I Dream Of Ice Cream

The summer heat makes it hard to resist everyone’s favorite summer treat, ice cream. National Ice Cream Day was yesterday….did you know?? It’s only fitting that it gets its own special day in the summer. Its’ cool, sweet and creamy texture compliments the warm, salty sand so perfectly.

I haven’t told many people this, until now. I love ice cream!

I often look for ways to make ice cream a wee bit healthier. So, if you are too, why not try these twists on traditional ice cream? They’ll provide all of the goodness without loads of sugar and all the saturated fat.

Go Froyo

Froyo is a social phenomenon. Frozen yogurt stores have been popping up in towns everywhere lately and there’s no wondering why. Froyo is tangy and delicious.

But for those who are reluctant to transition from their usual soft serve, here are a few good reasons why you might want to try.  It has less calories than traditional yogurt; though, that doesn’t necessarily imply that it’s okay to eat a gallon of it. It has significantly lower amounts of fat compared to traditional ice cream. This is due to the lack of heavy cream. And finally, frozen yogurt can provide healthy probiotics for your digestive system.

It’s important to remember that toppings do matter. Opt for smarter topping choices like sliced almonds and fresh fruit.

Enjoy Some Soy

If you’re looking for an alternative to regular dairy, make soy milk your go-to choice. It’s lactose free and vegan-friendly. Soy milk is a great substitute because it contains the same amount of protein as regular milk with just about half of the carbohydrate and absolutely no cholesterol.

But on top of its minimal cholesterol content, soy milk does more for your arteries than you think. Soy naturally contains isoflavones, naturally occurring plant chemicals that reduce LDL, or “bad”, cholesterol in the body. If a healthy heart is your objective you may want to consider making this transition.

Though plain soy milk will still make a tasty ice cream treat, certain brands of commercially produced soy milk offer chocolate and vanilla varieties to suit your taste buds.

Blending Bananas

For those of you who love bananas as much as I do, now is the time to rejoice. Banana ice cream is real and it’s awesome. The best part? It only contains one ingredient! Banana’s smooth texture and low water content allow them to become a frozen, fruity blend. Just chop up the bananas, freeze them for a few hours and throw them in the blender. You can serve it right away or save it for later in the fridge. Go nuts and experiment with adding peanut butter for a sweet, nutty combo.

Bananas are wonderful for packing a good source of fiber, vitamin C and potassium. That’s more than you can say for a scoop of vanilla ice cream. But if blending isn’t your style- try freezing bananas on a stick and dipping them in dark chocolate. You can roll them in nuts or corn flakes for a little crunch.

Avocado Action

Everyone knows what an avocado is, but not everyone may know that avocados are technically a berry…a berry loaded with folate and potassium. They’re smooth and creamy and have all the benefits of a healthy fat. It’s basically nature’s butter. And not to mention it’s naturally a beautiful hue of green.

For the same reasons as bananas, avocados can also be blended into an ice cream. This recipe is something that takes time so preparation should be done in advance. With three avocados, 1 ½ cups of milk and ½ cup of sugar, avocados can be transformed into a scoopable cream once it’s processed through a blender. When it’s blended, let the mixture sit in an airtight container in the freezer for 6 hours.

Though this recipe does not typically include toppings, some favorites are dried banana chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips. All in moderation.

Another option…Consider Sorbet

For a refreshing and light summery mix, sorbet is always a solid second choice. From plum to peach or mango to melon, it’s a vibrant and fruity mix that everyone can enjoy. Sorbet can be made at home but takes hours. If you want to skip the all the hard work, head to your local grocery store to pick some up. It is guaranteed to be a refreshing delight on a hot summer day.

Celebrate this National Ice Cream Day with all of the fun and half of the fat. Dedicate yourself to positive and delicious alternatives. But if you just want that soft serve vanilla, don’t sweat it. Enjoy!

Your turn to take action: What’s your favorite ice cream or frozen treat alternative?

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