The Associated Press

No child wants to be the one deprived of a refreshing dessert after a fun-filled summer barbecue, but for those with diabetes or battling obesity, sometimes refusal is a medical necessity.

Sometimes, though, it's not.

In Cooking Up Fun For Kids With Diabetes: Recipes, Crafts, Games & More! (American Diabetes Association), dietitians Patti B. Geil and Tami A. Ross offer ideas for kid-friendly foods, including desserts, that don't rely on sugar for their good tastes.

By encouraging children to help prepare these good-for-you dishes, they'll begin to learn about nutrition as well as pick up some cooking, reading comprehensive and math skills.

The following recipe for watermelon freeze should take about an hour of freezing time, 25 minutes to prepare, and 10 minutes of standing time.

If you buy seedless watermelon, you won't have to pick out the seeds.

Watermelon Freeze

7 cups 1-inch watermelon cubes with seeds removed (about one-quarter of a medium watermelon)

1/2 cup frozen unsweetened white grape juice concentrate

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Place watermelon chunks in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze at least 1 hour, or until very firm. (Frozen watermelon may be stored in the freezer in a zip-top freezer bag for up to 1 month.)

Remove watermelon from freezer and let stand at room temperature for 15-20 minutes so that it softens slightly.

Place 1/4 of the frozen watermelon plus all the juice concentrate and lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth, adding a few additional cubes at a time. Scoop into bowls.

Freeze any leftover fruit.

Before serving, let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften before scooping it into bowls.

Serves 8, with 86 calories and total fat 1 gram (saturated fat 0g) per serving.