For those who are used to having electricity and a refrigerator, it is difficult to imagine that ice cream is a millenary invention . The truth is that human ingenuity soon discovered the simple recipe of adding blocks of ice or snow to fruits or liquids, with reports of cold drinks already delighting the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. The same recipe was used in Persia and Ancient China, and ice cream was disseminated in Europe by the reports of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo (13 th /14 th century), after his travels through Asia. In Portugal , ice cream also began as something for kings, introduced to the court by the Philippine dynasty (end of the 16th century), where the 'snow' drinks were successful. The operation was not simple: the snow was brought from Serra da Estrela and later from Serra de Montejunto, where the Real Fábrica do Gelo was built, closer to Lisbon. In the 18th century, there were already several ice cream manufacturers. Nowadays, with refrigerators and a blender, it is easy to make ice cream at home and, above all, to ensure that we get a nutritionally balanced food, using assorted fruits, yogurt, milk, or cocoa, for example. This are always an excellent option for a snack or dessert , especially in the summer months, as well as guaranteed success among children. Yes, because an ice cream, in addition to taste good, gives energy and provides vitamins and minerals , contributing to a balanced diet. What are you waiting for? Try the recipes of our nutritionists Alexandra Lima , Ana Carolina Soares , Ana Pimenta Ribeiro , Cristina Vieira Cunha , Dília Soares , Simone Fernandes and Teresa Isabel Santos . Meet the nutrition team from Hospital da Luz network
