Then, through miracles of modern technology, a good process with a long name—low-temperature extrusion—was applied to low-fat ice cream. It became richer, creamier, and smoother. And the people rejoiced. Alas, nothing is as simple as a fairy tale—not even ice cream. Light ice cream represents nearly 40% of the frozen dessert market, but so far, only a few manufacturers use the expensive extrusion technology that makes it taste like the full-fat thing. You can often find the best tasting low fat ice cream by scanning labels for the terms cold churned, slow churned, or double churned. These refer to extrusion’s churning process, which more thoroughly disperses tiny globules of milk fat, giving every mouthful the illusion of richness. Immediately after the fat is dispersed, the ice cream is frozen to a very low temperature to stabilize its creamy texture, explains Johnny McGregor, PhD, chair of the department of food science and human nutrition at Clemson University. Manufacturers that don’t use this expensive technology improve their light products by adding gums and stabilizers and manipulating the balance of air, fat, and protein—the triumvirate of really great ice cream. These approaches can work to varying degrees, but none of them seem to produce the same rich creaminess. We’re a nation of ice cream lovers. Each of us eats in the neighborhood of 23 pounds per year. If we stick with super-premium ice creams such as Haagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche or Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey that have about 13 to 16% milk- or butterfat—well, let’s just say we’ll continue our nationwide waist expansion. But with so many smart and delicious lower-calorie choices, we really can have our ice cream and eat it, too. Pick from these options to make your own ice cream fairy tale come true. Healthy Splurges Light ice cream must contain at least 50% less fat or 33% fewer calories than leading brands. Some, like Edy’s/Dreyer’s Slow Churned vanilla, contain a low 100 calories and 3.5 g of fat per 1/2-cup serving. Haagen-Dazs Extra-Rich Light vanilla bean flavor has 200 calories and 7 g of fat. Bottom line: Read labels. A Heart-Smart Scoop Low-fat ice cream is required by law to contain no more than 3 g of total fat in a 1/2-cup serving; nonfat products should contain less than 0.5 g of total fat per serving. My favorite is nonfat Breyers Double Churn Free, available in intriguing flavors such as cappuccino chocolate chunk. Portions That Please Even with all of the lighter products on the market, there’s only one surefire way to indulge without overdoing it—portion control. Two of my favorites: the Skinny Cow vanilla with caramel ice cream cone, (150 cal, 3 g fat, 2 g sat fat), and Klondike Slim-a-Bear bars, which are a chocolate-covered delight (100 cal, 7 g fat, 5 g sat fat). More from Prevention: 400 Calories At The Ice Cream Shop
