August 2008
Get your licks in
Best light ice creams
Fat might be bad for you, but it sure tastes good. We sampled 10 light ice creams, and even among these more healthful options,
the two with the most fat and calories were the winners in our best light ice creams Ratings (available to subscribers).
"Light" means a food contains one-third fewer calories or half the fat of a regular version. (A "low fat" serving has 3 grams or less of fat; a "lower fat" or "reduced fat" serving contains at least 25 percent less fat than a regular version; a "fat free" serving has less than a half-gram of fat.)
Best light ice creams in both vanilla and chocolate flavors were the Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Lights. They're a relative splurge: They cost about twice as much per serving as the rest of the lights and have about twice the calories and fat (200 calories for both flavors; 7 grams of fat for vanilla and 5 grams for chocolate). Still, a serving of Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light pares 70 calories and more than 10 grams of fat from regular Häagen-Dazs.
Next best light ice creams in vanilla and chocolate was Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy, lighter on your wallet (about 43 cents a serving) and on your diet (100 calories and about 3 grams of fat).
A surprise ingredient in some of the best light ice creams: fiber. Breyers Free has 3 to 4 grams per serving, as does Blue Bunny. But don't toss the bran cereal. Breyers Free and Blue Bunny weren't especially tasty.
CR's take. If you're feeling indulgent, try one of the Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Lights. Just limit your indulgence (a 200-calorie serving is a mere half-cup). To feel a bit more virtuous, try Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy.
"Light" means a food contains one-third fewer calories or half the fat of a regular version. (A "low fat" serving has 3 grams or less of fat; a "lower fat" or "reduced fat" serving contains at least 25 percent less fat than a regular version; a "fat free" serving has less than a half-gram of fat.)
Best light ice creams in both vanilla and chocolate flavors were the Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Lights. They're a relative splurge: They cost about twice as much per serving as the rest of the lights and have about twice the calories and fat (200 calories for both flavors; 7 grams of fat for vanilla and 5 grams for chocolate). Still, a serving of Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light pares 70 calories and more than 10 grams of fat from regular Häagen-Dazs.
Next best light ice creams in vanilla and chocolate was Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy, lighter on your wallet (about 43 cents a serving) and on your diet (100 calories and about 3 grams of fat).
A surprise ingredient in some of the best light ice creams: fiber. Breyers Free has 3 to 4 grams per serving, as does Blue Bunny. But don't toss the bran cereal. Breyers Free and Blue Bunny weren't especially tasty.
CR's take. If you're feeling indulgent, try one of the Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Lights. Just limit your indulgence (a 200-calorie serving is a mere half-cup). To feel a bit more virtuous, try Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ice-cream cartons are losing weight. The traditional half-gallon carton, which previously shrank to 1.75 quarts, is now down to 1.5 quarts for Breyers, Dreyer's/Edy's, and Turkey Hill.
Ice-cream cartons are losing weight. The traditional half-gallon carton, which previously shrank to 1.75 quarts, is now down to 1.5 quarts for Breyers, Dreyer's/Edy's, and Turkey Hill.
