Any real life experiences w/ healthy ice cream (yonanas etc)?

[MaisOuiMadame]

My kids love ice cream... it's their favourite dessert, even in winter. And two of them are extremely picky eaters. They only like strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.
I try to buy as" healthy" as possible, but even when you go for organic local stuff w/out additives, it's really not a low sugar dessert.
My mom tasted a yonanas (based on frozen bananas, in her case a bit of cinnamon added) and wanted me to switch the kids to this only, claiming that you don't really taste bananas...

I'd HATE to spend 100$ It's nearly 3 x as expensive in Europe than in the US and I'd hate to accumulate more unused clutter (hello, not really working zoodle - maker in my cupboard) if this doesn't really work...
For those who have tried : do you think you can "fool" picky kids?

 

[missy]

Hi Kipari, I have two Yonanas believe it or not lol. I would say it’s worth a try because if your kids like this it is worth the investment. I will add I stopped using it but only because I can be extremely lazy and easily distracted. When I was using it we enjoyed delicious relatively healthy ice cream alternatives. The only thing you need to do beforehand is keep some frozen bananas and you’ll be set. As long as your kids like bananas (I definitely tasted the bananas) and creamy cold desserts this should be a hit. You need a banana or something with a similar texture (if they don’t enjoy bananas)to give it that creamy ice cream texture. And then you can get creative.

ETA I’m pretty picky and this tastes yummy to me. But I like bananas and made sure to use sweet bananas and not green ones. Also if you have a Vitamix you can do something similar without buying a Yonana.

 

[PierreBear]

I take frozen bananas and blend it up in a vitamix/blender. Add in other things such as blueberries or cocoa powder for flavoring. It's really up to your imagination and I'm sure there are tons of recipes out there to turn it into your preferred flavored ice cream. We then top it off with chocolate chips or granola or drizzle with honey for flavor/texture. Good luck and enjoy! I know this healthier version still hits the spot for us but sometimes you just need some good ole fashion chocolate/pie/etc but most of the times it's plenty for the end of the meal.

 

[elizabethess]

Do you have a food processor or blender at home already? If so, you could try out banana "ice cream" and see how the kids like it before investing in another machine. It's pretty easy, just freeze bananas, and process. Add cinnamon etc. as you like.

Banana ice cream recipe from thekitchn.com

Edit: PierreBear beat me to it!

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Thanks so much, @missy!
I think I'll give it a try then.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Ha, I was typing at the same time as you guys, thanks @elizabethess and @PierreBear

I have a high end Bosch blender with my blender/mixer and tried once, but I didn't have the impression that the banana ice cream was really creamy that way.

 

[PierreBear]

Ha, I was typing at the same time as you guys, thanks @elizabethess and @PierreBear

I have a high end Bosch blender with my blender/mixer and tried once, but I didn't have the impression that the banana ice cream was really creamy that way.

I usually have to add some water or milk to get the banana mixture to blend. I bet if you add some heavy cream in it, it would taste even better! Worth a try with your kids before buying another contraction. Good luck!

 

[telephone89]

You can also make coconut milk ice cream if they don't love the banana one. Personally the coconut milk one always seems a bit grainy, but I'm still learning how to 'properly' use my vitamix lol.

 

[bludiva]

You can make a pretty satisfying substitute without extra equipment ...i do "faux-yo" with frozen bananas in the blender and it does have a creamy consistency if you eat it right away. Good with cocoa, coconut, or pumpkin. Also frozen mango sorbet...just blend up the frozen mango. Lots of recipes online..

 

[Arcadian]

Do you have a kitchenaid mixer? if so
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KICA0WH-Cream-Maker-Attachment/dp/B0002IES80

amazing consistency on sorbet, gelato, icecreams.... I'm gearing up for Lavendar/Lemonbalm icecream sorbetto in the near future. just need to get more lavendar (yes I'm growing both!!)

I don't like icecream much (i know philistine...) I super hate storebought, won't touch it but I enjoy making it, and if I do, I have the odd teaspoon of it.

And if you want to cut the sugar, use half stevia /half sugar. Just becareful by how much as too much stevia can be bitter.

LOTS of recipies everywhere
ALL Recipies is a good place to start. http://allrecipes.com/search/results/?wt=Frozen yogurt&sort=re

 

[bludiva]

My kids love ice cream... it's their favourite dessert, even in winter. And two of them are extremely picky eaters. They only like strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.
I try to buy as" healthy" as possible, but even when you go for organic local stuff w/out additives, it's really not a low sugar dessert.
My mom tasted a yonanas (based on frozen bananas, in her case a bit of cinnamon added) and wanted me to switch the kids to this only, claiming that you don't really taste bananas...

I'd HATE to spend 100$ It's nearly 3 x as expensive in Europe than in the US and I'd hate to accumulate more unused clutter (hello, not really working zoodle - maker in my cupboard) if this doesn't really work...
For those who have tried : do you think you can "fool" picky kids?

On the fool picky kids part....I think you can with chocolate, it masks the banana flavor. If they like strawberry you can experiment with frozen strawberries and a little milk and sugar to make a healthier version that still tastes really good.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Ok , so i'll try the classic blender again before buying any special equipment, @bludiva. Thanks



I picked up some frozen organic mangoes for kids 3&4, who love those as a sorbet, but the picky ones (1&2) need vanilla or chocolate flavour or maybe strawberry (but no sorbet and creamy and no chunks....).

If bananas don't work out, I might try coconut , thanks @telephone89 ... afraid that grainy is a no-go, though...

If it were for ME I'd be on banana-cardamom or cinnamon or lavender territory, your ideas sound fantastic @Arcadian ....
Alas, the kids are not as adventurous.. (well, 40'% of them are super.conservative.eaters the other 3 are very adventurous)

 

[luv2sparkle]

I have a Breville Ice cream maker and we often make sugar free ice cream. I use organic heavy cream and swerve as a sweetener. Our favorite so far, is a vanilla with candied pecans that I make with butter and sukrin brown first, then when they are cooled we make the ice cream. We have been sugar free for almost a year but with the new natural sweeteners available we haven’t missed it at all. Just the other day I made a macadamia coconut cheese cake. I think chunks of that would be fabulous in ice cream.