Ice cream alternatives

[Hinotori]

I get in the mood for ice cream every now and then, but I don't keep any in the house to prevent temptation. So I'd started doing what are basically smoothies, but what my husband thought was a milkshake.

Well it does have milk in it sometimes depending on mood.


In a blender I start with frozen strawberries for the base, but most frozen fruit works. Toss in a banana or a sliced apple for filler. Add enough milk or liquid to make it blend. I toss in a tablespoon or so of homemade jam for sweetening.

I've done this using frozen pineapple, banana, and pineapple juice. That one was hubbies favorite.

Today's was frozen strawberries, yogurt I made, some spiced unsweetened apple butter from last year, and a bit of apple cider.

My only question is why don't they sell apple flavored frozen things? This is really good.

 

[MoonShadows]

Smoothies are great. I love them, but I start making them low-fat and low-sugar, and the next thing you know I'm slipping in a little of this and a little of that, and I may as well go out and buy ice cream. I've been on a diet since March 1st. Reading about your smoothies got me to thinking about them. I have cut out the obvious added sugars like cake, candy, cookies, etc., am eating reasonable portions, only a piece of fruit after dinner, and none of those great turkey heroes with cheese from the local grocery store for lunch. (I'm in the grocery store almost every day, and they have them about 15 feet from the entrance!) I've lost 8 pounds so far. Nothing motivates me more than seeing that scale go south! I could stand to lose a hundred more! I can't believe that when we moved here 21 years ago I was 170lbs and used to run 8 miles a day. That fell off with the early and long commute and owning a new house, and now 21 years later I'm a little over 300lbs! I recently stopped taking my statin drug for high cholesterol because I keep reading horrible things about their long term effects. Want to try and lose some more weight so I can exercise more (read: work around the house for a longer time without getting so warn out) so my cholesterol will come down naturally. So, I'll have to read this thread as a voyeur and not an imbiber. Enjoy the smoothies. Have one on me!

 

[MoonShadows]

The brain is made of cholesterol. Stupid to try and remove that

True the brain needs cholesterol. I was reading a study a few weeks ago that since the introduction of statin drugs (the most prescribed drug in the world), the rate of heart disease has not really changed significantly, but there has been an immense rise in dementia and Alzheimer's in the same time period. One theory is because of the need for cholesterol in the brain. However, other studies have shown there is some evidence that long-term statin use may protect against dementia. Scientists believe this is because certain types of dementia are caused by small blockages in blood vessels that carry blood to the brain.

There is also a theory with a lot of support that heart disease is not caused by cholesterol, but by inflammation in the body (too much western diet! excessive meat, sugar, etc and too little raw plants), and that the cholesterol is actually attempting to alleviate this for the body...that the inflammation is actually the culprit, not the cholesterol. It's like not knowing what causes fires, but you always see firemen at a fire. You could mistakenly theorize that firemen cause fires.

 

[baymule]

I am using Azomite in my garden this year, plus I make it available to my animals. It is rock dust from an ancient lava flow in Utah and it covers most of the minerals, if not all. So my garden produce will be healthier and so will the meat from the lambs and pigs. Or so it works in theory......LOL Animals and plants and people cannot be healthy if the building blocks for nutrition are not there, available for them to consume.

So even though I might sound like I am a champion for sugar, in reality I am a champion for proper nutrition.....

my twisted humor gets me in trouble..........

 

[baymule]

We took my husband off his statin drug because of memory loss. He doesn't need any help on forgetting! LOL It is slowly coming back to him.

 

[baymule]

And the moral of this story is--STAY OFF STATIN DRUGS AND EAT MORE ICE CREAM!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I got some Azomite also Bay... My critters don't love it and if given the choice they leave it in favor of kelp and their minerals. BUT, I put it around some broccollini plants that were looking a little cruddy...purple-ish leaves which Google said could be a mineral deficiency. Put some Azomite around 'em and in less than a week those plants are beautiful and producing their first broccollini buds! Good stuff!

 

[Hinotori]

I don't think that commercial strawberries have much flavor. It's easy to overpower them.

The strawberry and banana with milk and homemade strawberry jam for actual flavor is what hubby thought had actual ice cream in it.

 

[tortoise]

Thanks for the idea! I have apparently unstable blood sugar and have finally been sucking it up to eat low sugar / moderate carb diet. My ice cream replacement is whole milk plain yogurt with lemon curd made with half the sugar. 2 grams added sugar per serving, tastes rich, sweet and tangy.

 

[Hinotori]

Oh my that sounds good. And I have lots of eggs.


I have less issues with the sugar than I do with most grains. Rice will kill me followed close behind by corn. Wheat depends on how it's dealt. Same with rye. Barley is the only one I can eat on a regular basis, but I only use it for soup and meatloaf.

I sub whole cooked barley for breadcrumbs. Hubby likes it better too. Rice also works. Mom is allergic to wheat and hadn't made or had meatloaf in over a decade. Dad loves it. Mom was skeptical until she watched me make it and tried it. Other than the grains adding a little texture, there is no difference. Now Mom makes it occasionally.