Healthy Ice Cream Recipes
So... you want to make healthy ice cream. I'm going to be honest, I don't think there is any such thing as a "health food" ice cream. However, the fact that you are looking for a "healthy ice cream recipe" means you are interested in making your own ice cream, and homemade ice cream is the first step to healthier ice cream. By making homemade ice cream you have control over what ingredients to use. A big reason homemade ice cream is healthier than store bought, is that you do not have to add any artificial preservatives, stabilizers, or flavors. Fresh all natural ingredients are what make homemade ice cream sooo good! Below, I hope to guide you in what ingredients you can use to make healthy ice cream.
Ice cream consists of 3 major ingredients: dairy (milk/cream), eggs, and sugar.
Today, if you ask someone if they think cream, eggs, or sugar are healthy, they will very likely respond: NO! Too much cholesterol! Too much fat! etc...
Apart from sugar, I would respond that beliefs that dairy and eggs are unhealthy are largely due to bad science, bad government policy, and big business lobby influence (to learn more about food misconceptions I really recommend the following book:
(it completely changed the way I look at my food)!
Anyways, I believe that healthy ingredients, lead to healthy food:
1. Dairy. I really recommend organic dairy and milk. Organic dairy is a little bit more expensive, but if you can afford it, I definitely recommend it. Conventionally raised cows live in their own poop, are shot up with artificial hormones, get large doses of antibiotics, and are fed pesticide laden grains (to learn more, I definitely recommend watching the documentary>>>
Organic dairy is simply better for you, better for society, and better for the environment. If you don't believe me, just google "why organic dairy" or something similar.
2. Eggs. For reasons similar to dairy, I really recommend organic cage free eggs. The eggs from an industrially raised chicken that has never seen the light of day, lives in its own poop, is shot up with artificial growth hormones and antibiotics just can't be good for you (just opinion of course!)
3. Sugar. Large amounts of sugar are not good for any diet. However, all sugars are not produced equally! Raw sugar made from evaporated cane juice is a healthier alternative to traditional refined sugar. Evaporated cane juice sugar and traditional sugar are made from the same plant, but they are not made equally. Unlike regular sugar, evaporated cane juice does not undergo a high degree of processing. It therefore retains more of its nutrients and is better assimilated by the body. If you're skeptical, Google it!
"Extra Ingredients"
People often try substituting new ingredients for the aforementioned basic ones. I havn't done this all that much, but here are some ideas.
1.Stevia. I personally do not believe in artificial sweeteners. There are many studies showing them to be have potentially devastating health effects. However, there is one all natural zero calorie sweetener that I do believe in. Stevia is made all naturally from a plant, just like sugar! Although sugar is very important for the texture of the ice cream, you could try substituting a little sugar for a little Stevia to cut down on the sweetness. It is available at health food markets and online:
2. Agave syrup. Agave syrup is another healthy alternative to sugar. You can try substituting some of this for some sugar. To get the ratio right it may take some experimentation. It is available online
You can also get it at whole foods and similar stores.
So basically take the ice cream recipes on this site, use healthy ingredients, and you have healthy ice cream recipes!
*The views expressed here are simply my opinion and should not be taken as fact.