Thanks to our determination to stay slim and fit, it seems like frozen yogurt shops can be found on practically every street corner and in every shopping mall. But is it really better than ice cream?
Lucky for you, I'm going to give you the scoop on the difference between the two, and share clever ways to cut down on toppings and control portion size to avoid packing on the pounds.
Ice cream
Regular ice cream is a mix of full-fat dairy products. In fact, to be considered ice cream, it must contain at least 10 percent milk fat. Light or reduced-fat ice cream are made with the very same ingredients as regular ice cream but feature low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
Frozen yogurt
Frozen yogurt features low-fat or fat-free dairy products often found in ice cream, but it also has yogurt cultures. These cultures can help increase "good" bacteria in your stomach and reduce the risk of certain digestive issues.
All things considered, frozen yogurt and light ice cream are pretty similar — so go with whichever you prefer!
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And if you're eating regular ice cream, stick with a small and limit yourself to one tablespoon of any yummy topping to avoid packing on the pounds.
Before you run out to get a scoop of frozen yogurt or ice cream, here are few more tips to save calories and please your sweet tooth:
Slim down your frozen yogurt with these tips
1. Serve one-serving scoops in ramekins Why? It will make a little look like a lot. An appropriate serving (1/2 - 3/4 cup scoop) looks much more voluminous and appealing in a small ramekin versus a typical ice cream bowl. And let’s face it, when we’re scooping hard-packed fro-yo or ice cream into a bowl, we tend to dish out double or triple the serving size, which means double or triple the calories.
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2. Fill your cup with fruit first, then top it off with frozen yogurt Why? You’ll get a hearty-looking portion but for half the calories and double the fiber.
Crazy for cones?
Watch out, because cones are where the calories can add up. Here's the breakdown of some favorite cones:
- Wafer cones: 20 calories
- Sugar cone: 50 calories
- Large waffle cone: 160 calories
- Chocolate dipped waffle cone: 320 calories
The scoop on extras
Be prepared to add roughly 50 calories per tablespoon for popular toppings. Keep in mind, most ice cream shops typically add 2 tablespoons per request. If you’re looking for the healthiest, choose nuts, granola or dark chocolate chips. Of course, fresh fruit is always the nutrition front-runner.