Gelato and ice cream, tasty frozen desserts, share several similarities, but are also quite different. Gelato is actually lower in calories and fat than ice cream, although many people may think it's more fattening. The ingredients and processing give these two desserts their distinctions. The exact nutritional content of both gelato and ice cream varies slightly, depending on the brand.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is made by stirring, or churning, a mixture of milk, sweeteners, stabilizers, flavorings and sometimes egg yolks. Sometimes the milk is also mixed with concentrated milk, cream or condensed milk. While the mixture freezes, it is continually stirred so air mixes in. The air makes ice cream lighter and softer, and it melts easily. Commercially sold ice cream contains between 10 and 16 percent milk fat per 1/2 cup serving.
Gelato
Gelato is made of milk, sugar, egg yolks and flavorings, and it is churned slowly while it freezes. The result is a denser, heavier product that tastes creamier and richer than ice cream. Because it does not contain cream, gelato usually has less than 10 percent milk fat. This results in a lower fat content than standard and premium ice creams. Freshly made gelato is best, because its density causes it to freeze stiffly, making it difficult to serve.
Nutrients in Ice Cream and Gelato
Because gelato and ice cream are made with milk, they contain milk nutrients, specifically calcium, vitamin B-2 and potassium. The sugar and sweetener amounts added to the two desserts vary greatly among brands. Although they contain nutrients, do not be tempted to view ice cream or gelato as sources for calcium, because the fat content makes the product unhealthy if you consume too much. Whole milk products contain cholesterol and saturated fat, so to limit your intake, choose for ice creams made from low-fat milk.
Flavors and Toppins
In addition to limiting consumption of ice cream and gelato because of their fat and sugar contents, also pay attention to the ingredients that are mixed into different flavors and the types of toppings you may add. While fresh fruit can help boost the vitamin and mineral content, fruit sauces contain a lot of sugar. Nut toppings contain additional fat and sodium, but also have vitamins and minerals, so they are healthy in small amounts. Hot fudge, of course, is high in calories and sugar and should be used sparingly.
Member Comments