Ice cream is the ultimate treat; kids and adults alike love the smooth, creamy and delectable taste of this dessert. In fact, there are very few who do not like this treat, and why not? It makes a hot summer day so much more enjoyable.
You can put it on practically any other dessert such as warm cobbler, a warm slice of pie or even a rich hot chocolate Brownie! However you like your ice cream you can have it! You can even have your ice cream as a healthy dessert.
Healthy eating = Healthy bodies:
In today’s hurried society, we often lose sight of eating healthy. Time constraints have us grabbing something quick and easy to fill the void in our stomachs. Consequently our bodies begin to suffer, we become more susceptible to colds, flu and other illnesses. This is not to say that the occasional hamburger and fries should always be passed over for a healthy salad, or that a treat should be avoided at all costs, on the contrary, you can eat cake and ice cream too!
In fact indulging every once and again is actually good for the morale. Eating healthy is good for all of us but lets face it, if we continually deny ourselves a dessert or other occasional treat,we will never stick to eating a healthy and sensible diet.
Believe it or not, for every sinfully rich dessert recipe there is a healthier version to be found that tastes just as good.
Ice cream as a healthy dessert?
Ice cream doesn’t have to be bad for you or even fattening. It can actually be a nutritious and healthy dessert too. How fattening or healthy your ice cream dessert is depends primarily on the ingredients you use to make it. There are so many healthy alternatives on the market for just about every ingredient. They taste really good too.
For instance I use Splenda instead of sugar, one percent milk instead of whole milk or half and half, fresh chopped fruit instead of candy, carob instead of chocolate and so on. I also add a big scoop of vanilla flavored protein powder as this gives the ice cream a higher protein count.
Here are a few of my family’s favorite ice cream recipes for a healthy dessert.
Peach Ice Cream
You will need:
- 66.8 calories per 1/2 c. Serving, 0.6g. Fat, 18.6 g. Protein, 14.6 cards. And 9g fiber.
- 2 C. 1% milk
- 1 C. Chopped ripe peaches
- 1 big scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 C. Splenda + 1/4 C/ sugar
- 1/2 tsp. Almond extract
Mix milk with protein powder. Add the milk mixture, peaches, Splenda, sugar and extract to your ice cream machine.
Follow the instructions of your machine manufacturer in regards to mixing/freezing times.
Enjoy the yummy results!
Peanut butter and Jelly ice cream
You will need:
- 99.8 calories per 1/2 c/ serving, 6.1 g. Fat, 15.4g. Protein, 7.4g. Cubs, 4.3g. Fiber
- 20 frozen strawberries
- 6 Tbl. Peanut butter
- 6 Tbl Splenda
- 6 Tbl. Fat free cream cheese
- 1 C. 1% milk
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Mix milk with protein powder, add milk mixture to ice cream machine and then add the remaining ingredients. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions in reference to mixing and freezing times.
Dig into your dessert!
Black Raspberry Ice Cream
Get these ingredients:
- 2 C. Fat free milk
- 4 scoops vanilla protein powder
- 2 Tbl. Sugar free Raspberry syrup
- 2 C. Fresh or frozen raspberries
Mix together the milk, protein powder and add sugar free syrup. Pour into ice cream machine. Follow your machine’s instructions for freezing. 5 minutes before your treat is done, add the raspberries.
NOTE: You can omit the protein powder from these recipes however, you will not have as much protein content. Further, you really can’t taste the protein in the recipe.
These ice cream recipes are very rich and creamy and are wonderful and healthy desserts. Get crackin’, folks!
Photo Credit: cherry dessert, i love ice cream, peach dessert, peanut butter and jelly treat, raspberry delight
