowing what you’re buying.
Best Non-UPF Ice Lollies UK: What To Look For
Finding UPF-free ice lollies in UK supermarkets can be tricky, but not impossible. Look for products where fruit is the main ingredient. A good ingredient list might look like apple puree, strawberry puree, banana puree, orange juice and a bit of sugar. Simple is usually best.
Are Fruit Ice Lollies Healthy?
This depends on what’s inside them. A lolly made mostly from real fruit will naturally contain some vitamins and fibre from the fruit. However, some “fruit flavour” ice lollies contain very little actual fruit.
Look for:
- Whole fruit
- Fruit puree
- Real juice
- Recognisable ingredients
Rather than:
- Fruit flavouring
- Artificial colours
- Long ingredient lists
Can Children Still Have Normal Ice Lollies?
Of course. Trying to reduce UPFs doesn’t have to mean chasing perfection or banning every treat. For many families, it’s simply about making small swaps where possible.
Choosing a homemade fruit lolly most days and enjoying a classic ice lolly occasionally is a balance that works for lots of people.
Here are my top picks from what UPF free lollies are available at UK supermarkets.
Lickalix Organic Strawberry Lemonade Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/lickalix-organic-strawberry-lemonade-ice-lollies
Lickalix Organic Mango Raspberry Swirl Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/lickalix-organic-mango-raspberry-swirl-ice-lollies
Morrisons Valencia Orange Ice Lollies available from Morrisons.
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/morrisons-valencia-orange-ice-lollies/108267971
Tesco Valencia Orange Juice Ice Lollies available from Tesco.
https://www.tesco.com/shop/en-GB/products/315835757
M&S 6 Valencia Orange Juice Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-6-valencia-orange-juice-ice-lollies/600911011
M&S Sun-Kissed Blood Orange Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-sun-kissed-blood-orange-ice-lollies/688474011
M&S 6 Vanilla & Choco Milk Pops available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-6-vanilla-choco-milk-pops/688479011
Lickalix & Mr Men Organic Citrus Burst Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/lickalix-mr-men-organic-citrus-burst-ice-lollies
Waitrose Frozen Pineapple & Coconut Lollies available from Waitrose.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-frozen-pineapple-coconut-lollies/963794-1-2
Lickalix & Mr Men Organic Super Strawberry Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/lickalix-mr-men-organic-super-strawberry-ice-lollies
Waitrose 4 Valencia Orange Lollies available from Waitrose.
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-4-valencia-orange-lollies/843761-261380-261381
Lickalix Organic Simply Chocolate Ice Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/lickalix-organic-simply-chocolate-ice-lollies
Pip Organic Pip & Mix Fruity Organic Lollies available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/pip-organic-pip-mix-fruity-organic-lollies/373661011
Del Monte 100% Orange Lollies available from Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/del-monte-100-orange-lollies-3x75ml
Pip Organic Rainbow Fruity Lollies with Cheeky Veg available from Ocado.
https://www.ocado.com/products/pip-organic-rainbow-fruity-lollies-with-cheeky-veg
Easy Homemade Non-UPF Ice Lolly Ideas
Making your own ice lollies is honestly one of the easiest swaps.
You don’t need fancy equipment, just some moulds and a freezer. You can buy moulds from most kitchenware shops or supermarkets.
Strawberry Yoghurt Ice Lollies
Ingredients:
Fresh strawberries
Greek yoghurt
A small drizzle of honey
Method:
Blend everything, pour into moulds and freeze.
Mango Coconut Ice Lollies
Ingredients:
Fresh or frozen mango
Coconut milk
Blend, freeze and enjoy.
These taste incredibly creamy but only need two ingredients.
Banana Chocolate Ice Lollies
Ingredients:
Banana
Cocoa powder
Milk of choice
Blend together and freeze. They taste like a treat without needing lots of extras.
Smoothie Ice Lollies For Kids
One of the easiest options is simply making extra smoothie and freezing the leftovers. Yummy combinations include strawberry, banana and yoghurt. Mango, pineapple and coconut milk or blueberry, banana and milk. They’re brilliant for reducing waste too.
Are Homemade Ice Lollies Better Than Shop-Bought?
They can be a great option because you control exactly what goes into them. By making your own, you can reduce the amount of added sugar and increase the amount of whole fruit. You can avoid additives whilst creating your own flavours. Plus, your kids will love to help to make them.
Finding The Best Non-UPF Ice Lollies
Finding non-UPF ice lollies doesn’t need to be complicated. The simplest rule is to look for ingredients you recognise. If you are buying them from the supermarket or making your own, a delicious ice lolly can be a refreshing treat. With just a handful of ingredients and a freezer, you can create refreshing treats that taste amazing without the unnecessary extras, or use my handy list of non-UPF ice lollies to fill your freezer with minimal hassle.
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