Do We Still Love Our Ice Cream?

It’s summer (July to be exact) and that means we are in the prime of ice cream season. Ice cream goes down great any time of the year, but summer is the time when people make a point to grab a frosty treat.

Why do you think Ronald Reagan chose July as the month to designate “National Ice Cream Month”? Say what you will, the nation’s 40th president had impeccable timing. July is a perfect month to celebrate ice cream…with ice cream. A double scoop of Beez Neez should be as much a summer tradition as fireworks and cookouts on the Fourth of July.

But are we eating less ice cream?

I know what you are thinking: “That sounds like crazy talk.” According to a recent report, people in the U.S. spent $13.7 billion on ice cream last year and figure doesn’t include restaurant sales.

However, the same article points to a downward trend in the ice cream world. Reportedly, the average American eats ice cream about 28.5 times this year. That’s down 45% from 25 years ago. In 1989, the average American devoured ice cream 41.3 times.

There are reasons given for this drop-off. Healthier eating, healthier lifestyles and a great abundance of things like frozen yogurt. People want less fat and less sugar. Yet, frozen yogurt sales have flattened over the last several years as well.

We all know that ice cream is a dessert best enjoyed in moderation. And there are more consumer choices for people nowadays. That’s a good thing. Plus, we recognize ice cream for the special treat that it is. And those times enjoying ice cream are more likely to help us create new memories and remember times past of warm summer nights and cold, delicious ice cream. Ice cream is here to stay and we wouldn’t have it any other way.