Ice Cream & Protein

Can ice cream be nutritional?

Sure, especially if it’s served by one ice cream company in Ireland. Late last year, the company introduced FitFuel Nourish. It’s an ice cream fortified with additional protein. The ice cream is being used to encourage elderly patients in hospitals and elderly care homes to increase their daily protein intake. It’s a tasty way for healthcare professionals and dieticians to increase the amount of protein patients consume.

The protein-packed ice cream is made by Paganini, a company that was founded by a dairy farmer back in 1990. He created the company in order to distribute Italian-style ice cream.

The creator’s son helped develop the FitFuel ice cream. He also helped expand the ice cream by creating a low-fat version that is also fortified with additional protein. This version of the ice cream is marketed to sports and fitness-minded people. Seems the son is a competitive cyclist who had “taste-tested” a number of sports nutrition products. He believed there was a gap in the market for a real food alternative. He was looking for an alternative to all the protein bars and shakes. So he helped develop the protein-powered ice cream.

This culinary brainstorm is being recognized and rewarded. The father-son team won a food innovation award.

For now, this protein-fueled ice cream will remain out of the U.S. The company is exporting to Britain and the Middle East. Still, it does make us think about the future of ice cream and what someone will come up with next.

This is not to say that regular old ice cream does not have nutritional benefits. Ice cream contains calcium, which is essential for strong and healthy bones. Many ice creams also contain vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B2 and vitamin B12.

Of course, nutrition is probably not on the minds of most people when they head down to their favorite ice cream shop. Like many things, ice cream is best in moderation. Still, who knows what culinary innovations await us.