What’s the scoop on “healthy” ice creams?
Find out if these popular frozen desserts live up to their health claims.
Jan, 2026
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We all want to have our cake and eat it, too. Or, in the case of ice cream, we wish we could enjoy all the sweet, creamy flavor without the saturated fat, sugar, and calories.
Enter frozen desserts that aim to be healthier for you. Some come with claims like vegan, high protein, low carb, or non-bloating. But how healthy are they, really?
We consulted Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, author of Eating in Color, to evaluate the nutritional value and health claims of eight nationally available brands. Here’s the scoop you need to make smart buying decisions.
Written byDeborah Wilburn.
Medically reviewed byGaby Vaca-Flores, RD.
Sources: Harvard School of Public Health. Dark Chocolate. Accessed October 18 + 6
- Harvard School of Public Health. Dark Chocolate. Accessed October 18, 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. What You Should Know About Sugar Alcohols. April 15, 2021.
- American Heart Association. Added Sugars. Last reviewed November 2, 2021.
- Arnold AR, Chassaing B. Maltodextrin, Modern Stressor of the Intestinal Environment. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;7(2):475-476.
- Zangara MT, Ponti AK, Miller ND, et al. Maltodextrin Consumption Impairs the Intestinal Mucus Barrier and Accelerates Colitis Through Direct Actions on the Epithelium. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 14;13:841188.
- Cleveland Clinic. Is Monk Fruit a Healthy Sweetener? August 5, 2021.
- Cleveland Clinic. What You Need To Know About Allulose. August 26, 2022.
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