Twenty-nine years ago, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month. In his proclamation, he noted 90% of Americans frequently enjoy the frozen treat. And if you are one of the many who are watching the waistline, you will be happy to know President Reagan noted in his proclamation that ice cream, in addition to being fun to eat, was nutritious. What? All those years of begging our parents for ice cream and never once playing the nutrition card? 

Based on the USDA’s ‘Nutrient Completeness Score,’ a single serving of vanilla ice cream, rates a 22 out of 100, with most of the scoring coming from ice cream’s main ingredient; milk. It’s the non-fat solids (the protein portion of the milk) that contributes most to ice cream’s nutritional value (protein, calcium, minerals and vitamins). Thus, our former President’s statement that ice cream is nutritious, at least in part, is true.

As a Virginian, if you are looking for our state’s best ice cream, according to a USA TODAY poll, you can find it at family-owned and operated, Carl’s Frozen Custard, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. You don’t live nearby?  No worries. There are almost 150 ice cream and dessert establishments in our fine state.  Find them and enjoy!