Shape editors tested the best low-calorie, high-protein, and low-sugar healthy ice creams so you know which to spend your $$$ on.
Arctic Zero Light Ice Cream
Even if you weren’t a fan of Arctic Zero’s original lactose-free ice cream alternative, you need to give their dairy-free and certified plant-based healthy ice creams a shot. Made from a faba bean base, these pints contain no sugar alcohols, are non-GMO, have a low glycemic index, are gluten-free, and are keto- and kosher-friendly.
You can grab pints in eight flavors, including Classic Vanilla, Pistachio, Cookie Shake, Purely Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Hint of Mint, and Cake Batter.
Pros: Shape testers found the formula to be “surprisingly good” and said it didn’t taste like artificial sweeteners or flavors.
Cons: One tester said the healthy ice cream wasn't quite creamy enough for her taste.
(Buy It, $7, icecreamsource.com)
Halo Top
If you’ve been on Instagram anytime in the last couple of years, you’ve likely seen Halo Top on your feed. This social-sensation brand uses organic stevia and erythritol (a sugar alcohol that’s not supposed to affect blood glucose or cause bloating) to create sweet, creamy desserts that clock in at only 280 to 360 calories per pint. Their collection now boasts a keto-friendly ice cream series, dairy-free offerings, pops, sorbets, and more, allowing vegans and lactose-intolerant ice cream fans to get in on the hype too.
Pros: If you want a relatively clean label and to throw portion control to the wind, this is the brand for you. Plus, with a zillion flavor options, you're bound to find one that hits the spot.
Cons: One Shape tester said that the Sea Salt Caramel flavor was a little overly sweet, while another said it wasn't quite creamy enough to satisfy her ice cream craving.
(But It, $6, halotop.com)
Enlightened
Enlightened crowns itself the best-of-the-best in healthy ice cream, logging even fewer calories, fewer grams of sugar and fat, and more protein and fiber than other healthy ice cream brands. Their flavors log in at just 130 to 230 calories per serving. Sweetened with zero-calorie erythritol and packed with fiber from corn, Enlightened promises not to spike blood sugar. (Bonus: They offer cheesecakes, dough bites, and ready-to-bake cookies, too)
Pros: Shape testers were super into the generous cookie chunks in Cookies and Cream. Overall, testers said the healthy ice cream flavors were amazingly creamy.
Cons: Testers reported a slight aftertaste, possibly from the erythritol sweetener.
(Buy It, $9, eatenlightened.com)
Snow Monkey
If you're a nutrition purist looking for a plant-based ice cream — meaning, you don't want any sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners mucking up your treats — Snow Monkey is the brand for you. The brand is so committed to using natural ingredients, that their tagline is: "If Mother Nature didn't make it, we didn't use it." They also take care to source only ethical, non-GMO ingredients.
The base of their ice creams is made of bananas, apples, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, and pure maple syrup. Then, they add superfoods like açai, matcha, or cocoa powder to make their eight flavors — all of which are free of dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, sesame, and peanuts.
Pros: You can count on Snow Monkey for being especially flavorful, smooth, and creamy. "I'm not even a chocolate ice cream person, but this was one of my favorites," one Shape tester wrote.
Cons: The brand has eight flavors, so you don't have a ton of options to choose from.
(Buy It, $60 for 4 pints, snow-monkey.com)
