A Shamrock Shake at McDonald’s will cost you some serious calories and fat. A 12-fluid ounce portion (the smallest size) has a whopping 530 calories and 15 grams of fat, not to mention all the highly-processed sweeteners and artificial colors. Try this fresher and lighter version instead. Bonus: you can make it all year long; the fast-food version is only available for a few weeks around St. Patrick’s Day.
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Even a frozen treat connoisseur like myself can get confused with all the icy options out there. Grab your ice cream maker, you’ll be itching to make something after you read this.
Ice Cream
The classic: sweet, velvety, delish. Ice cream is typically made with a combo of cream and milk (and sometimes egg yolks). Premium varieties of vanilla ice cream average about 230 calories and 13 grams of fat per ½ cup.
Gelato
Ice cream ala Italy. This frozen confection is basically ice cream, but less is more! Gelato is made with less air whipped into it. The result is a dense and creamy delight. The nutrition facts stack up similar to ice cream (see above) but we did find a few store-bought brands that scored lower in both the fat and calorie department. Trader Joe’s and Ciao Bella are 2 personal favorites.
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It seems like fro-yo joints are popping up on every corner – there are 3 in my neighborhood! While cold and creamy soft-serve yogurt is a delicious concoction, it’s not automatically health food. Wherever you happen to order up frozen yogurt, keep the portions modest (order the smallest size) and the toppings minimal. We scanned popular menus for the healthiest offerings. Here are our top picks for sensible, yet tasty treats.
TCBY
Choose protein-packed Greek Honey Vanilla or 90-calorie Classic Tart topped with bananas, cherries or chocolate sprinkles.
Pinkberry
Fun and lower calorie options include Green Tea, Coconut or Watermelon. Top a small portion off with toasted almonds, dark chocolate crisps or kiwi.
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- You asked for it: dark chocolate frozen yogurt. Customize it with your favorite mix-ins.
We’ve got frozen yogurt on our minds, so we polled our Facebook fans to find out what flavor they wanted to dive into. Introducing Dark Chocolate Frozen Yogurt (plus some fun ways to jazz it up).
Why Chocolate?
Why not – who doesn’t love a little chocolatey goodness?! It can be a tricky fro yo flavor to tackle because tart and tangy yogurt doesn’t always mingle with rich and smooth chocolate. The solution — use real chocolate and plus some whole milk to mellow things out.
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- 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? Read more »
- Low-Fat Chocolate Pudding - Photo by Kate Sears/Food Network Magazine
A few nights a week, you want a sweet treat, but don’t want the calories or time commitment to get out of control. We’ve got 5 dessert recipes that are just what you’re looking for.
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- Dana's Peach Frozen Yogurt
Tart yogurt shops like Pinkberry and Red Mango are in fashion this summer, but you won’t believe how easy it is to make your own in-style fro yo. Try our recipe for a seasonal favorite — smooth and silky peaches and cream.
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Dana and I are both ice cream fanatics, but I’ve been wanting to find some lower-calorie treats (that don’t have artificial sweeteners) to enjoy during these hot days. For this taste test, we tried five brands from our local markets to see how their flavors measured up.
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It may seem like it’s “bad for business,” but I’m a dietitian who absolutely loves ice cream! Working at an ice cream shop for years not only helped pay for my education, it made me a connoisseur of the creamy cold stuff. Since I’m a firm believer that no food should be completely off limits, it’s okay to indulge in ice cream — just keep these tips in mind.
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