Special guest blogger and future dietitian Emily Rykaczewski AKA HealthByEmily is gracing my page once again, this time with an absolutely delicious, nutritious and potentially plant-based ice cream alternative.
Let’s see what she has to say about her creation…
I know I’m not the only one out there who wants to eat ice cream on the daily without feeling guilty about it. Now, we all know that ice cream is okay in moderation, but there is nothing moderate about eating it every day. This is especially true for those of you out there with lactose intolerance. So, with that in mind, I decided to find a solution to our ice cream conundrum.
I proudly present to you…. banana nICE CREAM. This nice cream is a great healthy, (and if you want, dairy-free) substitute to satisfy any sweet tooth.
The only thing left to do is teach you how to make it on your own.
Let’s get started…
HealthByEmily’s “OG” Nice Cream:
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup of milk (cow, almond, or soy — any will work!)
Instructions
1. Peel and cut ripe bananas into pieces, place in a bag and freeze overnight.
2. Take frozen bananas from freezer and transfer to a blender.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of milk into blender and blend.
4. Pour product into bowl.
The result – a creamy banana-y goodness that is similar to ice cream in both taste and texture. Straight from the blender is a frozen yogurt texture finish. If a firmer product is preferred, place nice cream in the freezer until desired firmness.
Chocolate Chip Nice Cream:
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Peel and cut ripe bananas into pieces, place in a bag and freeze overnight.
2. Take frozen bananas from freezer and transfer to a blender.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of milk into blender and blend.
4. Pour product into bowl.
5. Mix in mini chocolate chips
Chocolate Nice Cream:
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup of milk
1 tablespoon cacao powder
Instructions:
1. Peel and cut ripe bananas into pieces, place in a bag and freeze overnight.
2. Take frozen bananas from freezer and transfer to a blender.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of cacao powder into blender and blend
4. Pour product into bowl.
Raspberry Nice Cream:
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
1/4 cup of milk
1/3 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen!)
Instructions
1. Peel and cut ripe bananas into pieces, place in a bag and freeze overnight.
2. Take frozen bananas from freezer and transfer to a blender.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of milk and 1/3 cup raspberries into blender and blend.
4. Pour product into bowl.
And that’s all she wrote! But not really, because I’m about to lay down some facts on the benefits of eating this nice cream. Since it’s made primarily of bananas, the benefits of consuming this dessert are essentially the same as eating the fruit. Bananas are high in potassium, which has been shown to lower blood pressure and contribute to a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. The use of additional healthy ingredients only amp up the benefits. Cacao powder, which is suggested for the chocolate nice cream, provides iron and 2 grams of fiber. Raspberries also contain additional health boosts. Berries are full of antioxidants, so any berry used will pack a potent punch. Playing around with the ingredients can help deliver not only a unique taste but a nutrient dense sweet treat. So next time you are craving ice cream try making nice cream instead!
Nice Cream is the ultimate low calorie, plant-based alternative to ice cream, thanks Emily!
Until next time,
Andy De Santis RD MPH
