Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (2024)

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If you’re going to splurge on a sweet frozen treat, which is your best option: sorbet, ice cream, frozen yogurt or gelato? And what are the differences anyway? Let’s break it down and end the battle of which frozen treat is healthiest, shall we?

Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (1)

Sorbet

Sorbet is made up of fruit juices, syrup and water. One cup of an all-fruit sorbet has 184 calories, 34 grams of sugar, 46.2 grams of carbohydrates and no fat. While no fat is good, sorbet is high in sugar and doesn’t have any calcium, like milk-based frozen treats do.

Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (2)

Ice Cream

Ice cream is made from milk, cream, sugar and egg yolk. One cup of vanilla ice cream, on average, has 267 calories, 32.5 grams of carbohydrates and 14.3 grams of fat. That mixture of cream and sugar makes this treat high in calories and fat. To put things in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends that total fat intake should be no more than 25% to 35% of one’s daily calories. Saturated fat should be limited to less than 7% of daily calories, and trans fat should be less than 1%.

Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (3)

Gelato

Gelato consists of milk, egg yolk and sugar. The lack of cream that is in ice cream means that gelato can have less bad fats. However, what it lacks in fats, it makes up for in added sugar. A half cup of vanilla bean gelato, which is the recommended serving size for the treat, contains 204 calories, 9 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates and 25 grams of sugar.

Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (4)

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt consists of yogurt instead of cream, which lowers its fat when compared to ice cream. While frozen yogurt is low in fat, the calories and sugar can be a problem. One cup of low-fat plain frozen yogurt is 214 calories, 2.9 grams of fat, 38.1 grams of sugar and 39.2 grams of carbohydrates. A cup of soft-serve fro-yo yields 235 calories and one cup of chocolate is 230 calories. Don’t forget that those calories don’t include toppings, which can range from the healthier, such as fruit, to the not-so-healthy, like cookie dough.

Women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day, while men shouldn’t have more than nine. To put that into perspective, a can of soda contains around 8 teaspoons of sugar.

THE WINNER: Sorbet!

Low-calorie, fat-free and offering at least some “good” sugars from the fruit juice, sorbet is a tasty way to cool down in the summer. Just eat in moderation and look out for that sugar!

Battle of the Frozen Treats: Sorbet vs. Ice Cream vs. Gelato vs. Fro-yo - organic.org (2024)

FAQs

Which is healthier ice cream gelato or sorbet? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. Which is a healthier option: sorbet or gelato? In comparing sorbet and gelato, the latter has more calories and fat because it contains milk. Sorbet is just fruit juice and sugar (no dairy) and has fewer calories, so many consider it the healthier option.

What is the difference between sorbet and gelato and ice cream? ›

By now, you know that gelato traditionally uses milk and cream as its main ingredients, and that sorbet primarily contains fruit juice or fruit purée and does not use dairy products or eggs. Sorbet is less creamy.

What's the difference between ice cream and frozen treats? ›

Even though these products may look like ice cream, that's where the similarity ends. Real ice cream is made from 100% dairy – milk, and products made from milk (including cream, skim milk powder, and whey powder). Frozen desserts are made with vegetable oils, like palm, kernel, or coconut oil.

Which is healthier, sorbet or sherbet? ›

"If you follow a vegan diet or have a food allergy, sorbet will be a better choice," she adds. Plus, in terms of nutrition, sorbet will also be the healthiest option becasue it doesn't contain the milk, cream, or butterfat, which increases saturated fat content.

Is there more sugar in sorbet or ice cream? ›

Sorbets are water-based and made with fruit, fruit juice, fruit flavours and sugar. This summer favourite contains no fat but has a higher sugar percentage compared to its freezer family members, ice cream and gelato. Sorbets also offload an acidic sweetness that is created by using fruits and sugar.

Is Talenti healthier than regular ice cream? ›

Talenti is lower-fat, lower-calorie, and just as satisfying and indulgent as any full-fat dairy ice cream out there. A 2/3-cup serving of Talenti Madagascan vanilla bean gelato contains 260 calories, 30 total grams of sugar, 13 total grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. Each container includes 3 servings.

Is organic ice cream healthier? ›

Reasons to choose the organic kind of ice cream

Going organic means it is made with milk and cream from cows raised without antibiotics. The cows are also fed an organic diet with less pesticide content. The same is true for other harmful chemicals that are dangerous for both the cow and our health.

Why does Breyers say frozen dairy dessert instead of ice cream? ›

One result of these cost-cutting practices has been that many (but not all) of Breyers' products no longer contain enough milk and cream to meet labeling requirements for ice cream, and are now labeled "Frozen Dairy Dessert" in the United States and "Frozen Dessert" in Canada.

Is Haagen-Dazs real ice cream? ›

Every one of our flavors begins with four simple ingredients - real cream, milk, eggs, and sugar. And many of our most iconic flavors, like Chocolate, Coffee, Strawberry, and Vanilla, contain just five ingredients. You won't find any artificial colors or flavors here.

Is Baskin Robbins real ice cream? ›

Baskin-Robbins is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake specialty shops owned by Inspire Brands.

Why is gelato so much better than ice cream? ›

Because there's less butterfat coating your palate, gelato's flavors tend to taste more intense. Gelato also contains less air than American ice cream — that helps keep it dense, fluid and creamy.

Is gelato healthier than soft serve? ›

Gelato (also the Italian word for ice cream) is usually considered a healthier option than soft serve and hard ice cream. The refreshing dessert is specifically made with a higher proportion of milk to cream, creating less fat than traditional ice cream, says Mary Sabat, a nutritionist and owner of BodyDesigns by Mary.

Is sorbet better than ice cream for cholesterol? ›

Low cholesterol and saturated fat alternatives

The following are some suitable options: Sorbet: This is a dairy-free option consisting primarily of fruit puree, water, and sugar. It does not contain the fats present in regular ice cream but can contain high levels of sugar.

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