Peppermint Stick Ice Cream was one of my favorite holiday treats as a kid. Throughout the rest of the year, Mint Chocolate chip was my ice cream flavor of choice.

We all know that there are not great Whole Food Plant-Based ice cream options on the market. Most plant-based ice creams are loaded with processed sugar. Some contain natural sweeteners like coconut sugar but are made with coconut milk or cashew milk which have a large amount of dietary fat. While coconuts and cashews are great whole foods, the combination of the large serving of fat-rich milk with the large serving of carb-rich sweeteners stresses the digestive and metabolic process. 

Now don't get me wrong, I do occasionally enjoy a delicious serving of Nada Moo or Coconut Bliss once or twice a year. However, if you love ice cream as much as I do, it's crucial to find a delicious frozen treat that you can regularly consume without negatively impacting health and metabolism. 

I'm happy to say that it exists! A creamy, frozen, sweet, healthy, and 100% whole food plant-based ice cream, only it's taken on the name "nice cream" - because it is nice to your body! 

This nice cream is made with a base of frozen bananas. While you may be thinking that mint and bananas sound like a weird combination, don't worry. The peppermint extract is so potent that all you'll only taste is the sweetness of the bananas underneath the mint flavor. Spinach gives the nice cream its nice minty color while also adding some nutrition! You also won't taste the spinach one bit. The cacao nibs provide a delicious chocolatey crunch reminiscent of traditional mint chocolate chip ice cream. Finally, I added a topping of pomegranate seeds for a burst of festive candy-cane-like color. 

I can't take credit for the idea of creating ice cream with frozen bananas. I'm not sure who the originator is, but I am forever in debt to you, whoever you are. Nice cream is now a staple in my WFPB diet that I enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dessert. It's incredible to have a completely guilt-free frozen sweet treat. 

For any readers out there concerned about eating four bananas in one sitting, please listen to our Alter Your Health Podcast Episode on The Truth About Carbs. 

Now let's take a look at the nutrition packed into this nice cream:

• Spinach is very high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K1, folate, iron, and calcium. Spinach also contains many phytonutrients, including nitrates (which helps to manage blood pressure), lutein and zeaxanthin (which are known to support eye health), kaempferol (which has anti-cancer effects), and quercetin (which supports the immune system and fight off infection).
• Bananas are an excellent source of fuel for energy production on the cellular level. High in Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium! Bananas are an excellent food for the digestive system because they are easy to digest and provide a significant amount of fiber to feed beneficial microbes in the intestines. 
• Raw Cacao is rich in magnesium, iron, and calcium. It is rich in flavonoids, a specific group of antioxidants that protect the cardiovascular system and improve circulation. Due to its content of phenethylamine (which stimulates the release of endorphins) and theobromine, cacao is known to boost mood. Theobromine has also been shown to enhance mental focus, support heart function, lung function, and provide chocolate's famous aphrodisiac effect. Finally, cacao contains a compound called anandamide that binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and leads to a feeling of ease and peace. 
• Pomegranates are most notable for their antioxidant contents. Specifically, pomegranate contains punicalagin, an extremely potent antioxidant studied to prevent forms of cancer, including prostate and breast cancers. The pomegranate seeds contain Punicic acid, an omega-5 fatty acid that possesses a wide array of biological properties, including antidiabetic, antiobesity, and anticarcinogenic activity against various forms of cancer. They are also rich in Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Folate, and Potassium.

Finally, the time has come to see how you can recreate this delicious treat in your own kitchen:

As always, I'd love to hear what you think of the recipe! Share your comments and questions below!

Yours Truly,

Dr. Susanna