Lifestyle
The Best Picks from the Whole Foods Ice Cream Aisle
Just because it's a health food market doesn't mean Whole Foods overlooks dessert. Amazon's adopted child is known for its uncompromising ingredient standards, refusing to sell products with artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. Despite these restrictions, Whole Foods offers extensive ice cream options that won't disappoint your sweet tooth. Whether you're looking for something low-calorie. high-protein, non-dairy, or just plain delicious, there is definitely something in the Whole Foods ice cream aisle with your name on it.
1. Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss
Frozen coconut milk sounds tempting enough on its own, but this dreamy blend is merely the base of Coconut Bliss. The brand's 15 organic, gluten-free, dairy-free flavors include Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge, Mocha Maca Crunch, and Summer Berry Swirl. You can also try this agave-sweetened dessert in the form of frozen dessert bars or Hemp Seed Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwiches.
2. Nada Moo!
In case you couldn't deduce it from the name, Nada Moo! is another dairy-free ice cream brand. Each starting as creamy frozen almond milk, the 15 and counting flavor offerings include Birthday Cake Cookie Dough, Rocky Road, and Chocolate Cherry Fudge Brownie.
3. Ben and Jerry's
You're probably never diving into a pint of Ben & Jerry's with nutritional content in mind. However, if everyone's favorite flavor makes the cut for the Whole Foods ice cream freezer, that means Ben & Jerry's is made with some seriously high-quality ingredients. So next time you finish an entire pint in one sitting, you'll at least have this reassurance.
4. New Barn Almond Crème
Another solid choice for dairy avoiders and consumers alike, New Barn offers eight premium almond milk-based flavors. Even with varieties like Ginger Snap Cookie, Banana & Chocolate Chip, and Cereal & Almond Milk, New Barn always keeps the ingredient list short, and most flavors are certified organic.
5. Halo Top
I'm still a little skeptical of these low-sugar, low-calorie, high-protein, seemingly-too-good-to-be-true pints, but the Internet remains loyal to Halo Top. If your body is cool with erythritol (one of Halo Top's controversial zero-calorie sweeteners) and you're looking for ice cream sans guilt, this is probably the closest you'll come.
6. So Delicious
With cashew milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and soy milk varieties, So Delicious truly has something for everyone. These plant-based ice cream flavors are so decadent, even dairy milk loyalists will easily find a flavor (or 10) that they love.
7. 365 Everyday Value
Whole Foods isn't so hard on the wallet when you trust in the 365 brand. The ice cream sandwiches and fudge bars are classics, and you can get a quart of 365 organic ice cream for about the same price as a pint of any other brand.
8. Three Twins
Made exclusively with organic ingredients, Three Twins ice cream comes in 22 enticing flavors, and every pint purchased helps protect six square feet of rainforest. So if you're struggling to choose between caramel truffle swirl, brownie batter chunk, and banana nut confetti, just buy all three.
9. Mochi
Whole Foods introducing self-serve mochi bars in select stores was a true game-changer. At $2 a pop, these little Japanese confections might not be the most budget-friendly option, but with flavors like Black Sesame, Matcha, and Kona Coffee, splurging is a must.
10. Local Brands
Supporting nearby farmers and vendors is a huge part of Whole Foods' mission, so don't forget to check your store for local pints. In Washington, DC, you'll find some of the District's best ice cream shops represented in Whole Foods' freezers (I'm talking Dolcezza Gelato and Ice Cream Jubilee), and the same goes for other cities' best scoop shops, like Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream in NYC and Snoqualmie in Seattle.
So next time you decide to stray from your grocery list and buy yourself a treat, look no further than the Whole Foods ice cream section. You don't have to be a health nut or have a dietary restriction to enjoy any of these options, but your body (and your taste buds) will definitely appreciate the high-quality ingredients.