1 Dietitian Says to "Enjoy Every Bite!" of Ice Cream — but Gave These Low-Cal Alternatives

Updated on 6/15/2019 at 10:05 AM

I don't know about you, but whenever I feel the first warm rays of Summer, I'm transported back to my childhood. I'm chasing the ice cream truck and its carnival-meets-nursery-rhyme-like tunes played on repeat to torment me. I want — no, need — my Good Humor Chocolate Eclair. Summer still means ice cream season in many of your eyes, I'm sure (we'd argue that you can enjoy it any season, FYI). But, if you're counting your calories or simply wish to make healthier food choices, you might want to skip out on the high-processed stuff.

POPSUGAR asked registered dietitians Chelsey Amer, MS, RDN, owner of Chelsey Amer Nutrition, and Lori Zanini, RD, CDE, what they'd recommend when people are craving ice cream, but ultimately want to make a healthier choice that's less about refined sugar and calories and more about natural ingredients. For starters, we — and Chelsey — want to be clear. "If you're craving real-deal ice cream, enjoy every bite!" she said. "Having a healthy relationship with food is most important, and that includes these treats."

Yes, before you scroll through some better-for-you options, know that guilt and food should not go hand in hand (not ever). We understand, though, the importance of limiting the amount of ultraprocessed food you eat, especially if you're predisposed to, or have, conditions like diabetes. So go ahead, keep reading for some frozen substitutes!

Frozen Fruit

Popping fruit in the freezer is a simple way to enjoy naturally sweet treats. Chelsey said that frozen grapes are her go to on a hot day, and Lori pointed out that berries and bananas are great frozen, too.

Chocolate-Covered or Yogurt-Covered Fruit

Before freezing your fruit, you can add a layer of chocolate or yogurt for extra flavor. Lori specifically suggests Greek yogurt to cover berries. You can check out Chelsey's instructions for putting together chocolate-covered fruit here (note: it's pretty self-explanatory, but you should definitely pop them in the freezer as opposed to the fridge for a more refreshing treat). Plus, Trader Joe's sells chocolate-covered strawberries and bananas in its freezer sections.

Smoothie or Yogurt Pops

"It's easy to make various smoothies and freeze them in your own popsicle molds," Lori told POPSUGAR. For her homemade berry smoothie pops (a recipe featured in her Diabetes Cookbook and Meal Plan for the Newly Diagnosed) she uses frozen mixed berries, unsweetened plain almond milk, plain nonfat Greek yogurt, and hemp seeds. Check out some of our favorite healthy popsicles here.

"Nice Cream"

Chelsey is all for "nice cream," which is bananas blended into a creamy consistency. "It's perfect for individuals with dairy allergies or those being cautious of their added sugar intake," she said. Her favorites are chocolate "nice cream", made with frozen bananas, milk, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips, s'mores banana ice cream, and cherry chocolate banana ice cream, which all look and sound delicious!

Frozen Yogurt

Lori said that blending frozen fruit with your favorite unsweetened yogurt can be a healthier alternative to ice cream. For instance, the mint berry frozen yogurt recipe featured in her free diabetes-friendly dessert guide has four ingredients: mint leaves, frozen mixed berries, low-fat plain Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract. You can also check out these three recipes: frozen yogurt cups, 30-calorie frozen yogurt cupcakes, and coffee-mocha frozen yogurt. Yasso sells a lot of great Greek-yogurt-based treats, too.

Still Want Ice Cream? That's Fine! Check Out These Tips

As Chelsey said earlier, enjoy the real thing if you want to. But you can still make adjustments to lower the calories and sugar. For example, she told us, "If you're looking to make a slightly healthier cone, limit your toppings, because those can easily add up and cause a sugar crash." Plus, store-bought options like Frönen — which is a dairy-free, paleo-friendly ice cream with five or fewer ingredients (banana is actually included in all of its flavors) — do exist.

Lori pointed out that homemade ice cream can act as a better alternative to store-bought ice cream "since it can be made without any preservatives and stabilizers or unnecessary ingredients. Additionally, the sugar can be reduced to help lower the calories and glycemic impact." (Check out this homemade ice cream recipe you whip up in a bag!) And, Lori said, creating smaller portion sizes is another way to make a healthier choice.