FITNESS 2012 Healthy Food Awards: Best Frozen Desserts

FITNESS Magazine
Claire Benoist/Fitness Magazine
Claire Benoist/Fitness Magazine

By Juno DeMelo

The great thing about frozen treats is that unless you're a fan of brain freeze, you have to slow down and savor them. Choose the right ones and they're as guilt-free as they are delicious. That's where we come in. Working with a team of nutritionists, we found eight yummy options with 180 calories or less, minimal added sugar, and no more than six grams of saturated fat. So go ahead and indulge; these cool treats will satisfy your cravings and keep you slim.

Related: Healthy Food Awards: Breakfast Bar Winners

What Makes a Winner
Companies submitted more than 90 new frozen desserts to FITNESS. Our experts -- Anar Allidina, RD, a dietitian in private practice in Toronto; Keri Gans, RD, the author of The Small Change Diet; and Marissa Lippert, RD, the author of The Cheater's Diet -- analyzed the ingredients and nutrition facts to help us determine which ones deserved to move to the next round of judging. Those finalists were sampled in blind taste tests and voted on by dozens of staffers throughout our company.

Cadbury Double Chocolate Ice Cream Bars
Thanks to a super-thick chocolate coating and "smooth, rich chocolate ice cream," these earned perfect 10s from testers. (150 calories per bar)

Magnum Mini Almond Ice Cream Bars
The classic Magnum bar -- vanilla bean ice cream dipped in Belgian milk chocolate -- now comes in a smaller size. Staffers went nuts for the almonds, which give the shell an extra satisfying crunch. (160 calories per bar)

Related: Guilt-Free Ways to Eat Chocolate

Skinny Cow Slimited Editions Best of Both Swirleds Ice Cream Sandwiches
Can't decide between chocolate and vanilla? Have both! Bonus: The combo contains as much calcium as a container of yogurt. (150 calories per sandwich)

Dreyer's Mango Fruit Bars
The only dairy-free dessert of the bunch, these ice pops (sold under the Edy's name on the East Coast) deliver all the flavor of tropical fruit. (80 calories per bar)

Talenti Simply Strawberry Gelato
The second ingredient in this dense, decadent gelato is fruit, which wowed staffers: "It tastes just like fresh strawberries and cream," one marveled. (170 calories per 1/2 cup)

Related: Desserts Under 250 Calories

Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Fudge Ice Cream Bars
Despite their low calorie count, these no-sugar-added bars "totally satisfied my sweet tooth," a tester said. (60 calories per bar)

Ben & Jerry's Strawberry Shortcake Greek Frozen Yogurt
Shortbread chunks make this tangy treat "OMG good." Can't stop at one scoop? Opt for Banana Peanut Butter or Raspberry Fudge Chunk, which come in single-serve tubs. (180 calories per 1/2 cup)

Weight Watchers Divine Triple Chocolate Dessert Bars
Each generously sized treat combines chocolate ice cream, a fudge ribbon, and a milk chocolate coating. No wonder testers said these tasted "like a full-fat indulgence." (110 calories per bar)

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