Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

Article written and reviewed by Tara Kemp, PhD
Published March 26, 2025

They Don’t Call It “Nice Cream” For Nothing!

This strawberry banana ice cream is sweet and satisfying, made by blending simple healthy ingredients. There’s no guilt with this pleasure!

With traditional dairy-based ice-cream, the sweet treat comes loaded with fat and processed sugar. In one cup of ice cream you get an average of 16g fat (9 of which are in the form of saturated fat) and 15-30g added sugar. High fat and high sugar is the ultimate worst combination for diabetes because the fat blocks the insulin signaling while the sugar heads into your bloodstream – meaning that the sugar can’t get into your cells and therefore leaving you with high blood sugar. 

In comparison, one cup of ice cream made from this recipe has 2g fat and no added sugar. It is a high carbohydrate meal, but because you are eating low-fat whole foods, your insulin sensitivity is improving and your body can handle it. Pretty nice, right?!

Fruit is GOOD for Diabetes

If you look at this recipe and feel apprehensive about a full fruit meal, you’re not alone. There’s a lot of fear around eating fruit when you have diabetes, and we’re here to change that narrative. The truth is that eliminating fruit from your diet is actually associated with worse health outcomes when you have diabetes. 

A study of 3,300 women in China found that high fruit consumption was associated with better blood sugar levels, even if they were eating high glycemic fruits. Additionally, the women who ate little to no fruit were more likely to be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Over and over again, we see our clients thrive and transform their health when they add more fruit to their diet. Meals like this one are a treat that come with only benefits and bliss. Blend it up and enjoy!

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 2 Serving
Calories 419 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup (225g) Frozen Banana - About 2 medium bananas
  • 2 cups (442g) Frozen Strawberries - About 3/4 of a standard 1-lb bag, or 28-30 medium strawberries
  • 1 cup (240g) Unsweetened Almond Milk - About 1/4 of a standard 32-oz carton
  • 1 tbsp (7g) Ground Flax Seed - About 2 tbsp whole flax seeds, ground before use

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until a creamy consistency forms. Enjoy it before it melts!

Notes

  • Frozen Bananas: If you want to freeze your own bananas, wait until bananas ripen and develop spots on the peel, then remove the peel, cut into 2 inch sections, place into a freezer-safe container, and allow them to freeze overnight before making your banana ice cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 419kcalCarbohydrates: 95gProtein: 7gFat: 6gFiber: 18g

+ References

About the author 

Tara Kemp, PhD

Tara Kemp, PhD is a contributing writer for Mastering Diabetes. She is a mental health coach, researcher, and writer. Tara received her PhD in Psychosocial Health from Northern Arizona University and has a background in nutrition education with previous positions at organizations like Forks Over Knives, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and Plant-Strong. Tara is also the founder of Reconnect Collective.

Tara’s research specialization is the foundations and mechanisms of a healthy relationship with food, body, and self. She was the principal investigator and lead author of the groundbreaking INFINITE study, which explored the role of food and nutrition in recovery from substance use disorders. During her doctorate program at Northern Arizona University, she was involved in the Nutritarian Women’s Health Study, and her dissertation research focused on how a plant-based diet influences individuals’ recovery from disordered eating.

Tara’s work combines evidence-based practices from various disciplines to support people in addressing the root cause of their challenges while also building the foundations and skills of mental health to cultivate lasting well-being.