How many calories: in a banana split?

by Brigitte Dale (Subscribe to Brigitte Dale's posts)
May 2nd 2007 6:00AM

Yesterday, the temperature in my hometown hit 90 degrees for the first time since last summer. There's certain things the first taste of hot weather makes me crave, like swimming (healthy!) and a big, sloppy banana split (not so healthy.)

The original banana split recipe is a force to be reckoned with: three scoops of ice cream, a whole banana, chocolate, strawberry, and pineapple sauces, whip cream and maraschino cherries.

Somehow I managed to control my urges yesterday but frankly I'm not sure how much longer I'll last! So, I need to know, how many calories are in an old-fashioned banana split?

A) 650 calories
B) 850 calories
C) 1000 calories
D) 1300 calories

The answer is C) 1000 calories. Yikes! That's almost enough calories to last me all day! To satisfy that craving with fewer calories, some ice cream shops will happily make you a mini-split, with half a banana and one scoop of ice cream. Otherwise, you'd better either opt for something lighter like frozen yogurt, or make a habit of jogging several miles to the ice cream shop in order to keep eating banana splits without growing out of your swimsuit of by the end of the summer.

Comments (5)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Crabby McSlacker 5-02-2007 @ 11:52AM

That's not even as bad as I thought it would be. I suspect that it's even more than a thousand as typically made--with big humongoid scoops of ice cream and lots of toppings.

I do believe in a having a big blow-out treat every now and then, but even for me a banana split is a bit much. (For one, I'd skip the damn banana and have it for breakfast where it's not getting in the way of the ice cream!)

Speaking of chocolate toppings (okay, admittedly this is a stretch, but bear with me) have you seen what the big bad Chocolate companies are trying to do to our favorite confection? It's really sneaky. Check this out: http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/2007/05/just-say-no-to-fake-chocolate.html

ALEXTHECOP 5-04-2007 @ 7:16AM

Ohhhh thanks now I'm craving the bananna split....like the donuts weren't enough. :)

Crabby McSlacker 5-04-2007 @ 11:08AM

I know, Alex, I have the same problem--lusting after all the pretty pictures of the food we're being warned against.

And, um, are you actually a cop who likes donuts? I've never heard of such a thing.

Crabby does her grousing at http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/

ALEXTHECOP 5-09-2007 @ 6:57AM

YES IM A COP, NO I DON'T LIKE DONUTS, BUT I DO LIKE BANANA SPLITS! :)
http://www.myspace.com/alexthecop

Crabby McSlacker 5-09-2007 @ 3:20PM

Well Alex, those banana splits must be working for you--your myspace page says you're 99 years old!

Darn, now I went and made myself crave ice cream again.

(And no offense meant about the donuts. Just seeing the words donut and cop in the same post triggered some werid sort of reflex).