01 Aug Chocolate Banana Nice Cream
Hot weather calls for cool treats. If you’re looking for a fresh summer option for ripe bananas, look no further. This recipe is quick, easy, and delicious. Don’t let the shortlist of ingredients and simple method fool you; it’s packed with health and performance-supporting benefits.
Benefits include:
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It takes less than 20 minutes from start to clean up.
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It has ZERO added sugar.
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So easy, a kid can make it.
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It’s packed with performance and mood supporting ingredients.
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It qualifies as a summer-time recovery food.
Nutrition Talk
Let’s talk about the nutrition. The pectin in bananas helps control blood sugars and is beneficial to gut health. Both translate to mood support. Bananas are also a great source of easily digested carbs, which makes them a great performance food.
Cacao is rich in antioxidants and magnesium. Magnesium is needed for bone health, muscle relaxation, and at least 300 metabolic processes. Most people are deficient in magnesium, so getting it here is a tasty win.
My dancers know that I recommend collagen as a way to support connective tissue health (think bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendon, skin, hair, gut) and this recipe is a tasty way to get it. The collagen also lends to the fantastic mouthfeel of the end product. Though collagen itself is not a complete protein since it lacks tryptophan, the cacao and banana fill in that gap.
Because this “nice cream” offers an ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein, it’s a great recovery food. I typically recommend taking collagen 30-60 minutes before training, but this recipe happens to work well as a refreshing recovery food.
Milks and Butters
When it comes to the nut butter and milk, the choice is yours. I’ve used peanut butter and almond butter with great success, but any nut or seed butter will work. The milk you choose will depend on what you have on hand or your preference. If using an animal-based milk, I recommend using a full-fat version. Every butter Tand milk will offer a unique nutrient profile and different end flavors, just have fun and try different versions. You really can’t go wrong!
The Recipe
Ingredients
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4 ripe bananas, frozen and sliced
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1/4 cup milk of choice (cow, sheep, soy, almond, etc.)
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1/4 cup cacao powder
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1/4 cup nut or seed butter of choice (peanut, almond, sunflower seed, etc.)
Directions
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Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process on HIGH until blended.
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Serve immediately for a soft-serve texture.
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Freeze for 2 hours for a scoop-able texture or to save leftovers.