Ice cream at lunch, especially in summer, can replace a meal, but should be an exception and not the rule. Let's find out more about this delicious option!
Artisanal or manufactured?
If you want to have lunch with ice cream, choose a good quality one and therefore artisanal or homemade with fresh ingredients, but careful of quantities. An artisanal gelato has more calories than a manufactured gelato, but it is certainly healthier and more authentic.
Manufactured ice cream is lighter because it contains more air and is sold in small to medium portions, but it has a lot more preservatives.
Once you’ve made the necessary considerations, decide which ice cream you prefer and just remember to keep an eye on the portion sizes. If you buy a 1lb container of ice cream for example (whether it is artisanal or industrial ice cream), take only the quantity you will consume and put the rest away, otherwise, you risk finishing it all off by the spoonful.
Nutritional values of ice cream
Vanilla ice cream contains about 200 calories per 4 oz and is comprised of mainly sugar, protein, and fat. A fruit ice cream however has about 130 calories.
Ice cream made with milk obviously has a higher fat intake than plant-based or fruit ice cream, but it also has a higher percentage of protein and is a source of calcium and phosphorus.
Fruit ice cream, however, consists of fruit pulp, sugar, and water. It, therefore, has less fat and fewer calories but lacks protein, calcium, and phosphorus.
Which flavor to choose?
Nutritionists always advise those who follow a low-calorie diet to choose fruit sorbets instead of creams, but if you are going to replace your main meal with ice cream then opt for a protein-based flavor based on milk or eggs. If you prefer a fruit-based taste without milk, accompany it with fresh yogurt because a protein part should never be missing from your diet.
You can also enrich your ice cream with dried fruit or cereals to make the meal even more complete ... and delicious!
Avoid adding biscuits, chocolate chips, or whipped cream that do not have any particular nutritional properties, as it only increases the caloric intake and simply slows down digestion.
What to eat at other meals
If you only eat ice cream for lunch, try to supplement the missing nutrients in the other meals throughout the day. At breakfast, eat wholemeal bread or toast with your preferred jam because a daily intake of fiber and carbohydrates is important. At dinner, opt for a cereal salad with seasonal vegetables, a portion of fish, or lean meat always accompanied by vegetables. And don’t forget a snack, one in the middle of the morning and one in the afternoon: you can choose fruit or even a low-fat yogurt or rice cakes, or one or two cubes of Parmigiano cheese. If you had ice cream for lunch, of course, avoid it at snack time.