We’re at the height of summer, full of sunshine, family time, and adventures- which also means peak ice cream season! While this summertime favorite frozen dessert usually falls into the unhealthy category, I have some incredibly simple ways to upgrade your scoop to something more nutritious.

For those of you that may be thinking there’s no way it tastes like real ice cream, I put my recipes through the ultimate test: preteens.

As many of you know, I’m a momma to twins (turning 13 this week!) We recently celebrated National Ice Cream Day on July 19 which was an excellent opportunity to grab the family, get creative in the kitchen, and whip up “N’Ice Cream,” recipes that look and taste like the real thing minus the added sugar and unwarranted dairy. The results were unanimous: N’Ice Cream is here to stay!

They loved my favorite recipe and were also excited to create their own too. This is a mama win in the kitchen! Getting our children to eat healthy is obviously the goal, but to get them making their own healthy creations is so exciting to see!

I was so excited about my discovery that I decided to share my recipes in on a few national and local TV stations, which I’ll share more about below!

Why not indulge and reap the benefits of additional vitamins and nutrients. It’s as easy as swapping a few innovative ingredients for standard ones.

Healthier Swaps

In The News

Check out my recent appearance on San Antonio Live where I shared my favorite N’Ice Cream Ingredients!

Dr. Renee’s Favorite N’Ice Cream Recipe

Banana & Almond Butter “Nice Cream” with Cocoa Nibs

Ingredients:

4–5 bananas, sliced

4 Tbsp almond butter

¼ Optional mix-ins: Cocoa Nibs

Directions:

• In a blender or food processor, blend bananas slices until smooth

• Once at the consistency of soft serve, add with four tablespoons of no-sugar-added almond butter until smooth.

• Transfer the mixture to a container and fold in your desired amount of cocoa nibs.

• Place this in the freezer for 8-12 hours, and enjoy!

Benefits:

Bananas contain a high amount of Vitamin B6, which is essential in producing the happy chemical, serotonin. They are also a rich source of magnesium, which helps to boost serotonin levels, making them an excellent food in managing anxiety and depression.

Almond butter is exceptional for gut health. Almond butter is rich in fiber, which feeds the good bacteria in the gut, increasing its count. This good gut bacteria also helps produce serotonin, which enhances mood.

Similarly, magnesium-rich cocoa nib nourishes the good bacteria in the gut, which also increases levels of serotonin and fiber.

Share your creation!

For more tips and to share your N’Ice Cream creations, make sure you join my Free Facebook Community full of people just like you, finding unique ways to live a healthier lifestyle!

xoxo, Dr. Renee