Halo Top is on the list.
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Hold everything: low-carb ice cream brands are a thing?!
Believe it, my friend. (The keto diet is starting to sound way easier, right?) Here's how it works: “In general, the carbs in ice cream come from the sugar," says Natalie Rizzo, RD. "Low-carb ice creams often use zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit or artificial sweeteners like erythritol.”
Most low-carb ice creams contain fewer than 15 grams of total carbs, or 12 grams of net carbs, says Kelly Jones, RD. “Standard ice creams contain anywhere from 14 to 30 grams per half-cup serving," she says. "I’d say anything 15 grams or under could be considered low depending on the person and their personal needs."
But not all low-carb ice creams are created equal—these are the best low-carb ice cream brands on the market, according to nutritionists.
If you need a low-carb and low-calice cream brand, this one’s for you. In addition to Vanilla Bean, it also comes inflavors like Cocoa Dough, Strawberry Cheesecake, and S’mores. “WINK ice cream usesprebiotic insulin to increase fiber content as well as pea protein to provide a couple grams of protein per serving, too,” says Jones. It's alsodairy-free.
Per serving ½ cup: 25 cal, .5 g fat (0 g sat), 5 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 70 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 2 g protein
While all of Enlightened'sflavors are yummy, the Chocolate Peanut Butter is a true game-changer. “It's sweetened with a blend of erythritol, monk fruit, and a little bit of cane sugar,” says Jones. Many low-carb ice creams will go heavier on the erythritol, which in large amounts may cause stomach discomfort, she says, but this one is fairly light. It also has only 10 grams of net carbs and just four grams of sugar per serving.
Per serving ½ cup: 100 cal, 4.5 g fat (1.5 g sat), 15 g carbs, 4 g sugar, 105 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 7 g protein
“Halo Top combines skim milk, erythritol, and prebiotic fiber to make a rich and creamy ice cream that is lower in calories and carbs than other ice creams,” says Rizzo. That prebiotic fiber is good for your gut health and lowers the carb count to just around 11 grams. “Plus, it comes in a wide variety of tasty flavors, like Birthday Cake, Sea Salt Caramel, and Red Velvet,” she says. Yum!
Per serving ½ cup: 70 cal, 2.5 g fat (1 g sat), 14 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 110 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein
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4
Breyers Carb Smart Frozen Dairy Dessert
If you’re looking for ice cream without all the added sugar, Breyer’s Carb Smart is for you. “It uses artificial sweetener to make a low-carb ice cream that still tastes rich and creamy,” says Rizzo.
Per serving ½ cup: 90 cal, 5 g fat (3 g sat), 12 g carbs, 3 g sugar, 40 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 2 g protein
Enlightened also makesdairy-free, low-carb ice cream bars that make portion control super easy. “My favorite dairy-free bar is Monkey Business which is almond milk-based banana ice cream with swirls of peanut butter and chocolate chips,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, RDN, and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. “Enlightened is sweetened with monk fruit, erythritol, and a little bit of sugar to keep the carbs low and flavor on point,” she adds. It has eight grams of net carbs, which is pretty dang low.
Per serving ½ cup: 100 cal, 4.5 g fat (1.5 g sat), 18 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 110 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 4 g protein.
“Three Twins is a high-quality organic ice cream brand that recently released their Slim Twins line,"says Jones."Their Cookies And Cream variety is rich in flavor thanks toMadagascar vanilla and plenty of chocolate cookies mixed in.” They also have an organic certification, which is rare for low-carb ice cream brands.
Per serving ½ cup: 90 cal, 2 g fat (.5 g sat), 15 g carbs, 6 g sugar, 40 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 5 g protein
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“Arctic Zero also makes dairy-free ice cream sweetened with monk fruit and cane sugar,"says Harris-Pincus. "A scoop ofSalted Caramel contains just 40 calories and nine total carbs."You can also try a pint of Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookie Shake, or Cake Batter—just to name a few of their many flavors.
Per serving ½ cup: 40 cal, 0 g fat (0 g sat), 9 g carbs, 5 g sugar, 100 mg sodium, 4 g fiber, 1 g protein
"Rebel is a new brand that usesclassic ice cream ingredients like egg yolks and dairy fat to provide the texture you expect," says Jones. It’s sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit, and there’s zero sugar. You can snag this low-carb ice cream brand in a number of flavors, likePeanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Almond Swirl, and Butter Pecan.
Per serving ½ cup: 160 cal, 15 g fat (8 g sat), 11 g carbs, 0 g sugar, 25 mg sodium, 3 g fiber, 2 g protein
Isadora Baum
Isadora Baum is a freelance writer, certified health coach, and author of 5-Minute Energy. She can't resist a good sample, a margarita, a new HIIT class, or an easy laugh. Learn more about her on her website: isadorabaum.com.
