Serve up scoops of happiness

Sponsored by Blue Bunny®

Ice cream and frozen novelties are time-honored comfort foods that stir up a sense of nostalgia and can enliven the day for patients and residents in hospitals, long-term care and other healthcare facilities. Research reveals that 51% of consumers associate ice cream with comfort, and 45% say that ice cream is their favorite indulgence.¹ There may even be a scientific explanation for the appeal of this sweet treat. One study in London used functional magnetic resonance imaging to conduct scans as people ate vanilla ice cream, revealing an immediate effect on the parts of the brain known to activate when people enjoy themselves.² Perhaps ice cream and happiness truly do go hand in hand!

In a healthcare setting, ice cream doesn’t need to be over-the-top indulgent to work its mood-boosting magic. Many frozen dessert solutions can be applied within the constraints of patient and resident feeding. For example, pre-portioned cups in classic flavors keep serving sizes and nutritional information consistent, while saving time and labor. Products that come in a clear cup format can also help staff to improve tray accuracy for patient meals. Small hand-held novelties are also convenient to serve. Not only do miniature cones and bars deliver the perfect pick-me-up, they’re easy to grasp—aiding those with dexterity issues.

Commonly utilized by long-term care and senior living facilities, nutritional shakes are another application in which ice cream can play a critical role. While dietitians often use shakes to boost protein and calories, taste is commonly overlooked. By using real ice cream formulated to be softer and blend quickly, healthcare foodservice operators can create supplement shakes that are simple for patients to consume. And because the resulting shakes are full of flavor, patients and residents are more likely to drink the entire serving—helping to combat unintentional weight loss and reducing food waste.

With 82% of consumers saying they either like or love vanilla ice cream,³ healthcare foodservice operators can use the versatility of this classic flavor to their advantage. A full range of customized milkshakes can be developed with vanilla as the base, along with syrups and milk or milk powders depending on dietary needs. Classics like chocolate and peanut butter are perennial favorites, while peppermint or pumpkin syrups create seasonally inspired flavors.

Depending on the facility, weekly or monthly ice cream socials serve as mood-boosting events that encourage interaction and engagement. The ease or complexity of these events can be completely customized to an operator’s staff or service capabilities. For example, long-term care facilities may want to try a “Sundae Funday” festivity where seniors can select the toppings to create their own perfect sundae—complete with fudge and colorful sprinkles. For non-communal meal service, staff can apply a creative serving technique—and up the excitement factor—with room-to-room delivery by a novelty ice cream cart. “Ice Cream Float Friday” is an idea that’s easy to execute, requiring only two ingredients.

Classic, comforting and oh-so delicious, incorporating ice cream into the foodservice offerings of healthcare facilities is a sweet way to bring smiles to the faces of patients and residents.

1Anna Boisseau, “2020 State of the Industry: Ice cream is a category on fire,” Dairy Foods, October 26, 2020.

2David Adam, “How ice cream tickles your brain,” The Guardian, April 28, 2005.

3Datassential, “Flavor Tracker: Vanilla Ice Cream,” accessed October 2021.