Ever since the popularization of frozen yogurt in the leg-warming, jazzercising 1980s, folks have been touting this soft-serve desert as a healthier alternative to ice cream. But froyo isn’t quite the same thing as sticking a tub of plain yogurt in the freezer — so is it really all that healthy?
We’ve got the scoop on the pros and cons of froyo and how it compares to ice cream.
Frozen yogurt nutrients
Just note that nutrition can vary a lot by brand, flavor, and any toppings you add.
| Vanilla frozen yogurt, 1/2 cup | Vanilla ice cream, 1/2 cup | |
| Calories | 114 kcal | 137 kcal |
| Carbs | 17.4 grams (g) | 15.6 g |
| Sugar | 17.3 g | 14 g |
| Protein | 2.88 g | 2.31 g |
| Fat | 4 g | 7.26 g |
| Saturated fat | 2.46 g | 4.48 g |
| Calcium | 103 milligrams (mg) | 84.5 mg |
Health benefits of froyo
Lower in calories and saturated fat than ice cream
Unless your froyo is packed with chocolate pieces, capped off with a butterscotch shell, or otherwise heavily decorated, it’s likely to contain fewer calories, fat, and saturated fat than ice cream. This is because ice cream generally starts with, well, cream. In fact, for ice cream to earn its name, it has to have at least 10% milk fat. (It’s a federal law!)
Frozen yogurt, on the other hand, has no such specifications. It can begin with any type of milk. Some manufacturers create theirs with skim milk, others with whole milk, and others with a mixture of different milk fat percentages. That’s why its calories, fat, and saturated fat tend to be relatively low.
May contain probiotics
Not every brand of froyo is rich in probiotics (the good bacteria that promote a healthy gut) — but some do contain them. To be sure you’re getting some beneficial gut bugs, look for the words “live and active cultures” on frozen yogurt packaging. The probiotics in yogurt have been linked with benefits like better digestive health, cardiovascular health, immunity, and bone health.
That said, there’s some debate about how many bacteria survive the processing and freezing required to make froyo. Some studies show that probiotics hold up well under these conditions, but others indicate that probiotic content decreases significantly.
Contains calcium
Calcium content is the cherry on top. A 1/2 cup serving of frozen yogurt offers 103 mg of calcium, which is 8% of the Daily Value (DV). This is good news since a) it’s delicious and b) getting enough calcium is associated with healthier bones, among other health perks.
Frozen yogurt vs. ice cream
At the end of the day, we all wanna know: If you choose frozen yogurt over ice cream, are you doing your health a solid? (Or, um, a semi-solid?)
In multiple important categories, frozen yogurt does outshine its creamier cousin.
Compared to vanilla ice cream, the same amount of vanilla froyo contains
- fewer calories
- less fat
- less saturated fat
Even the calcium content of froyo is higher than ice cream. And whereas frozen yogurt may provide you with some gut-friendly live and active cultures, the same can’t be said for ice cream.
Flavors and added ingredients
The thing to keep in mind, though, is that nutrition seriously varies by brand and flavor. Some frozen yogurts may contain vastly more added sugars than some ice creams, not to mention extra calories and fat from mix-ins like chocolate, cheesecake bites, or Oreo pieces. Extra gums and thickeners in frozen yogurt can also be a concern since they add an extra layer of food processing.
Takeaway
Like many food comparisons, the frozen yogurt-versus-ice cream one isn’t as simple as it might seem. When you want a cold and creamy treat, mindfully enjoying a small portion of minimally processed ice cream might be a better choice than downing a large froyo confection with gummy bears and chocolate sauce. On the other hand, at a basic level, frozen yogurt generally has a better nutrition profile than ice cream.
The choice is yours — so grab a spoon and enjoy!
