When you are craving something for dessert after dinner time, what do you reach for? For many, it’s a cold frozen treat. In an attempt to cut calories, sugar, and fat,though many turn to frozen yogurt, or fro-yo, as a healthy dessert option. But have you ever looked into whether or not fro-yo is actually healthier than ice cream? You may be surprised!

When you go to make a healthier dessert choice, you like to think you’re making a smart one. Many people turn to fro-yo as a healthy option to satisfy their sweet tooth without really knowing the difference between the fro-yo and ice cream. We’re here to sort it out, once and for all!

Benefits of Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt became a popular food trend in the 1980s. It’s a delicious frozen treat that’s creamy and sweet — though perhaps not quite as creamy as traditional ice cream.
There are a few more benefits to this dessert, as well. Depending on the type of frozen yogurt you are eating, you may also be able to count on healthy probiotics and a good dose of protein that is often missing in traditional frozen treats. And many fro-yo dessert bars offer a number of fun toppings to customize the flavor even more.

Benefits of Ice Cream

Ice cream, on the other hand, is a more traditional frozen dessert made of very cold cream and flavorings. While it’s understood that ice cream tends to be high-fat, the most agreed upon benefit of ice cream is that it is hands down more creamy! For many, it doesn’t get any better than a tasty, creamy bite of vanilla (or chocolate) ice cream, calories be darned!

Which Is Healthier?

When you compare the healthfulness of a cup of chocolate ice cream to a cup of chocolate fro-yo, fro-yo comes out ahead by containing fewer calories and less fat. However, sometimes fro-yo can actually have an increased amount of sugar! So, the answer is two-fold: if you are counting calories and avoiding fat, fro-yo is likely the best choice. But if you’re looking to get the most bang out of your treat and cutting down on your sugar intake, ice cream may be the safer choice.
At the end of the day, it may not matter what you’re reaching for as much as how much of it you’re reaching for. Keep your portions small and freely enjoy the treat of your choice!
What about you? Which do you prefer, ice cream or frozen yogurt?