Ice cream: it’s the all-American summer snack. Perhaps for you, it brings back memories of going to your local parlor after dinner with your family or snacking by the pool on a lazy summer day off from school. However, it makes you feel, there’s no doubt that it’s delicious, and when the temperatures climb, your cravings for a sweet treat might, too! However, too much sugar in your diet can lead to inflammation, wrinkles, dark spots, and acne, so you have to be careful. Of course, we're not the first to note that ice cream isn't the healthiest, so here are some alternative summer treats when those cravings come calling!

Sweet Yet Healthy Snacks

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is one of the most popular alternatives to ice cream, and one of our personal favorites. This awesome treat isn’t just sweet, though. It’s also high in potassium, calcium, vitamin B12, and probiotics, and that’s just the beginning. When paired with some granola, strawberries, blueberries, this cold snack that will satisfy both your cravings and your body, some people aren’t crazy about how thick Greek yogurt is, and we get that. Luckily, you can still reap the benefits by putting it into smoothies, or if you’re really craving a frozen treat, freezing it into popsicles with fruits mixed in.

Banana Ice Cream

Banana ice cream is a quick, simple alternative to regular ice cream that only requires one ingredient! Made entirely from bananas, it’s rich in potassium and dairy-free, so it’s much healthier than traditional ice cream (not to mention cheaper). To make it, all you need to do is slice up a couple of bananas, let the slices freeze, then blend them! Put your spin on it by adding some toppings such as melted peanut or almond butter, cinnamon, peanuts, or even a little maple syrup!

Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream

Banana and Almond Butter Bites

Perhaps the most straightforward recipe on this list, banana and almond butter bites are a delicious and healthy snack to keep cool in the summer. All you have to do is slice up a couple of bananas, then spread a layer of almond butter onto half of the slices. Add the plain banana slices on top to make little sandwiches, then place them all on a plate in the fridge to let them cool before enjoying!

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Last but not least, we have a classic combo: peanut butter and bananas. This recipe is a lot of fun because there’s a lot you can do to customize it! In its purest form, all you do is blend ice cubes, peanut butter, and banana slices. That said, we recommend adding in some other flavor boosters like almond milk, greek yogurt, vanilla, honey, flax seeds, or whatever you would like! No matter what you add in, this delectable treat is sure to hit the spot on a hot summer day!

Treat Yourself 

There are tons of other options out there for healthy cold treats, but these are five of the easiest that we love. Never be afraid to experiment with recipes and make them your own, and remember that ice cream isn’t the only option on those scorching summer afternoons!