Frozen Yogurt: Is it Healthy? by Dana Angelo White in Healthy Tips, Is it Healthy?, June 29, 2011
- Frozen yogurt: friend or foe?
Making healthy choices isn’t always easy. In this new series, we’re diving into some seemingly better-for-you foods to explore if they’re really healthy. To fire things up for summer, is cool and creamy fro-yo a healthy pick?
Yes?
Using yogurt instead of cream typically means a significant reduction in fat and calories. A half-cup serving of frozen yogurt will typically average 100 to 140 calories and zero to 3 grams of fat (a very reasonable sweet treat for any healthy diet). Some premium brands of ice cream contain 3 times more calories and 5 times more fat than frozen yogurt! Our taste test revealed that beneficial probiotic bacteria are present in frozen yogurt (a bonus for your digestive system). Nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and protein can also be found. Tart yogurt shops like Pinkberry and Red Mango are popping up across the country — just remember that while the tart yogurts do have a unique flavor they’re still sweetened with sugar and have a similar amount of calories per serving to other types of frozen yogurt.
No?
Frozen yogurt still stacks up equally to ice cream when you look at the sugar content. One half cup of vanilla averages 2 to 3 teaspoons of sugar. Top with extra goodies like cookies and candy the sugar content will be jacked up as well.
Is Fat-Free Better?
Nonfat varieties need to use thickeners and binders like carrageenan, cellulose and guar gum to make up for the texture that high fat ingredients like cream naturally provide. While these additives are very safe to eat, they do make some varieties of yogurt more processed than ice cream.
The Verdict
Frozen yogurt certainly does have healthy attributes like less calories and fat and some healthy bacteria but there’s a lot of variation in the sea of frozen yogurt options. Whether you’re at the local yogurt shop or picking up pints at the grocery store – seek out nutrition info and read ingredient labels carefully. Portion control is still key – choose “small” or “child” sizes when eating out and scoop out no more than a cup when at home. One of the healthiest routes may be to make your own.
TELL US: Is frozen yogurt your frosty treat of choice?
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana’s full bio »
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Tags: frozen yogurt
Once in a while we go to Pinkberry for a frozen yogurt treat. I stick to the 3 oz size and fresh fruit toppings. In the summer when we go to VT, I will indulge in a trip to the Ben & Jerry's scoop shop. I think making the trip for the frozen treat is a great for portion control and fun outing.
Hello people frankly speaking these frozen yogerts can go on once in a blue moon not so frequent , the best way to take yougert is at ur home make yogert at home and put suger in it belive me you will enjoy taking it also why to spend too much of Kshs,$,or pounds in market wherein you can make even much better yogert at home lean how to make yogert fm google site type in how to make yogert !
Are you from Kenya?
frozen yogurt is only as good for you as the portion size.if you eat more than you would ice cream,it will be bad for you.if you limit yourself to a few ounces;it will be better for you than most choices.but not something to indulge yourself in everyday.
it may be better calorie and fat wise much of the time, but it's still a dairy product, which is horrible for your body and health
I personally love the coconut milk-based frozen desserts you can find in a lot of grocery stores now, even the soymilk-based ones are really good, as good as any full fat premium ice cream.. and soo much better for you.. So Delicious/Purely Decadent is my favorite brand
if it were not for the sugars………yogurt would be first on my list….since they both have sugars….i prefer ice cream. one pint last a week for me. not that i have a pint every week.
I think the real danger with the self-serve yogurt places is the topping bar. Getting a cup of 100 calorie, sugar-free yogurt doesn't do any good when you load it up with all the sauces, cereals, and chocolates!
yep, at golden spoon they offfer "cupcake" yogurt which is WONDERFUL and i have almond roca sprinkles on top to gild the lily. i don't have it that often so i enjoy it without feeling guilty.
how do the plain tart flavors and no toppings compare to the flavored ones with no toppings as far as sugar content?
I love TCBY's Chocolate-Chocolate hand scooped frozen yogurt! It's better than ice cream to me!
my guilty pleasure is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia Frozen Yogurt every so often. SOOOO good, I actually prefer it to the same version of their ice cream.
I prefer Dreyer's frozen yogurt over ice cream any day! It is smoother and richer tasting than any ice cream I have ever had.