As the saying goes, "Ice cream is always a good idea." But does this hold true for every kind of ice cream? It certainly should.
With an array of flavors and options available in the freezer aisle, there's something for every dietary preference and lifestyle. From dairy-free to low-sugar, low-calorie, high-protein, and keto options, the choices seem endless. However, finding the "right one" can be challenging as you navigate the complex world of nutrition labels and terminology.
To guide you through the world of low-calorie ice cream, Eat This, Not That! previously consulted a dietitian to identify some of the best options. To make the list, each product had to meet specific criteria: no more than 210 calories per serving, 12 grams of added sugar, and 15 grams of saturated fat.
While nutritional content is important, taste is also a key factor. After all, who doesn't want their ice cream to be delicious?
To find the best, I tried all the dietitian-approved ice creams I could find. I purchased eight different options, enlisted two ice cream-loving friends, and grabbed three spoons. As we tasted each ice cream, we considered their unique qualities, such as being low in fat or free of added sugar.
Here’s how they ranked, from least favorite to the best.
Yasso Strawberries & Cream Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars
Nutrition (Per 1 bar):
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 0 g (Saturated fat: 0 g)
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Carbs: 14 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 12 g)
- Protein: 4 g
Unlike the other brands on this list, Yasso's products are made with Greek yogurt and are free of artificial sweeteners. These Strawberries & Cream Bars had the highest sugar content among all the products in this taste test, containing 12 grams of real sugar, which is listed as the second ingredient after nonfat milk. I bought a four-pack of the bars for $6.99.
The look: The bars were a vibrant Pepto Bismol pink, with red flecks from the strawberry pieces.
The taste: The flavor was overly sweet and, despite being made with real strawberries, tasted artificial. I usually don't like strawberry ice cream, but one of my fellow taste-testers does. When she said it tasted like cough syrup, it confirmed that this dessert wasn't a hit. The strawberry pieces had a chewy, slightly gelatinous texture that didn't enhance the experience. While I've enjoyed other Yasso flavors like Chocolate Fudge and Fudge Brownie, I'll be passing on Strawberries & Cream in favor of my usual favorites.
Nick's Strawbär Swirl Swedish-Style Light Ice Cream
Nutrition (Per 2/3 Cup Serving):
- Calories: 90
- Fat: 5 g (Saturated fat: 3.5 g)
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Carbs: 22 g (Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 1 g)
- Protein: 3 g
Nick's offers Swedish-style, keto-friendly ice cream options without added sugar, using sugar alcohols like allulose, erythritol, and stevia as sweeteners. The Strawbär Swirl Swedish-Style Light Ice Cream includes cream and a dairy protein blend made with milk protein concentrate, allulose, and whey. I bought a pint for $5.
The look: This ice cream was less vibrant than the Yasso bars, with reddish-pink strawberry ribbons and some yellowish brown speckles from the strawberry seeds.
The taste: Unlike the Yasso bar, this ice cream had a more natural strawberry flavor with a less intense sweetness. One friend noted a "very subtle hint of vanilla" but concluded it tasted like whey. The strawberry swirls reminded me of a gelatinous strawberry-flavored jam. Despite the flavor, the texture was slightly chewy with a bit of iciness, which didn't make it particularly enjoyable or inviting for another bite.
Enlightened Sea Salt Caramel Bars
Nutrition (Per 1 Bar):
- Calories: 80
- Fat: 2 g (Saturated fat: 1 g)
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Carbs: 17 g (Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 5 g)
- Protein: 5 g
Enlightened offers a variety of low-calorie, low-sugar, and high-protein ice cream options, including both bars and pints. Similar to Nick's, they use sweeteners like allulose, stevia, and monk fruit. The Sea Salt Caramel Bars, made with skim milk, were priced at $6.49.
The look: The bars were a light sandy brown color with a darker brown caramel swirl.
The taste: The caramel flavor was unmistakable and intensely sweet, lingering long after tasting. One friend likened it to "those sucking candies your grandma gives you," while I noted a hint of maple syrup. The overall flavor was overpowering for all three of us, but it might appeal to those who love a strong caramel taste.
Breyer's CarbSmart Brownie a la Mode
Nutrition (Per 2/3 Cup Serving):
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 6 g (Saturated fat: 4.5 g)
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Carbs: 21 g (Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 4 g)
- Protein: 1 g
As the name suggests, Breyers' CarbSmart line offers frozen desserts that are lower in carbs. The Brownie a la Mode Frozen Dairy Dessert is made with skim milk and includes fudge ribbons and brownie dough pieces. It's labeled as a "frozen dairy dessert" rather than ice cream because it doesn't meet the FDA's requirement of at least 10% milk fat content for ice cream. A 1.5-quart container cost $5.
