What's the healthiest ice cream to eat?

November 28, 2025 •

4 min read

Traditional premium ice cream can contain significant amounts of added sugar, with some premium options exceeding a full day's recommended limit in a single serving. For those with health goals, the question remains: what's the healthiest ice cream to eat? The answer lies in navigating the growing world of smarter frozen treats.

Quick Summary

This guide explores low-calorie, high-protein, dairy-free, and homemade frozen desserts. Compare nutritional facts across different types of frozen treats to find the best option for your dietary needs.

Key Points

Low-Calorie Options: Brands like Halo Top and Enlightened use skim milk and natural sweeteners to offer lower-calorie, high-protein alternatives to traditional ice cream.
Plant-Based Alternatives: Dairy-free brands such as Cado (avocado-based) and NadaMoo! (coconut milk-based) provide creamy texture and are suitable for vegans and those with lactose intolerance.
Smart Ingredient Choices: The healthiest ice creams and frozen desserts focus on real ingredients, minimizing artificial sweeteners, and avoiding unnecessary fillers and stabilizers.
Homemade 'Nice Cream': For complete control, blend frozen bananas with other fruits, nut butter, or cocoa powder for a naturally sweet, dairy-free dessert.
Prioritize Portion Control: Enjoying smaller, more mindful portions of even a traditional premium ice cream can be more satisfying than overindulging on a diet version.
Frozen Yogurt Benefits: Frozen Greek yogurt bars (like Yasso) or homemade frozen yogurt can offer higher protein content and probiotics, but still require checking for added sugars.

Understanding the Healthiest Frozen Dessert Options

When you're craving something cool and sweet, the freezer aisle can be overwhelming. Standard ice cream is often high in saturated fat and sugar. Fortunately, a variety of alternatives offer a satisfying experience with a better nutritional profile. These options are often lower in calories, higher in protein, or made from plant-based ingredients.

Low-Calorie and High-Protein Brands

For many, the best choice is a brand that actively markets itself as a healthier alternative. These products are engineered to be lower in fat and calories while boosting protein content to increase satiety.

Halo Top: A pioneer in the low-calorie space, Halo Top uses skim milk and natural sweeteners to create pints that are significantly lower in calories and higher in protein than traditional ice cream. Be mindful of the sugar alcohols used, which can cause digestive issues for some people.
Enlightened: Similar to Halo Top, Enlightened offers a range of high-protein, low-fat flavors. They also offer dairy-free versions for those with dietary restrictions.
Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars: These are a fantastic pre-portioned option. Made from Greek yogurt, they provide a higher protein content and often come in smaller, controlled serving sizes.

Plant-Based and Dairy-Free Frozen Desserts

For vegans, those with lactose intolerance, or anyone avoiding dairy, plant-based options have expanded dramatically. The bases range from coconut milk to avocado, each with a unique nutritional profile.

Cado: This brand uses avocado as its base, providing a rich, creamy texture with healthy, unsaturated fats. It’s a good option for those seeking a paleo-friendly and dairy-free treat.
NadaMoo!: Known for its creamy coconut milk base, NadaMoo! offers a delicious organic and dairy-free alternative to traditional ice cream. It's often praised for having a subtle coconut flavor.

Natural and Homemade Frozen Treats

For maximum control over ingredients, making a frozen treat at home is an excellent strategy. Using whole foods can help you avoid artificial sweeteners, fillers, and highly processed ingredients.

A simple homemade 'nice cream' recipe:

Freeze 2-3 very ripe, peeled bananas until solid.
Place the frozen banana chunks in a high-speed blender or food processor.
Add a splash of milk (dairy or plant-based) to help it blend.
Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more milk as needed to reach the desired consistency.
Add flavorings like cocoa powder, nut butter, or vanilla extract.
Serve immediately for a soft-serve texture or freeze for a firmer scoopable consistency.

Comparing Different Frozen Desserts

This table provides a quick nutritional comparison per 2/3 cup serving for a few popular types of frozen desserts. Values are approximate and vary by brand and flavor.


Dessert Type	Calories	Saturated Fat (g)	Added Sugar (g)	Protein (g)
Premium Ice Cream	300-400	10-18	25-35	3-6
Light Ice Cream	100-160	1.5-4	3-15	3-7
Gelato	180-240	4-8	18-30	4-6
Sorbet	150-200	0	25-40	<1
Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar	80-120	0-3	10-15	6-10
Avocado-Based (Cado)	170-230	2-3	14-18	0-3

Smart Strategies for Choosing and Enjoying

Beyond the specific product, how you consume your frozen treat plays a large role in its overall impact on your health. Here are some smart strategies to adopt:

Prioritize Real Ingredients: A shorter, more recognizable ingredient list is generally better. Avoid products laden with artificial flavors, stabilizers, and colors.
Watch for Sugar Alcohols: While they reduce calories, large quantities of sugar alcohols like erythritol can cause digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
Practice Portion Control: Opt for single-serving containers or use a small bowl instead of eating straight from the tub. A small portion of an indulgent treat can be more satisfying than a large portion of a less-tasty alternative.
Upgrade Your Toppings: Enhance your treat with nutritious toppings like fresh fruit, chopped nuts, or cacao nibs instead of sugary syrups and sprinkles.
Consider the "Nice Cream" Method: Blending frozen bananas creates a naturally sweet and creamy dessert, often called "nice cream," with zero added sugar.

For more detailed information on ingredients and nutritional guidelines, consult reputable sources like the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Balance

The healthiest ice cream is ultimately the one that best fits your dietary goals and provides the most enjoyment without compromise. For those counting calories, low-calorie, high-protein brands like Halo Top and Enlightened are excellent choices. If you're dairy-free, avocado-based Cado or coconut milk-based NadaMoo! offer rich, satisfying options. When seeking maximum ingredient control, a simple homemade 'nice cream' is a winner. Regardless of your choice, mindful consumption, portion control, and a focus on real ingredients are the true keys to enjoying your frozen treat healthily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sorbet is typically lower in fat and calories than traditional ice cream because it's dairy-free. However, it can often be higher in sugar, with some sorbets containing as much or more sugar than regular ice cream. Read the nutrition label carefully.

Not necessarily. Many dairy-free options use high-fat ingredients like coconut milk or cashews to achieve a creamy texture, which can result in a calorie and saturated fat count similar to or higher than traditional ice cream.

'Nice cream' is a homemade frozen dessert typically made by blending frozen bananas. It is considered a healthy alternative as it uses natural fruit for sweetness and is free from added sugars and artificial ingredients.

Some low-calorie ice creams may have a slightly different taste or texture due to the use of alternative sweeteners and ingredients. Some people report an aftertaste from sugar alcohols, while others find the texture to be less creamy and more icy.

To assess a product, review the nutrition label and ingredient list. Look for lower amounts of saturated fat and added sugars, fewer calories per serving, and a minimal list of real, recognizable ingredients.

Frozen yogurt can be lower in fat than traditional ice cream but can also be high in added sugars, especially with toppings. Greek yogurt-based frozen treats often contain higher protein, which can increase satiety.

Check the 'Added Sugars' line on the nutrition label and opt for brands with a lower number. Consider options sweetened with natural fruit or sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit, but be aware of the potential for sugar alcohols.