Is there anything better than ice cream on a hot day? I could eat it for every meal, every day in the summertime, so I sought out healthy alternatives. These recipes are quick and made with whole, simple ingredients.
Cookies and Cream – if you make one recipe from this list, it should be this one. It’ll change your life (read: you’ll become addicted very quickly).
Blueberry Muffin – great post-workout breakfast – make it even more filling by adding more almond milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder.
Cake Batter – admittedly, I haven’t tried this one yet, but I can’t get enough of Cold Stone’s Cake Batter ice cream and I have high hopes.
Chocolate PB Cup – I love to add a sprinkle of cacao nibs and some melted pb drizzle.
Rocky Road – again, haven’t tried this one, but it’s on my to-do list.
When dessert cravings come knocking, it takes a stronger mind than mine to say no. While there’s nothing wrong with a little “treat yoself” attitude from time-to-time, a daily dessert habit isn’t exactly in line with most fitness goals. For those times when you need something sweet but don’t want to kill your progress, here are my favorite guilt-free desserts.
Banana Ice Cream. This is easy to make and can be spiced up with any number of mix-ins. Bonus: it’s a great use for bananas that are past their prime. To make, peel and chop a very ripe banana, then put it in the freezer for at least 2 hours (I like to keep a stockpile of frozen bananas in the freezer so I never have to wait). Once the banana pieces are frozen, put them in a blender with a splash of unsweetened almond milk, and blend until smooth. The consistency will end up being similar to soft-serve ice cream. I like to add in chocolate chips, peanut butter, a splash of vanilla extract, almonds, protein powder and/or cacao powder. The options are endless!
Halo Top Ice Cream. This option is a bit pricey, but it’s as satisfying as regular ice cream for less than 300 calories per pint (for most flavors). My go-to is birthday cake, but I need to get my hands on some of these new flavors like oatmeal cookie and s’mores.
Quest Bars. Not dessert you say? Try their brownie, chocolate chip or cookies and cream flavors. You’ll change your tune.
Banana Muffins. This recipe from ambitious kitchen is simple and delicious. Sometimes I toss in chocolate chips to sweeten them a bit more. I also love to toast them and melt nut butter on top. These make a great on-the-go snack, too.
Healthified Hot Cocoa. Bring 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk to a boil. Add cacao powder and cinnamon to taste.