The look: The dessert had a creamy vanilla base with fudge ripples and small brownie pieces scattered throughout. The texture was smooth when scooped.
The taste: The flavor was somewhat off, lacking a strong vanilla taste and having a chemical-like aftertaste. Notably, vanilla wasn't listed as an ingredient; instead, it mentioned "natural flavor." The brownie dough pieces, while not chewy as expected, had a gritty texture but provided a pleasant chocolaty taste that helped mask the chemical flavor of the base. One friend remarked, "If the brownie's not in the bite, it's not worth your time."
Edy's/Dreyer's Slow Churned Classic Vanilla Light Ice Cream
Nutrition (Per 2/3 Cup Serving):
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 4 g (Saturated fat: 2.5 g)
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Carbs: 23 g (Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 17 g)
- Protein: 3 g
Edy's, also known as Dreyer's in some regions of the U.S., offers a variety of ice cream flavors, including low-fat and no added sugar options. The Slow Churned line features ice creams with one-third the calories and half the fat of traditional ice cream. The primary ingredient is skim milk. I bought a 1.5-quart container of the Slow Churned Classic Vanilla Light Ice Cream for $4.
The look: The ice cream had a light and fluffy texture but melted quickly, leaving some air bubbles at the bottom of the bowl.
The taste: One bite brought to mind the vanilla ice cream from the mini vanilla and chocolate ice cream cups that come with small wooden spoons—a nostalgic treat for many. The flavor was quite sweet, with a mild vanilla taste, though it wasn't as pronounced as in the next brand's offering.
Halo Top Light Vanilla Ice Cream
Nutrition (Per 2/3 Cup Serving):
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 2 g (Saturated fat: 1.5 g)
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Carbs: 21 g (Fiber: 6 g, Sugar: 7 g)
- Protein: 6 g
Halo Top is a well-known brand for low-calorie ice cream, offering a variety of pints and pops that are lower in calories, sugar, and higher in protein compared to regular ice cream. They use stevia and erythritol as sweeteners, along with some sugar. I purchased a pint of the Vanilla Bean Light Ice Cream for $5.99.
The look: This ice cream was soft, light, and easy to scoop, with visible black specks from ground vanilla beans.
The taste: The dessert was sweet but not overly so, with a distinct vanilla bean flavor. It also had a subtle toasted note, reminiscent of almonds. If you're craving vanilla, this option could satisfy your desire.
So Delicious Vanilla Sandwiches Almondmilk Frozen Dessert
Nutrition (Per 1 Sandwich):
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 4 g (Saturated fat: 3 g)
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Carbs: 14 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 7 g)
- Protein: 1 g
So Delicious offers a wide range of vegan, non-GMO frozen desserts made with almond, coconut, soy, or oat milk. The Vanilla Almond Milk Sandwiches consist of almond milk frozen dessert layered between two chocolate wafers. I bought a box of eight for $7.99.
The look: Handle with care when opening these, as the first sandwich I unwrapped fell apart easily. Inside, a generous portion of vanilla-flavored frozen dessert was sandwiched between two chocolate-flavored wafers. The sandwiches were about half the size of a standard ice cream sandwich.
The taste: Surprisingly good. Although it doesn't quite match a classic ice cream sandwich, it offers a delightful sweetness that had us reaching for seconds. The frozen dessert had a noticeable almond flavor, which wasn't unpleasant. One friend, who amusingly claims to be lactose intolerant but still eats dairy ice cream, said, "It's a nice little treat after dinner, especially if you're lactose intolerant." While this was an impressive alternative, there was still one other option that I'd prefer over this one.
Rebel Coffee Chip Ice Cream
Nutrition (Per 2/3 Cup Serving):
- Calories: 210
- Fat: 18 g (Saturated fat: 12 g)
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Carbs: 16 g (Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 0 g)
- Protein: 3 g
Rebel offers a keto-friendly range of full-fat, low-carb ice creams that contain little to no added sugar. These ice creams are made with a cream base and sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit. The Coffee Chip Ice Cream, which contains zero grams of sugar, is one of their offerings. I bought a pint for $6.99. The brand suggests letting the ice cream sit out for at least 15 minutes or microwaving it briefly before serving.
The look: This light brown ice cream was dotted with chocolate chips, making it an appealing choice for a coffee ice cream enthusiast like me.
The taste: Despite my low expectations due to the zero-sugar claim, I was pleasantly surprised. The coffee flavor was prominent, striking a nice balance between sweetness and bitterness, and the chocolate chips added a satisfying crunch. The texture was light, and I wouldn't have guessed this was a specialty ice cream. It was even better than some coffee ice creams I've tried in previous taste tests. Among the eight low-calorie ice creams I sampled, this one stood out as the best, tempting me to go back for more.