Sunday, July 21st was officially “National Ice Cream Day” in the United States.
A day to celebrate ice cream – one of God’s gifts to mankind!
National Ice Cream Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in July each year ever since Ronald Reagan proclaimed it in 1984, signing a Joint Resolution passed by Congress. The proclamation declared ice cream “a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over 90 percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect dessert and snack food.”
Every day is an ice cream day for me, but it is good to know that as a nation we take at least one day of the year to pause and reflect on what ice cream means to each and every one of us.
Americans lead the world when it comes to eating this frozen delight: 20 pounds a year or about 4 gallons per year for the average American. Our forefathers including Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were among those who enjoyed the treat. First Lady Dolly Madison served ice cream at the 1813 Inaugural Ball.
President Joe Biden is an ice cream devotee.
What makes ice cream so popular, you may ask. Why is it beloved.
Most important is its sensory pleasure. The smooth, rich, creamy texture feels so good in the mouth. Its cold temperature is refreshing. And since there is an endless array of flavors available everyone’s desire can be matched.
The most popular flavor is vanilla. However, there are so many to choose from. This summer I found for the first time a coconut almond joy flavor. Can you believe that? Holy cow! What next?
But, my favorite flavor without a doubt is mint chocolate chip. Ranked as one of the top 10 most popular flavors, it has a refreshing minty flavor combined with the sweetness and richness of chocolate.
The contrast between the creamy ice cream and the crunchy chocolate chips adds a pleasing texture that many people enjoy.
I will admit that my interest in ice cream may be over the top. For example, I, along with some of my grandkids, have signed up for and attended ice cream making classes each of the last two summers. In addition, while some people have on their kitchen counter a toaster or coffee machine, I have on my kitchen counter a fairly large ice cream making machine.
Let’s get back to why ice cream is so popular. In addition to sensory pleasure, ice cream can be important emotionally and psychologically. It is a comfort food. It can make you feel better. It can be viewed as a treat or as a reward. It can be important at birthday celebrations and other social occasions.
Ice cream contains protein and fat, both of which our bodies need to help level our moods. On top of that, the amino acids you take in when eating ice cream, such as tryptophan, are known to increase serotonin production. That leaves us feeling calm, satisfied, and well, happy!
I have tried to think of an expression that would capture what ice cream means to me and to 90% of Americans — a phrase that relays a message something like “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” One phrase that has been suggested is “an ice cream a day keeps the blues away.” It is playful and captures the idea of ice cream as a mood booster, bringing joy and comfort.
Bottom line. Ice cream is popular, appealing and sumptuous. What else in the United States today can garner 90% approval ratings?
That says it all! I’ve been addicted to it for over 7 decades.
If you’re a Rhode Islander like me, you probably dig coffee ice cream, which when I was a kid wasn’t found wear of New England. I now find it here in FL, also as a mocha chip—coffee with chocolate shavings. Delicious!
Hi today is national pickleball day also national custard day
Happy Ice Cream day! I love to make soft serve with heavy cream.
I don’t know if I’ve ever met an ice cream that I didn’t like!