Ice cream.  Oh, how it.  Intensely.  There is nothing like the cold, creamy treat to make me feel alive and take me back to my childhood. A childhood where I was loved, spoiled, and indulged.

Like most kids, the music of the ice cream truck could make me stop everything I was doing.  I would scurry around trying to get the money out of my piggy bank. If the bank was empty, I relied on the good graces of one of my older siblings to buy my chocolate covered vanilla treat on a stick.

America’s Favorite Dessert

I am not alone in my love of ice cream.  According to numerous polls, ice cream is America’s top dessert. According to the International Dairy Association, Americans consume about 23 pounds of ice cream a year. Can you imagine the calories you consume a year if you like the premium brand with extra nuts, caramel, and chocolate chunks?  Yikes!

But, ice cream became too much of a friend.  It became a way to cope with relationships gone wrong, pressures of graduate school, pressures of tenure and promotion, stressors of aging parents, loneliness, boredom, etc.  For a moment in time, the cold, creamy friend promised to melt all my problems away.

Studies show that sweets like ice cream can be “addictive.”  And not just addictive, but as addictive as cocaine.  The more we eat it, the more we crave it.  The brain processes it much the same as a person who regularly uses cocaine. Not surprising, the biggest reasons for ice cream cravings are the high amounts of sugar and fat.  Regular consumption of high-fat or high-sugar foods may alter how our brains respond to those foods in a way that keeps us wanting more.

Bonding With My Dad Over Ice Cream

So, I blame my addiction to the cold, cream stuff on my dad. My dad regularly brought home hand-packed ice cream from his favorite restaurant.  He brought a large container with vanilla ice cream for the family, and there was always a small container of strawberry ice cream for me.  And, for me, ice cream time meant daddy time.

Even when I became a college professor and moved on from strawberry ice cream to more exotic flavors, my dad would take me out for ice cream. Just the two of us.

Admitting My Ice Cream Addiction

It has taken me a while to admit the cold, creamy truth.  I have an unhealthy relationship with ice cream.  It’s been difficult to admit because I am a health professional, a dietitian.  But, here is how I am developing a new relationship with ice cream.

1. Treat myself to the high quality stuff. I will not clog my arteries with the cheap, generic brand.
2. Try not to buy and bring it home, which is especially hard when my favorite supermarket has the good stuff on BOGO.
3. Practice deep breathing for two to three minutes to control my cravings.
4. If I still really want it, I talk myself into driving to an ice cream parlor, order a small serving, and eat it there. It is a huge inconvenience, but that’s the point.

My dad now has Alzheimer’s and we are thousands of miles apart. When I visit, he remembers my name and my smile.  He asks me for ice cream, and I happily indulge him.

Now’ It’s Your Turn

Thank you for reading! I think you will enjoy the posts on setting goals to manage stress eating.

1. What treats of your childhood bring back a flood of memories?
2. What food (or drink) do you currently use to “comfort” yourself?
3. How can you move toward developing a healthier relationship with that food?

It’s a good thing to have favorite foods as a treat, but when we treat ourselves too often, it becomes a habit.

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Keep It Tight Sisters.

Eat. Move. Breathe.