Homemade Banana + Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Summer time means ice cream time.  This homemade dessert is lower in fat and sugar compared to other store - bought varieties, plus it’s super easy to make and packed with nutrients!

What’s so healthy about it?

The bananas provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, including potassium that helps regulate fluid balance in the body and control blood pressure. Most people are aware that a high-salt diet can increase your blood pressure, but it’s less well known that upping your potassium intake is just as important to help decrease your blood pressure levels. Bananas also contain fiber, which promotes digestive health and supports a healthy weight by helping to make you feel fuller for longer and satisfying your sweet tooth.

The peanut butter contains protein, which also helps you feel fuller for longer. To support a healthy weight, I always encourage my clients to pair up carb - containing food (banana) with a protein or healthy a fat (peanut butter). This delays the digestion of sugar, leading to a gradual rise in blood sugar level instead of rapid spikes which can lead to cravings.

Last but not least - the milk contains calcium, a nutrient that is important for healthy bones, among others things.

Prep Time: 15 mins
Servings: 4

 Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup milk (dairy or non dairy - I like unsweetened soy milk)
1 tbsp peanut butter*
½ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

1.      Peel, chop, and freeze two medium bananas

2.      Place bananas into a blender or food processor and add the milk and peanut butter

3.      Blend until smooth. Add extra milk if additional creaminess is desired. I like to add in some whole banana chunks to give it some more texture but up to you!

4.      Place in the freezer overnight - the next day, add a pinch or two of cinnamon for some added sweetness

Enjoy!

*Try to get all natural PB ie. it should ideally just contain two ingredients: peanut butter and maybe a touch of salt, no extra oils or sugar. I like Santa Cruz Organic. For a low calorie, powdered option, try PB2.

Did you make this recipe? I would love to see it! Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the tag @nutritionbytamsin