Summer is in full swing and, with temperatures rising, who doesn’t want a cold, sweet treat to beat the heat? Ice cream, of course, is the classic failsafe. It’s undoubtedly indulgent: high in calories, low in nutrients—notably loaded with sugar and saturated fat. In moderation, have at it. Food is meant to be enjoyed, and we’re not here to demonize or banish. Healthy eating is a lifestyle you maintain for longevity, not a crash diet you suffer through for a blip of time. That said, if you’re looking for healthier ice creams and ices that don’t have as much of an impact on your health as a bowl of Ben & Jerry’s, we have some satiating options.
First, a quick primer. Today, there are many marketing tricks that promote ice creams as “healthy,” “low-calorie,” or “light” when in reality they’re far from it. To evaluate which ones are best, start with looking at the ingredient list and nutrition facts label. Don’t base your decision on calorie count alone. Look at the sugar content, artificial ingredients added, and total fat content, too.
Use this as your guideline: Healthier ice creams and ices should have less than 200 calories per serving, 12 grams sugar (or less), and 10 grams total fat (or less).
Now that you know what to look for, take a look at our list of the best healthier ice creams and frozen treats to enjoy this summer.
10 Healthier Ice Creams and Frozen Treats to Beat the Summer Heat
1. Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars
Want indulgent, creamy desserts that taste as good as traditional ice cream, but with the nutritional benefits of Greek yogurt? You got it. These bars are lower in calories, packed with protein (in part from yogurt and milk protein concentrate), and void of high-intensity artificial sweeteners, like Stevia. Try the Chocolate Fudge Greek Yogurt Bar; it gets its fudgy flavor comes from Dutch cocoa and velvety texture from—you guessed it, Greek yogurt and nonfat milk.
Nutrition per bar: 100 calories, 12 g total sugar, 0 g total fat
Magic happens when you ramp up the protein content and cut back on sugar, but don’t lose that classic ice cream taste and texture. Try Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Enlightened uses milk protein concentrate to get the typical 2 g up to 5 g, and monk fruit and erythritol (natural, zero-carb sweeteners) to cut back on the sweet stuff (7 g as opposed to the typical 18 g). It also substitutes skim milk for cream to lower the fat and overall calories per serving. The brand also offers low-calorie, keto, and dairy-free pints and bars that are 100 percent vegan.
Nutrition in ½ cup: 100 calories, 7 g total sugar, 5 g protein, 3 g total fat
Halo Top’s mission was to create healthier ice creams for those days you just want to tuck into a whole pint. Its line of dairy pints are all between 280 to 380 calories (for the whole thing) and come in a ton of flavors to enjoy. Try Key Lime Pie(seasonal flavor) for lime-flavored ice cream studded with graham and meringue swirls. The brand uses Stevia, sugar alcohol, and cane sugar to lend sweetness with fewer calories. Look for its dairy-free and keto flavors too.
Nutrition per ⅔ cup serving: 120 calories, 10 g total sugar, 2.5 g total fat
It’s hard to believe how an ice cream that doesn’t have added sugars, synthetic ingredients, or artificial sweeteners can be this good—but this Swedish-style ice cream hits the spot. Pints range from 220 to 360 calories, and are available in light and keto (made with skim milk as a base), as well as vegan (made with engineered animal-free whey protein, so skip if you’re allergic to dairy protein). Try Strawbär Swirl, a vanilla base with strawberry puree running throughout.
Nutrition per ½ cup serving: 60 calories, 3 grams total sugar, 1.5 grams total fat
This is the first dairy-free ice cream made from avocado. Cado cold presses avocado, sweetens the oil with cassava root syrup and vanilla extract among other flavorings, then churns it to a creamy consistency. The brand also has the distinction of lacking GMOs, artificial flavors, dairy, and soy. Try Cookies and Cream; dairy-free vanilla ice cream melds perfectly with gluten-free dark chocolate cookies.
Nutrition per ½ cup serving: 170 calories, 9 g total sugar, 10 g total fat
The bars contain simple ingredients you know (and can pronounce); no GMOs, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial colors and flavorings. Try the Chocolate Bar if you don’t want one of the classic fruit concoctions. The rich texture is thanks to skim milk, cane sugar, cream, and buttermilk, while cocoa powder, carob bean gum, and guar gum lend sweetness and chocolatey goodness.
Nutrition per bar: 90 calories, 11 g total sugar, 3 g total fat
With a mission to make clean smoothies more accessible (and portable), reBLEND’s pops incorporate unique, nutritious ingredients that may otherwise be challenging to work into a daily routine—like camu camu, goji berries, Moroccan rose water, rosehip powder, and baobab, in addition to other fruits and veggies with countless health benefits. The four blends are all dairy free, vegan, gluten free, plant based, and rich in superfoods. Try Frose All Day Chill (Strawberry, Raspberry, Rose Water). Its main ingredients include strawberry, cauliflower, banana, raspberry, cherry, date, and beet.
Nutrition per bar: 30 calories, 4 g total sugar, 0 g total fat
Utilizing clean, organic, responsibly sourced ingredients makes a difference. So does ditching artificial sugars, flavors, dyes, dairy, HFCS, and GMOs. Remember those Push Pops from the ice cream truck you loved as a kid? Try Dreamy Orange Push Pop. GoodPop’s version uses orange juice, coconut cream, and cane sugar.
Nutrition per pop: 100 calories, 9 g total sugar, 6 g total fat
These thirst-quenching fruit pops are made with just fruit, water, and cane sugar, making them dairy free, gluten free, and kosher. Try Strawberry No Sugar Added Pops; white grape juice from concentrate, strawberry puree, and lemon juice concentrate are a killer combo.
Nutrition per pop: 40 calories, 8 g total sugar, 0 g total fat
At only 45 calories and roughly ¼ cup of fruit per serving, these healthified Dippin’ Dots are as fun to eat as they are delicious. Try Wild Blueberries. Wyman’s utilizes a freezing technique to combine Maine wild blueberries with bits of Greek yogurt to create this unique treat. There’s also fruit pectin, natural vanilla extract, and live/active cultures for good measure.
Nutrition per cup: 45 calories, 7 g total sugar, 0 g total fat
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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