Each semester in my Sports Nutrition class (BMS 430) we have a potluck; it is usually the highlight of the semester for most students. The purpose of this class is to try different foods that might be helpful for an athlete. Remember that most sports can be categorized as strength or endurance. Endurance athletes, such as runners or cyclists, typically need high carbohydrate foods. These athletes also burn a lot of calories, so may need to eat more often throughout the day. Strength athletes, like a weight lifter, may focus on protein and lower fat options. As students learn more about how nutrition can enhance performance, the potluck helps them put into practice information we discuss in class.
At the potluck, each student provides a finished product, we all sample it and then vote on our favorite. This year’s winner was submitted by Max Walker, dietetics major. He made a delicious banana ice cream that has only ONE ingredient, is easy-to-prepare, and tastes great. The recipe is below. Try it, you’ll be surprised how delicious a fat-free “ice cream” can be.
Banana Ice Cream
This dish is a great snack for everyone, but especially for those trying to lose weight. It’s like a dessert, rich, creamy, and delicious, but made with only bananas. For athletes trying to carbo-load, this would be a great option as well; keep in mind, when the bananas are blended, they lose volume, so consuming 2 whole bananas as ice cream is very easy to do.
Ingredients:
2 bananas per serving
Directions:
Using two well ripened bananas per number of desired servings, cut each banana into fairly thin slices. Grease a cookie sheet and spread the banana slices evenly. Let the slices freeze for 45 minutes. Once frozen, put the slices into the blender on medium speed. The mix will be very thick, so may need to stir while blending. Once the ice cream is completely smooth, it is ready to be served.
The texture will be close to soft serve ice cream if eaten right after blending. Or, place back in freezer for later use, or until the ice cream has reached the desired firmness.
Nutrition Information:
Servings: 1
Per serving: 200 calories, 1 g fat, 52 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 3 g protein, 810 mg potassium