I am sure by now you have all seen those low calorie ice cream options in your local grocery store. I mean 270 calories for an entire pint? Sounds too good to be true right? Well it kind of is…..

Brands are popping up everywhere to capitalize on this new trend, Arctic Zero, Halo even Breyer’s has a low calorie product line. Right on the front of the pint in shows the calories 330, 360, 240 etc for the entire thing. I mean who wouldn’t want to eat an entire bowl without all the guilt.

The real deal: When they remove the sugar from the product they are using additives or sugar replacements to make up and still sweeten the product. These sugar substitutes can actually cause us to feel extremely bloated and crave more sugar.  It also prevents us from eating mindfully. When we sit on the couch binge watching Netflix, eating the entire carton, we are not paying attention to our satiety levels or how our bodies are feeling.

So now what: If you still want to enjoy these ice creams, do it! Life is all about balance but choose a small serving pre-portioned in a bowl and eat sparingly, not daily. Choose a full fat, real true ice cream and enjoy a scoop here or there. You will find you are more satisfied with a smaller amount and those ice cream cravings will be met! Or make homemade “nice cream”, its so simple and you probably have all the ingredients on hand. Throw some frozen bananas in a food processor and blend for a few minutes. Instant ice cream! You can change up the flavor adding in some strawberries or peaches. Top with raw nuts and its the perfect after dinner treat, that leaves you feeling amazing the next morning.

Remember when it seems to good to be true, it usually is. Enjoy the real deal in a smaller portion or opt for a homemade swap. Always read the ingredient list and if you don’t know what the item listed is, put it back on the shelf

Comment below with your favorite healthy sweet “treat”