When thinking of ice cream, the first word that comes to mind is probably deliciousness, but unfortunately, the word guilt almost immediately follows it up. But did you know that, with a few tweaks and turns, you can turn this classical dessert into healthy ice cream that you can enjoy on a regular basis? Whether you’re low-cal, low-fat, dairy-free, or vegan, we’ve got a scoop waiting for you.
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Health benefits
Traditional, store-bought ice cream is often perceived as junk food (which it truthfully is), making it best for you to avoid it whenever possible. There are some healthy products on the market, but with many hidden sugars and additives, finding nutritious options often feels like finding a needle in a haystack.
Luckily, you can bypass these sugar-packed treats by making your own homemade ice cream that can be a true nutrition bomb. When you make ice cream at home, you can control the ingredients and select solely those that will boost its nutritional content.
For example, you can make a wonderful healthy ice cream with blueberries and strawberries. Blueberries have high levels of antioxidants called anthocyanins, which improve cognitive function while reducing oxidative stress. Strawberries, on the other hand, are loaded with vitamin C, which strengthens and preserves your immune system and promotes skin health.
Ice cream is a dessert, after all, and as such, it should do its job of satisfying your sweet tooth. However, that doesn’t mean you have to stuff it with sugar – quite the contrary. You can make your healthy dessert beautifully sweet with granulated sugar substitutes like honey or maple syrup.
With these, you’ll get to reduce your refined sugar intake while adding rich and distinctive sweetness. Another fantastic experiment we advise you to experiment with is dark chocolate. It does an excellent job at intensifying the flavor while providing antioxidant and heart health properties.
Finally, to make your healthy ice cream extra nutritious, consider enriching it with superfoods. You can add acai berries, which are known for their antioxidant content. Matcha powder will give it a vibrant green hue while bringing its wealth of antioxidants. Chia seeds introduce omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein, making it one of the best additions possible.
Overall, homemade healthy ice cream brings numerous health benefits to the table when made with the right ingredients. Now, let’s get to the fun part and see how you can combine these components for a scoop of nutritional goodness.
Healthy ice cream recipes
Healthy ice creams come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Here are a few different variations and recipes for making this healthy dessert from the comfort of your home.
Low-calorie ice cream
Mango sorbet is a refreshing, tropical ice cream that’s bursting with flavor. And with only 70 calories per serving, it’s a perfect guilt-free dessert to cool down on a hot day. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and frozen;
- 1/2 a cup unsweetened plain almond milk;
- 1/4 cup lime juice;
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional).
First, blend the frozen mangoes in a high-powered blender until smooth and creamy. Proceed by gradually adding almond milk and lime juice while blending until you reach the consistency you like. You can stir in chopped mint to make it extra refreshing (if desired). Freeze the mix for at least one hour before serving.
Macros (per serving):
Calories: 70, Carbs: 17g, Fat: 0g, Protein: 1g
Dairy-free ice cream
These healthy popsicles are the perfect blend of caffeine and creamy coconut goodness. They’ll energize you with their delicious flavors, and on top of that, they’re completely dairy-free.
- 1 can of full-fat coconut milk;
- 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee;
- 1/4 cup maple syrup;
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract;
- a pinch of ground cinnamon.
To make these popsicles, simply whisk together coconut milk, coffee, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Then, pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze it for at least four hours. When you take them out of the freezer, run warm water over the mold briefly to loosen the popsicles and make it easier to pull them out.
Macros (per serving):
Calories: 120, Carbs: 15g, Fat: 6g, Protein: 1g
High-protein ice cream
If you want your healthy snacks to be an extra protein boost, we’ve got you covered. This nutritious ice cream sandwich is packed with antioxidants and protein, perfect for enthusiastic gym-goers.
- 1 cup frozen blueberries;
- 1 cup fresh spinach;
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt;
- 1/4 cup plant-based milk;
- 1/2 scoop vegan protein powder;
- 1/4 cup granola (optional).
Grab your blender and blend frozen blueberries, spinach, Greek yogurt, and plant-based milk until smooth and creamy. Then, proceed with adding the protein powder and give it another blend to mix nicely. Finally, pour into bowls and top with granola and fresh berries.
Macros (per serving):
Calories: 250, Carbs: 35g, Fat: 5g, Protein: 20g
Vegan ice cream
If you’re rock the vegan meal plan, this recipe is exactly what you’re looking for. This strawberry oat milk ice cream is both vegan and gluten-free, offering a delightful blend of creamy oat milk, sweet strawberries, and a hint of maple syrup.
- 2 cups frozen strawberries;
- 1 cup rolled oats, soaked in 1 cup water for 2 hours;
- 1/2 cup unsweetened oat milk;
- 1/4 cup maple syrup;
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.
First, prepare the soaked oats by draining and blending them until smooth. Then, blend frozen strawberries, oat milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until creamy and combined. Freeze the mixture for at least three hours. It’s important to stir it occasionally during the first hour to prevent ice crystals.
Final thoughts
Enjoying a homemade, healthy ice cream is a delightful culinary experience paved with mindful choices. You can turn a traditionally unhealthy snack into a nutritional powerhouse by carefully selecting your ingredients. Enjoy the sweet journey of creating ice cream that’s as good for you as it is delightful.