Lick with Caution - Delicious Facts about Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream Month and what better way to pay tribute to my favorite treat of choice, is to look back in history to see how this creamy cool delicious treat came to be. Although  this is a safety blog, relax because I will also throw in some tips on how to avoid a brain freeze from downing your banana split way too fast. According to Wikipedia (yes, I am aware on how accurate this may be, but this research is all in the name of fun) In the Persian Empire, people would pour grape juice concentrate over snow, in a bowl, and eat this as a treat in hot weather. The Roman Emperor Nero (37-68) had ice brought from the mountains and combined with fruit toppings. Arabs were the first to use milk as a major ingredient and sweetened the ice cream with sugar rather than fruit juices. Ice cream was introduced to the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their ice cream recipes with them. Confectioners sold ice cream at their shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era. Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were known to have regularly eaten and served ice cream.

With all that ice cream and delicious fruit toppings crossing the globe, it’s easy to imagine that Ben Franklin may have suffered a brain freeze or two. Brain freeze happens when something cold touches the nerves in the roof of the mouth, triggering the blood vessels in the front of your head to constrict, which causes an unforgettable mind numbing experience. So here is where the safety part comes in, the next time you feel a brain freeze coming, press your tongue to the roof of your mouth to warm it up or you can eat your ice cream slowly. My favorite tip is pour some hot fudge on top of your sundae. The warm gooey goodness could definitely tone down the chill factor.  The real challenge is how to safely eat an ice cream cone without it ending up all over your shirt and pants. It’s all about the timing and maintaining a balanced shape. Licking in a circular motion at the base of the ice cream helps to maintain a stable shape but you can’t take your time. Your licking must beat the dripping. Come to think about it, it seems like a lot of pressure.  If you can’t handle it, feel free to put it in a cup instead. Now that I’ve provided you with the history of ice cream and how to safely avoid a brain freeze and not wear the creamy frozen goodness, go, eat and enjoy the safe way!