Kids Ask Kramer Edition #3 What’s the Scoop?
Well, here we are! Summertime, summertime, glorious summertime. For many of us, this is the season we love the best for a variety of
reasons. Some of us love the outdoors, the jacketless weather, the bright warm sunshine, less stress, and, of course, the food that makes
this season such a colorful one. Summer brings on sweet fruits, delectable veggies for the grill, and our favorite frozen treats. So here’s
what the kids asked Kramer about foods:

Are açaí bowls healthy for me?
Let us begin with the acai berry itself, pronounced ah-sigh-ee. Is that healthy for us? Yes. Just as all berries are. However, the acai bowl is not only a bowl full of berries. You could possibly be eating a bowl full of sugar. Some bowls are as bad as having two and a half cans of soda! Wait, I thought they were healthy? Just like anything else, you need to know and read your labels. The acai berry is not very sweet on its own. So, in order to excite your palate, they need to add, guess what? SUGAR! Next, we have to tally up all the sugar that the so-called “healthy” granola adds to these “healthy’ bowls. Then, when we add even more toppings, we, of course, add more sugar. So to answer the question, acai bowls can be healthy but you have to know the source. These treats should be consumed sparingly, not every day and by no means as a weight loss program since some come can be a close relative of the ice
cream sundae. Get your healthy antioxidants from the other berries that are flourishing at this time of year, not just from one source and because the media says you should.

Is ice cream bad for me?
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Who doesn’t enjoy a refreshing ice cream treat on a hot summer day? Just make sure that it is not an everyday occurrence. Ice cream can have some healthful benefits such as vitamins and minerals, but it also has an equal amount of health issues that could arise from overindulgence. Limit your intake to special occasions, and keep in mind that not all ice cream is created equal. Read your labels, know the source, and enjoy your favorite cone, cup, or sundae… but only occasionally.

Is frozen yogurt always a healthier option?
No, it is not. Do not be fooled by the assumption that frozen yogurt is healthier for you because it has less fat. Once we take out all the fat out a food, we must put something back in. Want to guess what that something is? You guessed it, SUGAR! Another drawback to the frozen yogurt option is that people think they are choosing a healthier option, so they eat more and pile on more sugary toppings. Some of those self-serve fro-yo cups can hold enough to feed three or four people. Save your frozen yogurt craving for those every-so-often special occasions.

Kramer’s I Cannot Believe It Is Not Ice
Cream Banana Bites
These banana bites are great for when you are in the mood for a frozen
refreshing treat! People will not believe that they are made with frozen
bananas and not with ice cream!
You will need:
• About 4 bananas or however many you have
• Chocolate chips (optional)
• Peanut butter (optional)
What to do:
1. Slice your bananas into small round pieces and place them on a cookie
sheet lined with parchment paper. Let them freeze for an hour or so.
2. Once they are completely frozen, place them in a food processor and
blend them up until they are creamy. This can take a little while but be
patient. You will see the ice cream texture begin to form.
3. Once the bananas have reached that creamy texture, you can add either a few chocolate chips or some peanut butter at this time. Stir the chips in with a spoon but if you are adding peanut butter, you will have to blend that in.
4. Then scoop your mixture back onto the parchment paper and refreeze.

Once they are frozen again, take a bite and enjoy! You can use mini cupcake pans if you want a “nicer” presentation but no one will care because the taste so yummy!

Summer is short. The days fly by, and before we know it, the seasons will be changing again. Take advantage of every moment, especially the simple ones. Enjoy your summer for all that it brings, but always keep your health your highest priority. The nutritional choices you make should serve you and your body well. Someone once said, “Health is the crown on the well person’s head that only the ill person can see.” It has been a pleasure spending time with you here at Kramer’s Korner. This will be the last written publication, but please look for Kramer’s Korner on the online version of Horizon. Until then, peace, love, and kale, everyone.