Each year Americans spend an estimated $20 billion on frozen desserts, including ice cream, according to "National Geographic." The affection for the confection is about 2,000 years old. The Roman Emperor Nero commanded slaves to retrieve snow from the mountains and sweetened it with honey. Over the years, the addition of eggs and cream led to the development of a rich, flavorful dessert.
Calories and Ice Cream Ingredients
The calories in the diet are responsible for weight gain and weight regulation. When considering the impact of ice cream on weight, analyzing the calories in the ingredients is essential. Ingredients in ice cream are rich in calories. The eggs and cream are the primary offenders. Lighter versions contain fewer calories because they use lowfat milk instead of cream and the eggs are reduced or eliminated.
Homemade and Light
One method for including low-calorie ice cream in the diet involves making it at home to control the calorie level of the ingredients. Often ice cream recipes instruct using light cream that contains 469 calories per cup. Including skim milk instead provides only 86 calories. Grocery store brands that make low-calorie varieties include Breyer's, Edy's, Healthy Choice and Stonyfield Farms that range from 80 to 140 calories per 1/2 cup. Standard ice cream provides about 300 calories per 1/2 cup.
Healthy Ice Cream
Reducing calories in ice cream doesn't work well, according to researchers at the University of Missouri, because the process inevitably hurts the flavor. They opted for a different approach -- making ice cream healthier by adding ingredients, such as probiotics, fiber and antioxidants. This would improve the nutritional value of the ice cream and provide blood glucose regulating fiber.
Alternatives
Alternatives to ice cream, such as sorbet and Italian ice, provide fewer calories. A 1/2 cup serving ranges from 75 to 130 calories. Sorbet and Italian ice provide a healthier option because they often contain antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as healthy fruits and dark chocolate, and no dairy products. However, it is less filling compared with ice cream because it contains almost no protein or fat, nutrients that quench the appetite.
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