I scream for Ice Cream! But wait....

I scream for Ice Cream!  But wait...

which should we choose?

If you’re like me, ice cream is a favorite treat — no matter the time of year. Problem is, a one-cup scoop of some super-premium traditional ice cream varieties can pack in more than 500 calories and a whopping 22 teaspoons of sugar. And who can stop at just one cup?

The good news is that there are many new delicious ways to enjoy a creamy, cold treat without all the sugar, calories, and fat of regular ice cream.

Here are some of my top picks for healthier licks:

Halo Top

Halo Top may be your solution if you want an ice cream alternative that won’t derail your diet. I love its creaminess and high protein and fiber counts, along with its minimal amount of added sugar. An entire pint ranges from 240 to 360 calories (120 to 180 calories per cup), depending on the flavor. Compare that to a typical pint of Ben & Jerry’s, which packs in more than 1,000 calories. A cup of Halo Top delivers 10 grams of protein, 6 grams fiber and just 5 grams of added sugar. Plus, the brand recently added vegan and dairy-free varieties!  And five stores have this ice cream within a mile of our clinic!  (Bakers, Walgreens, Walmart, Target and Fresh Thyme!)

Talenti Sorbetto  

Talenti Sorbetto is another top pick because you get a cool burst of creamy flavor without the fat and calories of traditional ice cream. Plus they are from Minneapolis Minnesota, just a few hours a way!  A half-cup serving has a guilt-free 120 calories and no fat. When I want something sweet and refreshing, their Roman Raspberry and Blood Orange flavors meet my cravings every time. (Available at Target and Whole Foods)

Skinny Ice Cream Sandwiches

If you’re looking for a tasty portion-controlled treat, go for an ice cream sandwich. While some gourmet varieties can set you back 500 calories or more, many supermarket options can be delicious calorie bargains. My favorite ice cream sandwiches include Skinny Cow (with 150 calories) and non-dairy Tofutti Cuties (with 130 calories and 9 grams of sugar).

Frozen Yogurt Pops

Frozen yogurt usually has less unhealthy saturated fat, fewer calories and more protein than ice cream, but not all froyos are created equal. Be sure to read the nutrition facts to know what you’re getting. Some of my favorites include Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt Bars (about 80 calories, 5 g protein and no sat fat per bar*) Julie’s Organic Frozen Yogurt Bar (90 calories, 2 g protein and 1 g sat fat per bar*) and Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars (90 calories, 5 g protein and 1 g sat fat per bar*).

For our Ideal Protein clients- use our Wildberry Yogurt Drink Mix- only 4g of carbs!

*Nutritionals may vary slightly depending on flavor.

Also it’s fun and easy to whip up healthy, homemade froyo – all you’ll need is nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt and your favorite fresh or frozen fruit. (Honey or agave is optional.) Process the ingredients in a blender until smooth, then freeze for 30 to 45 minutes before serving.

Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Bananas

Chocolate. Bananas. Need I say more? Here’s a healthy and refreshingly creamy, satisfying snack that’s a cinch to make. Simply freeze a few bananas on a stick, melt  several squares of our Ideal Protein raspberry chocolate bar  (about 4 ounces per banana). I prefer dark chocolate to counter the sweetness of the bananas. Then dip frozen bananas into the melted chocolate and freeze again for at least 30 min. Next, you’ll enjoy an amazing sweet treat for less than 180 calories* and wonder why everything in life isn’t this good!  (*Assuming you keep to one small banana and don’t overdo the chocolate dipping).

Want a Phase 1 Ideal Protein Friendly Recipe?  You got it!

Mendy's Vanilla Ice Cream:

Ingredients:
1 IP drink packet (for example, chocolate drink packet for chocolate ice cream)

½ TSP of vanilla extract

1 packet of sweetener (Truvia, Splenda, etc)

1 cup of water

½ cup of course salt

Ice

(Plus a large (gallon) and small (sandwich) sealable ziplock bag.

Directions:
1. Put 1 cup of water into IP shaker – add in vanilla and sweetener – then the IP drink packet and shake until well blended. Pour mixture into small sandwich plastic bag. SEAL TIGHT.

2. Take a gallon sized plastic bag and fill up half way with ice cubes. Pour ½ cup of salt into the bag. Place the sealed sandwich bag with the drink mixture inside the ice cube bag. MAKE SURE BOTH BAGS ARE SEALED TIGHT.

3. Now here come the little arm workout! Shake, shake, shake for 8 minutes. I usually stop at around 5 minutes and check to see the progress. At about 5 minutes the mixture should be partially frozen – kind of looking like a slushy. (Try pot holders while shaking the bag because it’s cold to hold onto!)

4. At 8 minutes you are going to have a hard bag of ‘ice cream’! Take out of the salty ice bag and very quickly rinse the bag off under cold water.  Enjoy!

Note: A client says that one time when she made this – some of the salt rubbed off the bag and got into the bowl – and took a bite and was like WHOA salty ice cream. So just rinse off the bag quickly to avoid that.

Nutrition:  Vanilla Drink Mix 90 cal 18g protein 0g fat 4g carbs 2g sugar 

by Mendy Peterson PA-C, MSM