Who doesn't love a refreshing bowl of sweet ice cream on a hot summer day? Although ice cream is very popular in summer, with an average of 28 grams of sugar per cup, it is not necessarily the most nutritious choice for daily consumption.
So we wondered if there was a way to make this popular ice cream speciality "lighter". And luckily the answer is: Yes!
You can even increase your intake of beneficial nutrients. Here's how:
Watch your portion size:
It is perfectly fine to enjoy plain ice cream. There is no reason to buy low-sugar, low-fat or other alternatives if you don't want to. However, if you want to reduce the amount of sugar, you should watch the portion size of your next cup or waffle.
And if this amount, which is roughly equivalent to a scoop of ice cream, doesn't seem like enough, don't panic. There are a few nutritious "tricks" you can use to increase your portion. You can stretch your ice cream portion by adding 1/2 cup of berries (or any other fruit you like) to get a larger portion with extra nutrients and the sweetness of fruit.
The best low-sugar ice cream alternative:
If you're looking for a low-sugar or low-calorie ice cream, you'll be spoilt for choice. However, take a look at the ingredients list to make sure the brand you choose is right for you. Some varieties contain more fat, often saturated fat, to improve the creamy texture when the sugar is reduced.
To find out if the reduced-sugar variety is really the more nutritious choice, you should read the nutrition table on the ice cream packaging. Compare this with the information on conventional ice cream and look out for varieties with fewer grams of added sugar.
If you want to make nutritious ice cream at home, "nice cream" is always a great option. It is usually made from frozen bananas with other fruits and often unsweetened almond or coconut milk.
Simply mix frozen banana, fruit of your choice and some milk (or milk alternatives) to a creamy consistency.
Recommended ice cream toppings:
Try incorporating healthy fats by garnishing your ice cream with slivered almonds, walnuts or cocoa nibs. And nuts aren't the only nutritious topping to consider. If you want to sweeten your bowl, you can also add fruit. Fruits like strawberries and blueberries are a great way to add extra nutrients and fibre to the bowl.
If you like a chocolate spread, use a nut butter instead. Warm it a little to drizzle over your ice cream and sprinkle with unsweetened coconut or granola.
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Who doesn't love a refreshing bowl of sweet ice cream on a hot summer day? Although ice cream is very popular in summer, with an average of 28 grams of sugar per cup it is not necessarily the most nutritious choice for daily consumption.
So we thought about whether there is a way to make this popular ice cream speciality "lighter". And luckily, the answer is yes!
You can even increase your intake of beneficial nutrients. Here's how:
Watch your portion size:
It's perfectly fine to enjoy a plain ice cream. There's no reason to buy low-sugar, low-fat or other alternatives if you don't want to. However, if you want to reduce the amount of sugar, you should watch the portion size of your next cup or cone.
And if that amount, which is about the same as a scoop of ice cream, doesn't seem like enough, don't panic. There are a few nutritious "tricks" you can use to increase your portion size. You can stretch your ice cream portion by adding 1/2 cup of berries (or any other fruit you like) to get a larger portion with extra nutrients and the sweetness of fruit.
The best low-sugar ice cream alternative:
If you're looking for a low-sugar or low-calorie ice cream, you're spoilt for choice. However, take a look at the ingredients list to make sure the brand you choose is right for you.
Some varieties contain more fat, often saturated fat, to improve the creamy texture when the sugar is reduced.
To find out if the reduced-sugar variety is really the more nutritious choice, read the nutrition chart on the ice cream packaging. Compare this with the information on regular ice cream and look for varieties with fewer grams of added sugar.
If you want to make nutritious ice cream at home, nice cream is always a great option. It is usually made from frozen bananas with other fruits and often unsweetened almond or coconut milk.
Simply blend frozen banana, fruit of your choice and some milk (or milk alternatives) to a creamy consistency.
Recommended ice cream toppings:
Try incorporating healthy fats by topping your ice cream with slivered almonds, walnuts or cocoa nibs. And nuts aren't the only nutritious topping to consider. If you want to sweeten your bowl, you can also add fruit. Fruits like strawberries and blueberries are a great way to add extra nutrients and fibre to your bowl.
If you like a chocolate spread, use a nut butter instead. Warm it a little to drizzle over your ice cream and sprinkle with unsweetened coconut or granola.
