Diet ice cream brands offer flavors suited for every palette, giving us yet another reason to eat healthier. Deborah Jeffery, Fairfax nutritionist, says what brand you buy “depends on why you are eating it.”
Diet ice creams to buy, she explains, are high in protein and fiber for a filling snack, and low in calories if you are trying to lose weight. The first thing you should look at when strolling down the frozen dessert aisle is the nutrition label on the box to see how many additives, like added sugar or artificial flavors, there are in a serving.
Making the right choice based on nutritional stats, though, is only part of the process. If it doesn’t taste good, it’s not worth the calories, so we did took one for the team and did the research for you. Here’s what we thought of some of the popular brands in the freezer section.
Diet Ice Cream Bars
By Rachel Kiser
1. So Delicious Almond Milk Frozen Dessert Bar’s Mocha Almond Fudge
This ice cream bar was the most surprising in terms of how good it actually tasted, which is why it has claimed the number one spot. Almond milk tends to be overtly sweet, but the hard chocolate shell intertwined with chunks of almonds balanced well. Plus, it makes a filling dessert for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan, and with only 150 calories per bar, it’s an easy and guilt-free way to beat the heat. 4/5
2. Enlightenment Ice Cream Bars’ Sea Salt Caramel
With only 80 calories, 5 grams of sugar and as much protein as an ounce of steak, this delight is a worthy winner of the number two spot. Flavors like red velvet, birthday cake, almond, and various peanut butter chip will (almost) make you question if it’s diet. With gooey caramel mixed with surprisingly creamy low fat ice cream, this iPhone 6-sized bar is gratifying till the very last bite. 4/5
3. Mr. Mochi Mochi Ice Cream’s Mango
Mochi ice cream has been a sweet tooth sensation in the ice cream world lately, and these miniature desserts are one of the reasons why. Mr. Mochi ice cream carries these rice dough-covered ice cream bites in quirky flavors such as green tea, mango, strawberry and more. The mango ice cream is sweet and almost juicy, but is overpowered by the rice dough. At 140 calories for two, the good outweighs the bad. 3.75/5
4. Blue Bunny Mini Swirls Vanilla Ice Cream Cone
It’s hard to go wrong with a classic vanilla ice cream cone. This smaller version of the original Blue Bunny Swirl Cone packs a lot into a small bite. With only 140 calories and 11 grams of sugar, the classic vanilla with the chocolate shell is delicious all the way down to the hidden chocolate-filled tip (best part). However, it’s not as satisfying since the temptation to eat two more after the first lingers. It may not technically be reduced fat ice cream, but it is a small way to treat yourself. 3.5/5
5. Skinny Cow Protein Ice Cream Bar’s For the Love of Chocolate
The expectation for this ice cream bar was originally much higher, especially because of its 8 grams of protein. The sandwich was huge and luxurious looking with its perfectly shaped chocolate ice cream nestled between a sweet-smelling chocolate cookie. At first bite, there was a pretty noticeable protein powder aftertaste that tasted almost grainy and the cake cookie transferred to anything and everything that touched it. Its satisfactory size and high protein count couldn’t compensate for the flashbacks of unmixed whey protein powder and dirty fingers. 2.5/5
Diet Ice Cream Pints
By Mary Harrison
You might have tried the miracle pints that ignited the low-calorie ice cream revolution, but this flavor makes it hard to believe it’s even tagged as “diet.” The entire pint contains only 360 calories and is loaded with 24 g of protein; a shocking ratio considering the flavor mimics the taste of a real Snickers bar. To be fair, the brand does use processed dairy and artificial sweeteners to achieve the “healthy” title. However, with over 40 flavors including their dairy-free options and consistent quality, Halo Top is deserving of their leading popularity among diet ice cream. 4.5/5
2. Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria Light Ice Cream’s P.B. Dough
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream has been disrupting our diets for years, but now you can feel less guilty when you eat the whole pint. The brand’s new line has cut at least 60 percent less fat and 35 percent less calories than their traditional flavors, and successfully does so without adding any artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. The P.B. Dough flavor certainly delivered: it consists of rich chocolate ice cream, globs of peanut butter cookie dough, and the classically delicious Ben & Jerry’s taste. It is not quite as creamy as the beloved regular flavors, but understandably due to its low-fat ambitions, and therefore contains less cream. The verdict: perfect if you aren’t willing to sacrifice ice cream quality for the sake of a diet. 4.5/5
3. Enlightened Black Cherry Chocolate Chip
With flavors ranging from French Toast to Cold Brew Coffee and Movie Night, Enlightened certainly brings an interesting dynamic to the table. The Black Cherry Chocolate Chip flavor is an ambitious combination of fruity cherry and rich chocolate chunks, and upholds Enlightened’s “good-for-you” trademark with only 90 calories a serving. The sugar, fat and saturated fat totals are also just a fraction of traditional ice cream without losing the creamy consistency. Much silkier than Halo Top, it is merely a matter of personal preference between these two enjoyable brands. 4/5
4. Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt’s Caramel Pretzelmania
What started as Greek yogurt bars has expanded to eight flavors of organic ice cream alternatives. Pints of Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt may contain more carbohydrates and sugar totals than its ice cream competitors, but it does not cheat by using erythritol to mask calories. Pretzelmania is sea salt Greek yogurt with caramel swirls that has chocolate-covered pretzel bits for a crunchy kick. Considering some non-frozen Greek yogurt has comparable calorie and sugar intake, Yasso is a pleasing alternative. 4/5
If you are seeking a fiber-full, low calorie snack, Arctic Zero is a suitable choice. The brand is gluten-free, GMO-free, lactose-free, kosher and has a low glycemic index. On the other hand, if you are craving creamy, flavorful ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth, Arctic Zero would fall short. The vanilla wafer crumbles in the Banana Pudding flavor are certainly a highlight in the pint, but unfortunately they couldn’t overpower the artificial banana taste. Texture wise, the consistency is much thinner, less creamy and more watery than other healthy ice cream. While the skinny ice cream certainly compromises the satisfying ice cream quality, its redeeming feature is you won’t break the calorie bank. 2.5/5
