Often, I hear stories of people who gave up the corporate world, to open an ice cream store or start baking cookies for a living. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
The world is full of ice cream and cookies, but we are still a sick and depressed bunch. Why? I think the ice cream and cookies are part of the problem.
Yes, we are stressed and need relief. But ice cream and cookies are short term relief, invented for children who need instant gratification. And their effects are well known:
- Strep throat, tonsillitis, influenza
- Colds, allergies, temper tantrums
- Food poisoning, diarrhea, lymphoma
These afflictions are linked to the ingredients we use, such as:
- Butter
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Milk
- Cream
- Food Coloring
- Preservatives
I don’t mean to be a killjoy. Certainly, eating cookies and ice cream can be fun. However, the way we do it, and the frequency we have cookies and ice cream are contributing. Here are my top 10 ideas to make cookies and ice cream healthier…
- Make treats dairy-free. Milk, cream, butter, half & half and cheese are arguably the most unhealthy foods. They also cause animal suffering and environmental problems. Almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, and earth balance, soy or corn oil work fine. When using chocolate, make sure sure the chocolate is dairy-free also. Trader Joe’s sells it.
- Make treats egg-free. Most eggs come from hens that are treated horribly. Living away from family, eggs stolen, days shortened, beaks cut off, the life of a chicken is hell. We’ll come back to the horrors of eating chicken. Instead, use egg replacer, or soy flour, or tapioca.
- Instead of using sugar, why not use brown rice syrup, agave nectar, or grade B maple syrup? They give our pancreas a break, and taste just fine.
- Stay away from chemical stabilizers, colorings, flavorings and preservatives. They allow longer shelf life, but shouldn’t we be buying local products or making things ourselves anyway, to support local businesses, and reduce fossil fuel use?
- Make smaller batches, and have smaller sizes at stores and restaurants. Also, end the idea of a free dessert. It isn’t helping Friendly’s anyway.
- Don’t eat dessert every day. Make it 2-3 times per week. And then, ice cream and cookies can be once per week. There are many healthy desserts, such as fruit, jello, pudding, breads, etc.
- Don’t allow kids to have both cake and ice cream, AND a sugary drink at a party. Limit them. They’ll win, and you’ll win. And do the same with parties. One per weekend. Let them get some outside time. Pick and choose. Balance.
- When you know a party is coming up, have a healthy meal before and after. With brown rice, cooked vegetables and beans, and maybe even miso soup. The latter is especially good after eating bacteria-laded milk products.
- Try to have your cookies and ice cream earlier in the day, so exercise and a healthy meal can improve the blood chemistry.
- Have a pickle or umeboshi plum after cookies or ice cream.
If you have any questions about this stuff, shoot me an email at dayogaman@gmail.com