Why Ice Cream Deserves A Spot On Your Breakfast Table

Weekday breakfasts might consist of a piece of toast or fruit on the go, but by the time the weekend rolls around, you're ready for a more indulgent meal, such as using some chocolate chips for a delicious upgrade on pancakes and pairing them with a side of bacon. Next time you prep the breakfast menu, though, consider a more unconventional sweet treat: ice cream. Believe it or not, per The Telegraph's reports, a small study conducted by a professor of Tokyo, Japan's Kyorin University, Yoshihiko Koga, suggested that a scoop of ice cream in the morning creates a more alert mental state. While you can't take it as fact, it's certainly a reason to test the theory.

Ice cream has always presented itself as an after-dinner treat, but it's actually the perfect pairing for a number of sweet or savory breakfast options. You can substitute ice and milk in a flavorful fruit smoothie with a little bit of ice cream instead for thick creaminess. And nobody has to tell you twice that ice cream and waffles are a match made in heaven. Instead of pairing your coffee with sweet pancakes, try a scoop of store-bought coffee ice cream to satisfy both cravings at once. No, it might not be the best idea to add sugar-laden ice cream to breakfast every morning, but eating it in moderation is perfectly fine.

Instead of just a dessert, start thinking of ice cream as that morning pick-me-up that helps you get out of bed when all you want to do is hit the snooze button. A small scoop of any popular vanilla ice cream brand pairs perfectly with warm, fresh-out-the-oven coffee cake, or alongside caramelized fruit like grilled peaches and even a homemade strawberry compote.

Peanut butter and bananas have long been a loved combination, and for a sweet morning breakfast with both protein and fruit, add peanut butter and sliced bananas to a blender with some low-sugar vanilla ice cream and low-fat milk. The result is an easy breakfast milkshake with a burst of flavor that will help you start your day. And finally, for many, that morning coffee is essential. But you can turn it into a Starbucks-inspired Frappuccino-style recipe by blending that coffee with your favorite creamer and a little bit of ice cream.