We Tried a Bunch of Low-Cal Ice Creams — These Were Our Faves
Now you can pick your pint with confidence.
Low-cal ice cream is flying off store shelves. And, let's be honest, who wouldn't want to eat a whole pint for less than 350 calories? If this all sounds too good to be true, you'll want to keep reading. These pints don't necessarily taste like your typical chocolate or vanilla slow-churn, but our picks below can do the trick in a pinch. Keep reading to find a pint that’s right for you.
Available in 20 dairy flavors such as Peaches & Cream, Birthday Cake and Peanut Butter Cup, and non-dairy flavors such as Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Sea Salt Caramel, Halo Top is at the front of the low-cal ice cream trend. With 70 to 90 calories per serving and up to 360 calories per pint, it's no wonder consumers tend to mindlessly dig in. Be warned, though, the texture is a bit flaky, unlike traditional ice cream. But if you're going for something sweet, this will hit the spot.
You may be familiar with this brand of low-cal ice cream, which contains 60 to 100 calories per half-cup serving, or 300 to 400 calories per pint. Enlightened is not as creamy as traditional ice cream, but it is nice and sweet. Light ice cream flavors include Cold Brew Coffee, Chocolate and Snickerdoodle. The new Keto Collection ice creams are higher in fat and calories but have only 6 to 8 net grams of carbs per pint, and come in flavors such as Keto Chocolate Glazed Donut and Caramel Chocolate Double Dough.
This line of low-fat ice cream is has fewer than 80 calories half cup serving and less than 320 calories per quart. If you're hungry for more the line's four flavors including PB & Fudge, Mint My Cookies, What My Caramel, and Cinnamon Bunned, are also sold by the quart. It’s certainly sweet and the texture is a little icy compared to traditional ice cream.
The gods of decadent ice cream have released their version of lower-calorie "heaven." Available in three flavors — Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel, Cold Brew Espresso Chip and Strawberry Waffle Cone — a 2/3 cup serving contains 210 calories and 6 grams of fat. That’s far below traditional Haagen-Daz offerings.
This is a unique frozen dessert made from fava bean protein concentrate with 160 calories and 0 grams of fat for the entire container. This vegan variety is available in flavors including Hint of Mint, Cookie Shake and Pistachio.
OK, so it’s technically frozen yogurt, but don’t let that stop you from trying this shockingly good frozen delight. From 100-calorie bars in flavors including Cookies 'n Cream and Black Raspberry Chip to 60-calorie Caramel Sea Salt bonbons (known as Poppables), this dessert also contains some live and active yogurt cultures.
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. She is the author of The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. She is the author of four cookbooks First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers, The Healthy Air Fryer Cookbook, The Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook and Healthy Quick and Easy Smoothies.
*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.
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