Red, White & Blue Nice Cream: A Pediatrician-Approved July 4th Treat for Kids
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Time to Read: 8 min
Welcome to The Pediatrician Kitchen at Ahimsa
Hi, I’m Dr. Manasa, pediatrician, mom of three, and founder of The Pediatrician Kitchen. Between school lunchboxes, picky eaters, and never-ending weeknight dinners, feeding kids can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here, we blend medical science with real-life mealtime strategies to help families raise healthy eaters, without the pressure or perfection. Every meal is a chance to nourish, connect, and shape lifelong habits. And yes, even dessert can be good for you.
Even small choices like serving snacks in stainless steel plates and bowls can reinforce intentional, safe routines and make healthy eating feel fun, not forced.
Today’s recipe is a festive, colorful, and totally sugar-free Fourth of July “Nice Cream” that your kids will love…and you’ll feel good about serving.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
We are guided by a Scientific Advisory Council comprised of environmental and medical experts, guiding us in creating the safest products, following the latest science and promoting policy to protect human health and our planet
Want to know more? Check out our story and our products.
Why This Recipe Works (and Why It’s Doctor-Approved)
This isn’t just a pretty bowl. t’s packed with purpose. Here's why:
- Whole-food ingredients: Just fruit. No dyes. No added sugar.
- High in fiber and antioxidants: Supports gut health, immunity, and brain development.
- Creamy texture, naturally: Frozen bananas replicate ice cream texture without dairy.
- Encourages food exploration: Kids can build their own bowl, fostering confidence and curiosity.
Pro Tip: Serve this in an Ahimsa Simple Serve Bowl , a pediatrician-designed, stainless steel dish that’s free from plastic, PFAS, and hormone-disrupting chemicals. Because healthy food deserves safe containers.
Stainless steel snack bowls like the Ahimsa Simple Serve Bowl also keep cold foods cooler longer. Making them ideal for backyard picnics and summer snacking in the sun.
Why This Recipe Works (and Why It’s Doctor-Approved)
Nice Cream is a whole-fruit frozen dessert made by blending frozen bananas (or other frozen fruit) into a creamy, ice-cream-like texture. It’s a popular alternative to traditional ice cream because it's:
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Refined sugar-free
Your toddler, teen, and taste buds will all approve.
Recipe: Red, White & Blue Nice Cream
5 minutes
2 Hours to Freeze
6-8
Snack
Ingredients:
Red Layer (Strawberry Nice Cream):
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
White Layer (Banana Nice Cream):
- 1 ripe banana, sliced and frozen overnight
Blue Layer (Blueberry Nice Cream):
- 1 ½ cups frozen blueberries
Optional Toppings:
- Unsweetened shredded coconut (for “sparkle”)
- Fresh strawberries and blueberries
- Naturally-dyed sprinkles (like the purple ones in the image!)
- Yogurt drizzle or almond butter swirl
Instructions:
1. Freeze Your Fruit
Peel and slice your bananas before freezing. Lay strawberries and blueberries flat in a single layer and freeze at least 6–8 hours or overnight for best results.
2. Make Your Nice Cream
Using a Yonanas, Ninja Creami, or food processor , blend each fruit individually:
- Red: Blend frozen strawberries until smooth.
- White: Blend frozen bananas until creamy.
Blue: Blend frozen blueberries into a smooth mixture.
Tip: Add 1–2 tsp of water if your machine needs help blending.
3. Build Your Bowl
Scoop the Red, White & Blue layers into Ahimsa Simple Serve Bowls, letting your kids help create their own patriotic parfait. The bowl’s size makes it easy for kids to manage and encourages balanced snacking without over-serving. Top with fruit, coconut, sprinkles, or leave it simple!
4. Serve Immediately
Nice Cream melts fast, so dig in and enjoy!
Storing tip: Any extras? Store leftover Nice Cream in stainless steel containers with lids to preserve freshness and keep flavors intact without plastic exposure.
Mealtime Essentials
Culinary Medicine Bonus: Why This Dessert is Actually Healthy
Strawberries
- Packed with vitamin C
- High in antioxidants that reduce inflammation
- Great source of fiber
Bananas
- Naturally sweet, rich in potassium
- Smooth texture supports oral motor skills for toddlers
Blueberries
- Known for brain-boosting polyphenols
- Low glycemic load = stable blood sugar
- Anti-inflammatory and gut-friendly
Pediatrician Tip: How to Get Picky Eaters Involved
Let kids:
- Load the fruit into the machine
- Push the button (supervised, of course!)
- Choose their toppings
- Mix and match layers
Kids love ownership, and giving them their own stainless steel snack bowl to decorate makes the experience feel special and engaging.This hands-on participation turns “I don’t want that” into “I made that!”
Serving Ideas with Ahimsa Stainless Steel Dinnerware
Ahimsa’s stainless steel rainbow bowls (like the ones shown in the image) are more than beautiful. They’re:
- Made from 304, 18/8 stainless steel
- Certified by MADE SAFE®
- Free from plastic, phthalates, BPA, and PFAS
- Dishwasher-safe and ultra-durable
You can also use divided plates to create a full healthy snack board for July 4th:
- Red, white & blue Nice Cream
- Sliced fresh fruit
- Mini whole-grain crackers
String cheese or nut-free protein
Stainless steel bowls and divided plates also help kids naturally learn portioning through visual cues. No lectures needed.
Budget & Storage Tips
Frozen fruit is often cheaper than fresh, especially out of season.
Buy in bulk to save even more and reduce food waste.
Store Nice Cream layers in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 2 weeks. Look for stainless steel food containers with lids . They’re durable, non-toxic, and keep frozen items colder for longer, making them perfect for homemade treats.
Final Reflection: Every Bite Is a Building Block
This 4th of July, let’s celebrate not just freedom, but the freedom to feed our kids well.
With whole fruit, a little creativity, and the right tools, you can turn dessert into a lesson in joy, nourishment, and independence. That’s the kind of red, white, and blue we’re proud to serve.
And when we serve healthy foods in stainless steel bowls and plates designed just for kids, we reinforce every health-conscious choice we make, starting with the smallest scoop.
Here’s to raising healthy kids, one colorful bowl at a time.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Mealtime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
