What's the Scoop? The Skinny on Your Favorite Frozen Treats

Updated June 22, 2010
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They're all delicious, but some frozen concoctions are richer than others.Here's how they compare.
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The facts on frosty desserts

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They're all delicious, but some frozen concoctions are richer than others.Here's how they compare.

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Ice cream

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It's a mixture of mainly cream, milk, sugar, and flavoring (nuts, chocolate,etc.), though some brands also use eggs or egg yolks. To be called ice cream, itmust contain at least 10 percent butterfat. (Premium brands often have as much as 20 percent.)

Fun fact: air is whipped into the mix before freezing, giving it that creamy texture. Light ice creams are made with more milk (whole or low-fat) andmay contain additives.

120-300 calories per 1/2 cup serving

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Frozen yogurt

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Made from yogurt, fro yo has less fat than ice cream because it's made with less cream and more milk (may be skim, low-fat, or whole milk).

Not all frozen yogurts have the same health benefits as their unfrozen counterpart, so look for "live and active cultures" on the package.

100-130 calories per 1/2 cup serving

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Gelato

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Ice cream's Italian cousin is made with less butterfat and air, giving it a denser texture. While it can be as rich as premium ice cream, gelato is sometimes made with less sugar and with milk instead of cream, which will save you a ton of calories and fat.

120-250 calories per 1/2 cup serving

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Sherbet

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A mix of milk, fruit juice, and sugar, sherbet combines the richness of ice cream and the fruitiness of sorbet. It generally has about half the calories of premium ice cream and only a few grams of fat per serving.

107-130 calories per 1/2 cup serving

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Sorbet

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This icy dessert is made from fruit or fruit juice and sugar, and it's dairy-free (great if you're lactose intolerant or a vegan). Most flavors are fat-free, but chocolate and coconut could cost you up to 9 grams of fat—and up to 190 calories—per serving.

80-190 calories per 1/2 cup serving

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