Ice cream is a classic sweet treat — there’s no denying that. It makes a good day turn to great, and a frown turn to a smile with just a lick and a sprinkle. One thing it’s not great for? Your health.
When I want to indulge my undying sweet tooth but also don’t want to compromise all my hard work in the gym, I turn to healthier ice cream alternatives. You’ve probably noticed them all over Instagram, YouTube, and even Spoon. I’ve tried them all (I know, such an awful task to have to take on) and ranked them for you based on taste, texture, similarity to real ice cream, and, oh yeah, nutrition facts.
Put down your Ben and Jerry’s and read up on these healthier ice cream alternatives.
Arctic Zero
To be honest, when I tried Strawberry Arctic Zero for the first time I hated it. This was, though, before I tried it the right way. This icy dessert is just that: icy. However, the texture can be somewhat salvaged by microwaving the pint for 15 seconds and then closing your eyes and thinking really hard about real ice cream.
One thing is for sure: the chunky pints are a lot better than the “creamy” ones. When microwaved, the Brownie Batter and Snickerdoodle flavors are pretty dang good. The chunks add a nice touch that contrasts with the pretty plain background of typically icy and somewhat bland “ice cream.” For flavor and texture alone, Arctic Zero would get a 5/10.
However, the health stats on Arctic Zero are amazing. The creamy pints pack a mere 150 calories per pint and have lots of protein. Arctic Zero is lactose-free, GMO-free, and has a low glycemic index, unlike your average ice cream.
Taking into consideration all factors, Arctic Zero gets a 7.5/10 from me.
So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream
This ice cream is perfect for someone with dietary restrictions, as it is vegan and gluten-free. It’s also creamy, coconut-y, and tasty enough to make your taste buds do a happy dance when they see a spoonful coming their way.
I tried the Cookie Dough flavor, which was packed full of humongous chunks of decadent gluten-free cookie dough. Taste and texture wise, this ice cream would get a 10/10.
That is, until, you realize the pint has a whopping 112% of your daily recommendation of fiber, and there’s no way you’ll be able to stop at just one serving. Better cancel all your plans for the rest of the day and drag a TV and some books into the bathroom.
This pint is also far less calorie friendly than some of the others on this list, with 170 calories per serving and 680 per pint. The sugar is up there too, with 16 grams per serving, or 64 grams per pint. Granted, these stats are a lot better than normal ice cream, but they’re not the best.
All facts considered, So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream gets a 6/10.
Halo Top Creamery
This is it. This is the holy grail of healthy ice creams. It’s perfect in every way. I imagine it would make the inventor of ice cream roll over in his or her grave. It may or may not make Ben and Jerry cry. It is Halo Top. It gets 10/10.
Halo Top is so creamy and so true to normal ice cream that you would never believe it was only 240-280 calories per pint. It has the same health stats as an average protein bar, with 24 grams of protein and 20 grams of fiber in each pint.
Coming from someone who has tried every flavor Halo Top has to offer, my personal favorites are mint chip and classic chocolate. Mocha chip, strawberry, birthday cake, lemon cake, and vanilla are all amazing too, though. Word on the street is that two new flavors are about to be released to select people for a taste test too.
Ice cream is something that will never go out of style, even if fitness and health are taking over. Don’t feel like you have to skip out on a sweet treat, even if you’re a fitness fanatic. Choose from one of these three healthier options depending on your fancy and don’t be afraid to fill up the bowl — ice cream is good for the soul.