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Ice Cream For Breakfast Day 

Eating ice cream for breakfast is basically every little kid’s dream! Well, that and being able to have pizza for dinner every single night. But even for those who are no longer 8 years old, it is worth admitting that there’s certainly something fun and enticing about the idea of having a big ol’ bowl of ice cream first thing in the morning.

Since it takes three gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream, perhaps it’s simply like getting the kids to eat a bunch of milk in the morning (with a bit of sugar and other flavors as well)! So why not celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day this year?

History of Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

Ice Cream for Breakfast Day was created in the 1960s by housewife Florence Rappaport from New York. The exact year of the day’s creation is unknown, but it is suspected that it could have been 1966, as an enormous blizzard had hit that year in the New York area–and this delightful little story hinges around cold and snowy weather.

The idea behind the day was simply that Florence’s 6 children were exceptionally bored one cold and snowy February morning. As a mom and social worker, she felt she needed to come up with something to entertain them so they wouldn’t get restless and cranky. As she herself explained years later, “It was cold and snowy and the kids were complaining that it was too cold to do anything. So I just said, ‘Let’s have ice cream for breakfast.’”

The following year, Florence’s six children, who had obviously enjoyed the new little holiday their mother had created, reminded her of it. So they celebrated again, and the day became a tradition in their family from then onward.

The day really caught on, too, as time went on. Thanks to Florence’s grandchildren, who have traveled extensively, the idea has been shared with others and the news has spread around the globe. Over the past 60 years, Ice Cream for Breakfast Day has grown to be celebrated in countries all over the world, from Germany to Nepal to as far as Namibia.

These worldwide celebrations range from small, family-style gatherings to large parties. Some of the celebrations have even been featured in the Chinese edition of Cosmopolitan magazine and local magazines or newspapers as well. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has done at least two pieces on Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, once in Hebrew, and once in English. And the day continues to be a popular one among English speakers in Jerusalem.

Ice Cream For Breakfast Day Timeline

500BC First ice cream-like food is eaten

Some sources trace the origins of ice cream back to Ancient Persia in the area that is known in modern times as Iran. This is probably more like a flavored ice where juice is poured over snow.

1649 Man is beheaded over ice cream recipe

The chef of Charles I of England makes an oath to never reveal the secret recipe for ice cream. Later, when King Charles finds out that his chef shared the recipe for ice cream with the public, he swiftly has the chef beheaded.

1843 Hand crank ice cream maker is patented

Nancy Johnson, an American from New York, invents and patents a much less labor intensive way to make ice cream using a hand crank and portable freezer that would keep the concoction cold for about 30 minutes.

1960s First Ice Cream for Breakfast Day is celebrated

Florence Rappaport from New York is stuck at home with her 6 children on a cold and snowy day. With a group of cranky children, it seems like something exciting should be in order to keep the kids happy. So Florence simply declares that it should be a day to have ice cream for breakfast!

2020 Huge Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day celebration in Israel

The people of Jerusalem have a particular fondness for this celebration and it is garnering support and attention over recent years. In 2020, the Jerusalem Post newspaper reports an expected celebration of more than 100,000 participants.

How to Celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

The celebration of Ice Cream for Breakfast Day has some pretty obvious instructions right in the title–simply enjoy ice cream for the morning meal! However, those who are looking for some other, more creative ideas, try out some of these for inspiration:

Enjoy Ice Cream for Breakfast with the Family

Seeing as how Ice Cream for Breakfast Day is the perfect day to not only enjoy a breakfast of cold sweetness but also to spend time with your family, what could possibly create a better atmosphere than the whole family sitting around the table together, talking, joking around and having a tasty bowl of ice cream?

Make Ice Cream Sundaes for Breakfast

To make the morning even more fun, why not make some special ice cream sundaes? Buy some Neapolitan ice cream, some real whipped cream, maraschino cherries and chocolate sauce, and arrange everything decoratively in some nice bowls. It might even be nice to buy some decorative wafers to make the sundaes even prettier.

