Could ice cream help you lose weight?
As the old song goes… I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! But, as fate would have it, the ice cream season also happens to be the bikini season. So, what to do if you’re craving the cold stuff when you’re busy getting your beach-bod in shape? Fear not, because we have a healthy recipe that tastes delicious and won’t have you screaming when you get on the scales!
The do’s and don’ts of ice cream
If you love ice cream, you sometimes just have to give in to temptation. Of course, the occasional ice cream won’t make or break a diet plan, but the trick is to make sure you minimise the effects. Here are a few tips:
- Size matters. Don’t overindulge, keep it to one scoop and eat it slowly, savouring every bite (or lick).
- Don’t go over the top. Keep away from toppings which will add huge amounts of kilojoules. If you must have toppings, try some sliced fruit or some nuts.
- Look for healthy alternatives. Some frozen yoghurts or sorbets will be much lower in kilojoules than ice cream and have the same cooling effect.
Make your own ice cream
You can of course make your own ice cream. This is a really simple way to enjoy a frozen treat and anyone can make it. You won’t need any fancy equipment, just a freezer, a food processor and a plastic bag. Oh, and some bananas!
All you have to do is freeze and blend a banana for a creamy, sweet, lower-calorie treat. It really couldn’t be simpler. Start with 2-4 ripe bananas, peel them and cut them into small chunks. Put them into a plastic bag and freeze them for 2-4 hours. Remove the banana chunks from the bag and blend them in a food processor until creamy and smooth. Put in a bowl and enjoy! You can change it up by adding some chopped strawberries, blueberries or raspberries, either as a topping or to mix in with your banana ice cream for delicious results.
Any time, any place
This quick and delicious frozen treat is easy to make and can be enjoyed while you are out in the garden, as a dessert, or as a movie night treat. Who needs Ben & Jerry when you have this deliciousness waiting for you in the freezer? As well as tasting great, bananas are an excellent source of potassium, a good source of magnesium and fibre, and are low in fat so this really is a fantastically healthy alternative to ice cream.
Check out the recipe for this scrumptious weight loss ice cream on the Jenny Craig blog. Jenny Craig offers an individually tailored weight loss program with great tasting foods, one-to-one support from consultants and a wealth of information, recipes and tips on how to enjoy a healthy diet that fits in with your lifestyle. Find out more about the Jenny way and read members’ inspiring stories on the website.
