During the hot summer months, I tend to eat a lot of my favorite food: ice cream. I had no idea that I've been inadvertently celebrating 'National Ice Cream Month' every July. According to Cowabunga Ice Cream, the national designer ice cream and frozen yogurt brand, this month was given that title by Present Ronald Reagan in 1984. He also deemed July 17, 'National Ice Cream Day.' Lucky us!

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In honor of this month, while you chomp down on a bowl of Rice Krispie Treat (that's vanilla ice cream with marshmallow and rice krispies mixed in, pictured above) or another flavor, consider these fun facts Cowabunga Ice Cream discovered about your favorite cold, creamy treat:

• Every year, Americans eat an average of 23.2 quarts of ice cream and other related frozen dairy products.

• According to The NPD Group's National Eating Trends In-Home Database, Americans love scoops of vanilla ice cream the most, followed by chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip and butter pecan.

• Adults over 45 and kids 2-12 eat the most ice cream!

• It takes about 50 licks on average to finish a one-scoop ice cream cone.

50 licks? I'm going to see if I can beat that average. Looks like I'll have to practice a lot this month... aw shucks!

Tell us: what's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Faye Brennan is senior editor at BettyConfidential.