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Welcome to not going bananas Kim,
Making Peace with Bananas 🍌
I’ll let you in on something… I’m a bit of a strange one when it comes to bananas.
I don’t really like banana-flavored things. Never have. My mom may be even more banana-averse than I am. We both prefer greener bananas—the less “banana-y” the taste, the better.
Banana bread? Also a no for me.
So when we started making nice cream, I had one mission:
How do I make this not taste like banana?
And beyond that—if we were going to make this a meal and not just a snack, I knew a banana alone wouldn’t keep me satisfied for long. I needed something more to help stabilize my energy and avoid that blood sugar dip later.
So… let’s build on last week.
A Closer Look at Blood Sugar
While digging deeper into fruit, dairy, and blood sugar, I learned something interesting.
Milk isn’t just a source of sugar—it also stimulates insulin in a unique way. The proteins in milk (like whey) can trigger a larger insulin response than you might expect based on the carbohydrate content alone.
Over time, frequent high insulin responses can contribute to insulin resistance, which makes it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar effectively.
Now, fat in dairy can slow the initial rise in blood sugar—but that’s not the whole story.
With long-term, consistent intake of higher-fat foods (especially alongside added sugars like those found in traditional ice cream), this combination can contribute to increased visceral fat—the type stored around the abdomen and associated with metabolic health concerns. In case you missed it, you can click here to catch up. https://hopeandhealinglifestyle.com/newsletters/from-mars-to-the-heart--what-makes-men-different.html
And when sugar + fat + insulin response all stack together, it can create more stress on the system over time.
So instead of trying to “hack” traditional ice cream, we can build something better from the start.
Upgrading Your Nice Cream
Here’s the fun part—this is where nice cream really shines.
If plain banana nice cream feels a little… underwhelming (or too banana-heavy), adding the right ingredients can:
✔ Improve flavor
✔ Increase satiety
✔ Support steadier blood sugar
Some of our favorites:
🍫 Unsweetened cocoa powder
– Rich chocolate flavor without added sugar
– A personal favorite (because… chocolate)
🥜 Nut or seed additions
– Peanut butter (G loves anything PB, we use unsweetened peanut butter powder)
– Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds
– Add healthy fats + protein to slow blood sugar response
🍓 Lower glycemic fruits
– Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
– Cherries, guava, passion fruit
– Even avocado for creaminess
Fun fact fruit does have protein:
- Passion fruit has ~5g of protein per cup
- Guava offers ~4g+ per cup
🌿 Herbs + spices
– Cinnamon (specifically Ceylon)
– A dash of cayenne if you like a little kick
These not only enhance flavor but can also support metabolic health.
🥄 Keep It Simple
When it comes to amounts… I’ll be honest:
We don’t measure.
We just add, blend, taste, and adjust.
It’s very forgiving—hard to get wrong.
One gentle note:
If weight loss is a goal, be mindful with nuts, seeds, and avocado. They’re incredibly nourishing, but also calorie-dense—so a small handful goes a long way.
💭 Up Next
Next week, we’ll explore something you might not expect:
How texture impacts not just enjoyment—but also satiety.
🤝 Connect
Ready to turn simple foods into sustainable, life-giving habits?
You can:
📖 Quote of the Week
Nourish your body and spirit—supply others with your fruit. — Unknown
Sweet enjoyment for yourself and others,
Kim
Hope & Healing Lifestyle
kim@hopeandhealinglifestyle.com
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