From Jeffrey Group

Obesity—especially childhood obesity—has become the public health issue of the 21st century. In the Caribbean alone, a 2014 study showed that more than 30% of children were overweight or obese.

Today, many of the most popular foods contain high quantities of fat, sugar, and artificial coloring, among other chemicals. Sometimes, we don’t know exactly what we’re giving to our children, causing them harm without any awareness or intention on our part. Oftentimes, a parent might be encouraged by a product that advertises its fruit content, when in reality the product actually contains an unhealthily high amount of added sugars, coloring and flavoring. It is easy to be drawn into purchasing products based on claims of healthy-sounding ingredients while ignoring the fine-print on the back label.

Ice cream is one such example. Even the kinds of ice cream and sorbets that advertise themselves as “light” or “low-fat” still contain many artificial colorants, flavors, and other chemicals, not to mention a high amount of fat and sugar. Every day, more parents are becoming aware of the negative health effects that can be caused by eating too many processed foods. Many have started to replace those foods with healthier alternatives prepared at home, from juices to cakes and beyond. Some companies have been working to make this process easier and give control back to consumers. KitchenAid, for example, recently released a product that allows users to make their own non-dairy vegan ice cream. The machine, which attaches to the company’s famous culinary center stand mixer, has become very popular in the Caribbean and is part of the healthy living movement that is spreading through the region.

Below, check out a delicious and healthy recipe idea for vegan ice cream, courtesy of nutritionist and KitchenAid consultant, Maria Calle. Creamy, rich, and best of all, guilt-free, this ice cream is fun to make for the whole family!

Healthy Ice Cream for the Whole Family!

Ingredients:
ü 1 can of full-fat coconut milk
ü ¼ cup of maple syrup, coconut sugar, or honey (for non-vegans)
ü 1/3 of a tablespoon (1 teaspoon) of salt
ü 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
ü 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Directions:
· At least 24 hours in advance, put the KitchenAid ice-cream making attachment in the freezer. The colder the bowl, the creamier the ice cream will be.
· Shake the can of coconut milk well before opening, as its components tend to separate out after sitting undisturbed for a while.
· Pour half of the coconut milk into a pot and add the salt and your sweetener of choice. Reserve the other half of the coconut milk for later.
· Heat up the coconut milk mixture on medium, stirring regularly for 1-2 minutes, or until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved.
· Use a whisk to mix the cornstarch with the remaining half of the coconut milk from before until uniform.
· Add this mix to the pot and stir constantly. Heat up the mixture until firm and thick, but make sure not to let it boil. Finally, add the vanilla and put the mixture in the mold, placing it into the freezer for a minimum of 3 hours until it freezes.
· Once its ready, add the mix to the KitchenAid ice-cream making attachment until it takes on a smooth and creamy texture. Approximately 20 minutes. Don’t forget to make sure the mixer is in STIR mode, and that it is turned on before adding the ice cream mixture.
· Transfer the ice cream to a plastic container and leave it in the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours.
· Take it out of the freezer and enjoy with your favorite toppings!

JeffreyGroup | Marketing and Corporate Communications
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