Try an Ice Cream Alternative for Breakfast

However, for those who feel ice cream is a bit too high in fat or sugar for their family, don’t worry! There are plenty of alternatives, such as frozen yogurt, that many people enjoy making themselves and garnishing with fresh fruit.

This option will provide a family with the protein little bodies need to grow, as well as the kind of “good bacteria” the human bodies need in order for the digestive system to function properly. These bacteria are so good for the body, in fact, that they are often called “probiotics”, a word that literally means “for life”.

Try Making Ice Cream at Home

Of course, if ice cream is going to be used to eat for breakfast, then this project will need to be accomplished a day or two in advance! It’s a fun project for the family to make ice cream, and the results can be absolutely delicious. Plus, it might be a bit healthier too, since the list of ingredients is simple and includes no preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Ice cream recipes can vary wildly, but some of the best are super simple. Usually the list of ingredients will include heavy cream, whole milk, sugar, salt and a choice of flavoring. This is a fun time to get creative with flavors, whether sweet or savory, fruity or filled with chocolate.

Learn Fun Facts About Ice Cream

While enjoying the delicious flavors of Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, try out these ideas for trivia and facts that can help inspire interesting conversation:

The world record for the largest ice cream cone ever made was achieved in 2015 in Norway with a cone over three meters high. While it usually takes a whole 50 licks to get through one normal scoop of ice cream, this one would obviously require a much greater effort!

Ice cream headaches or “brain freezes” are the result of the nerve endings in the roof of your mouth sending a message to your brain regarding the very quick loss of heat!

In the UK, an individual on an average consumes 7 liters of ice cream in one year. However, Finland is ahead of the UK where a person consumes 14 liters of ice cream every year on average. But the country with the highest per capita consumption of ice cream is New Zealand with a whopping 28 liters per person per year.

According to NASA, ice cream is one of the three foods astronauts miss the most when they go on space missions. This is, of course, no surprise as it’s certainly one of the best foods on earth. The other two foods most missed by astronauts are pizza and soda.

Test Out Unique Flavors of Ice Cream for Breakfast

Perhaps some folks might feel that the idea of ice cream for breakfast seems a bit boring because eating yummy ice cream is something they tend to do each and every day! In this case, there are still opportunities to make the day just a bit more special by trying out some unique and interesting flavors of this delightful and delicious treat.

Skip over the regular chocolate or vanilla and check out some of the more unusual flavors that are out there, including avocado, garlic, azuki bean, jalapeno, and pumpkin. Or, for those who still want to channel that breakfast feeling, why not try out a variety of cereals as toppings for a bowl of ice cream and see how they taste? Try out Froot Loops, Cocoa Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms or some other favorite version.

Whatever way is decided upon to celebrate Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, don’t forget to spend this morning just enjoying the little things in life and appreciating the occasional day to do things a little differently.

But isn’t this the wrong date!?

There are actually two holidays that are very similar in name but they were founded for very different reasons. Today is not to be confused with Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day which takes place on the 18th of February in honor of the bright soul that was Malia Grace who passed away fighting cancer. That day was set up to honor all the children who have or are battling childhood cancer.

Ice Cream For Breakfast Day FAQs

Who invented Ice Cream for Breakfast Day?

Florence Rappaport was a mom and social worker from New York. In an effort to entertain her six children on a cold day in February, she announced that it should be “Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast” day.

Is ice cream good for breakfast?

While it does tend to have high sugar content, ice cream may still be good for breakfast. One study shows that the cold temperatures may help to have an awakening effect on the brain.

Does ice cream have calcium?

Depending on the brand eaten and the ingredients it is made from, ice cream usually contains some calcium naturally and may also be fortified with additional calcium. But if it is home made directly from milk, it is likely to have more

Where was the largest Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Celebration?

While it hasn’t been officially recorded, the biggest Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day celebration so far took place in Jerusalem in 2020 where it was reported that more than 100,000 people would participate.

When is Ice Cream for Breakfast Day?

This day that was formed as a holiday back in 1966 is celebrated on the first Saturday of February. A similar day, called “National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day” was started in 2013 and is celebrated on February 18.

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