As I sit here writing this article thinking about Halo Top vs Arctic Zero, I'm finishing my dinner so I can snag myself a treat from the freezer: my perfectly creamy Halo Top birthday cake ready to be finished. No joke. I'm really ready to eat it. Last night was my Arctic Zero Cookie Dough Chip, and tonight I mixed it up. Ice cream time is a very crucial part of the day, especially during the summer. Sweet, cold, and refreshing; I can't think of a better way to end my night.
Ice Cream Alternatives
Let's be real, every night a scoop of ice cream or three isn't too great for the booty (at least not for mine). So now there are all of these "healthy" ice cream alternatives and it's difficult to know which one is best. The big comparison though really comes down to Halo Top vs Arctic Zero. Which one is really the better "healthy" dessert?
The Big Differences
Both ice cream brands have their own specific benefits and differences. Halo Top and Arctic Zero are special in their own ways. To make things simple, I'm going to compare Halo Top and Arctic Zero by talking about their specific differences and similarities. In this case, Halo Top tastes better but Arctic Zero is healthier.
Calories in Halo Top & Arctic Zero
Halo Top ice cream has 17 different flavors ranging between 240 calories per a pint to 360 calories per a pint. A different brand might be 280 calories for just a 1/2 cup. Likewise, Arctic Zero has 17 ice cream flavors from a pint, and five ice cream dipped bars to choose from as well.
There's no doubt, Arctic Zero wins in the variety section. Arctic Zero ice cream pints range between 150 calories per a pint to 300 calories per a pint, and 35-75 calories per a serving. The ice cream-dipped bars are 80 calories per a bar. Now that's what I call a forgiving dessert.
What am I Putting Into my Body?
If you're counting calories and or are looking for the healthiest dessert, I definitely say choose Arctic Zero. Beyond the calories, it's also a good idea to check out the nutritional information for both. It's always a good idea to know what you're feeding your body and why you choose to feed it what you do. No matter why you're reading this article, one reason is that you obviously care about your well-being (dessert, duh).
Just from skimming the backs of the tubs, I can tell you what the first three ingredients in all the Halo Top ice creams are. Milk, cream, and eggs. It's always a good sign when one of the first ingredients isn't straight sugar. After that, the ingredients start to change a little due to the mixed flavors. I should also note the sweetener is organic cane sugar.
Like Halo Top, Arctic Zero also uses organic cane sugar as a sweetener, but its first three ingredients include purified water, whey protein concentrate, and organic cane sugar. You might ask why the order of the ingredients matter, and that's because it tells the eater what makes up most of that food (the ingredients are in order of the quantity used).
Why Is Sugar Important?
Where sugar is placed in the ingredients is one difference between Halo Top vs Arctic Zero. For both Halo Top and Arctic Zero, the sugar count is about 5 grams a serving. While sugar is one of the first three ingredients in Arctic Zero (which means there is more of sugar than any of the other ingredients) and not in Halo Top, they both have the same amount of sugar per a serving.
Additionally, Arctic Zero offers about 3 grams of protein, and Halo Top offers about 5 grams of protein per a serving. That said, Halo Top is denser than Arctic Zero, and with more protein, it is bound to keep you full for a bit longer.
The Taste
The greatest difference between Halo Top vs Arctic Zero is not the nutrition, but the flavors and texture of the ice cream. Halo Top ice cream has a creamier texture, while Arctic Zero is icier. This is due to the base of both "healthy" desserts. Halo Top is milk, and Arctic Zero is purified water. Before indulging in these ice creams, I leave them out for about 10 minutes so they become softer and easier to eat. This specifically helps Arctic Zero's icy consistency taste a little creamier.
Where's Your Craving At?
If you've got that killer sweet tooth, love ice cream, and eat it a lot of it but want to find that healthy alternative, Halo Top is the perfect dessert because it's much healthier than regular ice cream and just as tasty. If you've eased off that sweet tooth but still want a little dessert every now and then, Arctic Zero is the perfect treat for you. Its icy consistency creates that dessert-like sensation without being too sweet or creating those sugar cravings again.
Which Is Healthier?
As you can see, there really is no winner for the best dessert, it just depends on what you're looking for out of your tub. What I recommend is that you date a few, taste a few, and figure out which healthy ice cream is best for you. It's like finding the perfect roommate, or even partner in crime, you have to go through a few and test them out before you find the right match.
Both Halo Top and Arctic Zero are great healthy ice cream brands. That said, Halo Top is the better "healthy" ice cream if you're looking for a healthier version of the real deal, and Arctic Zero should be your go to if you're craving something sweet but not too sweet. Arctic Zero definitely feels like the healthier alternative, yet it's still delish! And Halo Top might be rich for those taste buds, but it's creamy.
The competition was a hard one, but sometimes when you've got two great things, you've also got two great winners! It doesn't matter which tub you finish first because these delicious munchies won't be making you feel anything but satisfaction.
And just like this article, my tub is finished!