Happy Summer Kim,

Let’s Celebrate 🍌

July feels like the official start of summer—and for me, it also marks a full year of sharing these newsletters with you. That alone feels worth celebrating.

And what better way than with National Ice Cream Month?

Now, if you know me, you know I’m usually cold… so nice cream only sounds appealing when it’s 80 degrees, sunny, and humid. But when that moment hits—it’s fair game for any meal in our house!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner… or somewhere in between.

Who says it has to be reserved for dessert?

“Nice” Cream—Not a Typo

At this point, you may be wondering if I’ve been misspelling “ice cream” this entire time.

I promise—it’s intentional.

In the plant-based world, “nice cream” is a simple, nourishing alternative to traditional ice cream. The base? Frozen bananas blended into a smooth, creamy, soft-serve consistency.

That’s it.

No added sugars.
No hormones.
No antibiotics.

Nice cream really started gaining popularity about 10–15 years ago, with the “n” added to distinguish it as a nicer option for your body.

Head-to-Head: Nice Cream vs. Traditional Vanilla Ice Cream

Per 1 cup serving (approximate):

• Calories: 120 vs. 270
• Fat: <0.5g vs. 10–16g
• Saturated Fat: <0.5g vs. 8–10g
• Sugar: ~15g (naturally occurring) vs. ~34g (16–24g added)
• Fiber: 2–3g vs. little to none
• Protein: 1–2g vs. 3–5g

And just to bring awareness—regular dairy milk contains about 12g of sugar before anything is added to make ice cream.

Bonus: Since nice cream is dairy-free, many people find it easier to digest.

Bananas & Blood Sugar

Bananas sometimes get a bad reputation when it comes to blood sugar—but context matters.

Yes, they contain natural sugars, but they also provide fiber, which helps slow absorption.

Here’s where it gets interesting:

• Greener bananas → higher in resistant starch (acts like fiber, supports steadier blood sugar)
• Yellow bananas → moderate glycemic impact
• Brown-spotted bananas → higher in simple sugars, quicker absorption

Glycemic index range (approximate):

• Green: ~30 (low)
• Yellow: ~50 (moderate)
• Ripe/brown: 60+

If blood sugar balance is a priority—especially for those managing diabetes—slightly greener bananas may be the better choice.

🍦 Simple Nice Cream Recipe

What you’ll need:

• 3–4 bananas (depending on size) serves 2
• Splash of vanilla extract (optional)

Steps:

1. Peel bananas (trust me—do not skip this step before freezing 😊)
2. Break into chunks and place in a freezer-safe container

• (You can freeze them on a tray first… but we keep it simple and toss them straight in)

• Use a tamper or scrape sides as needed
• Try to avoid adding liquid—it quickly turns into a smoothie

💭 Up Next

Next week, we’ll take this to the next level—exploring flavors, textures, and how to support steady energy and blood sugar while still enjoying every bite.

🤝 Connect

Eating healthy can be life giving and taste good. Please reach out if you want to protect your health and still be a foodie. I’d love to expand your taste buds along with your health, schedule a Find Your Energy Discovery Session. But if you are not quite sure yet and have some questions about how bananas can translate to “ice” cream, I’d love to chat, you can schedule a virtual coffee chat or a local coffee chat if in the Charleston SC area.

📖 Quote of the Week

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

Slip into joy, one banana at a time,

Kim
Hope & Healing Lifestyle
kim@hopeandhealinglifestyle.com