When it's this hot outside, something cold is always refreshing. While you may have ice cream or popsicles from the store on hand, this is a healthier alternative.
Don't get me wrong; I love ice cream a lot. But sometimes I just need something cold and sweet to make the cravings go away. This recipe includes only fresh fruit, non-dairy milk and some spinach. Yes, spinach in ice cream. I promise you won't taste it!
There are only four ingredients, so you can't get much simpler than that! Fruit is in abundance this time of year, so take advantage of it. You can substitute any fruit you would like in the recipe below; just make sure it's frozen when you're ready to use it. I cut up my fruit into cubes as soon as I get home from the grocery store, put it in resealable bags and freeze it for later use.
Also, if you have anyone with milk or dairy allergies, this is a perfect treat for them!
The nutrition per 2-cup serving includes 166 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 38 grams carbohydrate, 7 grams fiber, 29 grams sugars and 29 grams protein - and 206 percent of your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C.
Compare this to 1 cup of vanilla ice cream: 280 calories, 16 grams fat, 10 grams saturated fat, 30 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 24 grams sugars and 6 grams protein - and 2 percent of recommended daily Vitamin C.
Regular ice cream ingredients include milk, sugar, milk fat, mono- and diglycerides, cellulose gum, polysorbate 80, carrageenan, crob bean gum, guar gum, dextrose, salt and artificial flavors.
And you know the ingredients for your ice cream that you've just made. Nothing artificial. No binding or thickening ingredients. No preservatives. Just food. Real food.
It's yummy. Give it a try!
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Fruit Smoothie Ice Cream
cup cut cantaloupe, watermelon or other melon of choice, frozen in chunks
cup berries (I used raspberries), frozen
1/3 cup spinach, fresh
1 tablespoon vanilla soy or almond milk
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Place all of the ingredients in your food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and enjoy immediately. You can top it with nuts or dark chocolate shavings if you'd like.
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Laurel Dunwoody owns Love2Nourish, a Jefferson City meal-preparation business that specializes in offering nutrition counseling services and healthy meals from fresh ingredients that customers can enjoy at home.