Healthy Living

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

6 Ways to eat ice cream without blowing your diet

It’s not summer without ice cream. (Actually, it’s not any time of the year to me without ice cream, but that’s another blog.) It’s also not summer without skimpier outfits and trips to the beach, so I try to have my cone, sundae, or single scoop without overdoing it. Here are some tasty ideas—and surprising facts—so you can indulge your ice cream jones, guilt free:

Note: One scoop is ½ cup and calorie counts for ice cream are estimates based on several popular brands.

1.) Order two flavors of gelato

For gelato and ice cream, most fruit flavors (like strawberry, raspberry, or pineapple) have 30 to 50 fewer calories than their chocolate or vanilla counterparts, so you can afford two scoops instead of one!

Try this: Order 1 scoop of fruity gelato like strawberry (180)

Top with 1 scoop of rich gelato like chocolate or pistachio (230)

Total calories: 410

Cool off with these 20 refreshing, fresh-fruit smoothies.


2.) Get a small version of the real thing

Don't be fooled by "light" ice cream—it refers to fat, not calories. In fact, a large serving of light soft-serve chocolate ice cream will set you back 444 calories! Enjoy a small portion with a topping instead.

Try this: Order a small (1 cup) soft-serve light chocolate-vanilla twist ice cream (243) on a plain cone (17)

Total calories: 260

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3.) Craving volume? Stick with sorbet

Choose sorbet and you'll get 3 scoops for your calorie budget! Just be aware that most sorbet contains high fructose corn syrup, so you don't want to order it too often.

Try this: 3 scoops of fruity sorbet (360)

Total calories: 360

 

4.) Skip the sprinkles—and go for the candy

It may be hard to believe, but ½ chopped Heath bar actually contains fewer calories than 2 tablespoons of sprinkles (120) !

Try this: Order 1 scoop of chocolate ice cream (260)

Top with half of a chopped-up Heath Bar (105)

Total calories: 365

Try these breakfasts that will keep you full till lunch and curb your snacking.

 

5.) Still a sprinkle queen? Pair with frozen yogurt

A 1-cup serving of frozen yogurt (220) still has 40 fewer calories than ½ cup of regular vanilla ice cream (260), saving you room for a cone and sprinkles.

Try this: Start with a 1-cup serving of low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt (220) in a sugar cone (50) Roll the ice cream in 2 Tbsp rainbow or chocolate sprinkles (120)

Total calories: 390

 

6.) Eat peanut butter cup solo

Peanut butter ice cream adds 90 calories more than plain chocolate or vanilla. Skip the toppings to stay trimit's rich enough without them, anyway.

Try this: 1 scoop peanut butter-flavored ice cream like Peanut Butter Cup or Chocolate Peanut Butter (350)

Total calories: 350

Save room for dessert with these yummy, lower-cal meals


Get More Lower Calorie Tips and Recipes from Prevention:

Best Ice Cream Treats For A Slimmer Summer

How To Cut 100 Calories Instantly

Eat For A Flatter Belly

Try Prevention's 24-Hour Guide to Weight Loss





 

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From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 21
  • Katie B's Avatar
    Posted by Katie B Fri Aug 7, 2009 2:22pm PDT

    I have started to eat ice cream in those little 6 oz pyrex bowls... It's better than a big heaping bowl I used to have and it curbs my craving for more...

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  • Robert's Avatar
    Posted by Robert Sat Aug 8, 2009 9:37am PDT

    It's not all about calories. Ice cream has fat, saturated fat, and a ton of carbs.

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  • Jamie C's Avatar
    Posted by Jamie C Sat Aug 8, 2009 11:37am PDT

    No, it's definately not all about the calories. There are a lot of foods that don't have health benefits, but are fine in moderation. Anything can be enjoyed in moderation and I think this is the point here. Yeah, so ice cream has a lot of bad things going for it. That's why it's not suppossed to be a dietary staple. Treats, people, treats.

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  • Julia's Avatar
    Posted by Julia Sat Aug 8, 2009 2:32pm PDT

    frozen yogurt is the BEST!!! so much lighter than regular icecream!!

    Report Abuse
  • another hockey fan's Avatar
    Posted by another hockey fan Sun Aug 9, 2009 8:00am PDT

    I used to eat a pint of ice cream a week. My hubby and I went out for Gelato one night (and I had the smallest cup they had) and it was perfect, lighter and VERY yummy. Now I prefer Gelato to ice cream and even though I "want" a bigger cup, I stick with the small one because after I'm done I realize it was just as satisfying. In addition, when I do prefer to have ice cream, I do the same thing. Get the smallest cup.

    Report Abuse
  • another hockey fan's Avatar
    Posted by another hockey fan Sun Aug 9, 2009 8:00am PDT

    I used to eat a pint of ice cream a week. My hubby and I went out for Gelato one night (and I had the smallest cup they had) and it was perfect, lighter and VERY yummy. Now I prefer Gelato to ice cream and even though I "want" a bigger cup, I stick with the small one because after I'm done I realize it was just as satisfying. In addition, when I do prefer to have ice cream, I do the same thing. Get the smallest cup.

    Report Abuse
  • another hockey fan's Avatar
    Posted by another hockey fan Sun Aug 9, 2009 8:01am PDT

    Oh, and I lost an inch within a few weeks of cutting out the pint a week. I never really thought ice cream was the culprit. ;-)

    Report Abuse
  • Ginger's Avatar
    Posted by Ginger Sun Aug 9, 2009 5:01pm PDT

    I stopped keeping icecream in my house (cause I'll eat it all way too fast!), so I go to the self serve frozen yogurt places, get a light fruit one, and put fresh fruit on top. Works for me...

    Report Abuse
  • KenpoDragon124's Avatar
    Posted by KenpoDragon124 Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:46am PDT

    HEY ICE CREAM LOVERS!!! LISTEN!

    Edy's has this new line of ice cream called:

    "Edy's Slow Churned Rich & Creamy Yougurt Blends: No sugar added" ice cream flavors.

    the regular vanilla one is only....

    1/2cup= 90 calories!

    No fat!

    so check this out then. u can have a full cup of ice cream( 180 calories) add a tablespoon of sugar free chocolate syrup( i believe its like 15 calories/tablespoon) 2 tablespoons of fat free cool whip( 20 calories) and top it off with a few rich cherries( 8 calories/cherry)

    you now have am icre cream sundae that is approximately 225 calories. no sugar. no fat.

    you can also get sugar free chocolate and crumble it to bits. another tasty way to get a small chocolate fix is to take sugar free hot chocolate powder and sprinkle it ontop of the ice cream( i think that personally better than sugar free syrup)

    Enjoy. you guys can thank me later :)

    Report Abuse
  • NIK ZUHAINI ABDUL MAJID's Avatar
    Posted by NIK ZUHAINI ABDUL MAJID Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:54am PDT

    SIAPA KATA KITA MASUK SYURGA HANYA DENGAN MEMANGKAH DAN MENGUNDI PARTI POLITIK. SEDANGKAN NABI PERNAH MENEGASKAN BAHAWA TIADA SEORANG PUN DARI KAMU YANG AKAN MASUK SYURGA DENGAN AMAL IBADAT KAMU

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