Who doesn't love ice cream? It is an American favorite and food staple in many homes. In most cases, regular or premium ice cream is a high-calorie treat rich in fat (mostly saturated fat). These days, there are many varieties of "light" ice creams on the market that offer a rich, creamy flavor but far fewer calories. To help you weed through the frozen dessert aisle, we've done some of the legwork for you and picked out the best of lower-calorie ice creams.
Facts on Low-Calorie Ice Cream
Choosing a yummy, low-calorie ice cream is not as simple as buying those with "low-fat" and "reduced carbs" on the label. There is no legal definition of "reduced carb" or "net carb." Even so, these terms are often used on the packages of frozen desserts. To make an ice cream lower in calories, it is usually made using sugar alcohols that provide fewer calories and carbohydrates. While safe, eating too much of anything with sugar alcohols has a laxative effect. Also, those dubbed "low carb" are high in fat. On average, Breyer's Carb Smart ice creams get over 60 percent of their calories from fat, much of it saturated.
Nutrition Labeling and Calorie Criteria
By law, low-fat ice cream is required to contain no more than 3 g total of fat per 1/2-cup serving. "Light" ice cream must contain 50 percent less fat or 33 percent fewer calories than regular ice cream. Limit calories to no more than 130 calories per 1/2-cup serving and fat to 4 g or less.
Lower-calorie ice creams now taste better due to a process called "cold-churned" or "slow-churned" or "double-churned." In this process, Right after the ice cream is churned, it is frozen to very low temperatures to keep that texture, giving it a richer, creamier texture and mouth feel for fewer calories and fat.
110 to 130 Calories
There are plenty of tasty choices that meet the calorie criteria. All calorie and fat counts are for a 1/2-cup serving. For example, Breyer's Double Churn Light Mocha Silk ice cream is rich and divine, and it provides just 130 calories and 4.5 g of fat. Dreyer's/Edy's Slow Churned Light Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream will cost you 120 calories and 4.5 g of fat. Edy's Triple Chocolate No Sugar Added ice cream is a chocolate-lover's dream for 110 calories and 3.5 g of fat. Safeway Select Mint Chocolate Chip Light Ice Cream is tasty and economical and provides 120 calories and 5 g of fat. Prefer soft-serve? Choose light versus regular to save calories. A 1/2-cup serving (about 3.1 oz.) offers 110 calories and only 2.3 g of fat.
Less Than 110 Calories
Can it get even better? Yes, because these varieties offer less than 110 calories per 1/2-cup serving. Breyer's Double Churn Free Caramel Swirl is delightful and fat-free, providing only 100 calories, as is Breyer's Double Churn French Chocolate Fat Free Ice Cream (clocking in at 90 calories). Breyer's Double Churn Light and Creamy Vanilla ice cream is heavenly and provides only 100 calories and 3 g of fat. Friendly's Smooth Churned Light Vanilla or Light Forbidden Chocolate ice creams each provide 100 to 110 calories and 3.5 g fat.
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