Adding Fiber to Desserts: A Gastroenterologist’s Take

Key Takeaways

• A gastroenterologist reveals how to incorporate more fiber into your diet, even in desserts.
• His top pick is nice cream, a fiber-rich, plant-based dessert.
• This ice cream alternative is fully customizable and doesn’t require added sugar.

If you enjoy desserts (and honestly, who doesn’t?), they’re often more than just a treat; they can feel like a necessity after a long day. While almost any food can fit into a balanced diet in moderation, there are healthier dessert options that really could be enjoyed more frequently—maybe even daily.

In a recent video, gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., offered some great advice on how to up the fiber content in your child’s diet, but honestly, his suggestions apply to adults as well. One of his recommendations was a dessert choice that caught my interest, particularly for warmer days.

So, what’s the dessert? Nice cream! It’s a plant-based, ice cream alternative that doesn’t skimp on texture or taste. Making nice cream is super simple—usually, it only requires a few ingredients you likely already have in your freezer.

“Nice cream is a hit with my kids, and it’s a fun way to sneak in fiber-rich foods—like beans,” Bulsiewicz notes. He even shared his favorite recipe for Chocolate Banana Nice Cream, which only needs three ingredients: four peeled, chopped, and frozen bananas, one to two teaspoons of cocoa powder, and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Toss those into a food processor and blend until smooth. It’s really that straightforward!

The beauty of nice cream is in its versatility. For instance, one of our popular recipes, Tart Cherry Nice Cream, uses frozen sweet and tart cherries, while another, Pineapple Nice Cream, mixes in frozen mango and pineapple chunks. Almost any frozen fruit can work, making it a versatile and delightful dessert. Plus, frozen fruit is not only budget-friendly but also nutritious and has a long shelf life—so keep your freezer stocked for spontaneous nice cream cravings.

Regarding fiber, nice cream packs a punch for a dessert, with the Chocolate Strawberry Nice Cream offering five grams of fiber per serving. Since the sweetness comes from the natural sugars in the fruit, there’s no need for added sugar, making it suitable for those managing conditions like diabetes or anyone looking to cut down on their sugar intake.

You can whip up nice cream in just five minutes, so why not give it a try? It’s a gut-friendly, tasty treat that can fulfill your late-night dessert cravings.