What About Those "Healthier" Ice Cream Options?
And other marketing gimmicks you don't have to fall for anymore, unless you like them!
I received this question in my DMs this morning: Hey Sara! Summer time is ice cream time. I noticed there are now a ton of “healthy” options in the supermarkets (Halo top, oat-Ly, skinny cow, or Rebel). Do you have any thoughts or recommendations? Thanks as always!
Here was my exact answer: Good question! Unfortunately, my answer is it depends! Here's the thing, I have tried some of those "healthy" ice creams, and to me, they're not that good... so I'd rather have a smaller portion of real ice cream any day! However, if you're someone who likes to have a lot of ice cream, or have it more frequently, those alternative options can be great! Skinny Cow and Halo Top are pretty good!
At the end of the day, it's mostly about eating an appropriate number of total calories and protein to fit your goals. If real ice cream fits, go for it! If “healthier” ice cream is a better option to fit and you like it, do that! I'm not sure how much this helps, but let me know your thoughts or questions!
He responded: I think you just reaffirmed what I already thought, moderation is the key. I can be a sucker for the “new healthier” options. I usually have ice cream maybe twice a month which is pretty reasonable. My fear was I would experiment with something new and end up eating it twice a week. I appreciate the honesty in your response. Thanks for your guidance Sara!
My response: Moderation is key! Especially if you’re “only” enjoying ice cream twice a month, I say get a reasonable amount of the real thing! And you’re right… I used to eat endless amounts of paleo cookies bc they were “healthy”… not quite! Still cookies! Haha.
I really appreciate this individual asking the question! I imagine these “healthier” option traps get a lot of us. If you’ve ever questioned food choices like this, you are definitely not alone! Witty marketing can go a long way to make you feel like you’re making the “right” choice!
And, maybe those healthy ice creams are the right choice for you, but only if you ACTUALLY LIKE THEM and they fit with your goals.
In fact, that statement can be used for ANY food:
________(fill in name of food in question here)_____ is a great choice for me because I like it and it fits with my goals!
Go ahead and put that sentence in your back pocket for future use ; )
Anyway, I stand by what I said in my response:
It’s important for us to make sure we’re eating an appropriate amount of overall food to reach our individual goals. As we dig deeper into that, it’s also incredibly helpful to get enough protein, fruits, veggies, water, exercise, etc.
Outside of those factors, it’s up to you to pick the foods that you enjoy that fit this bill. There is endless marketing out there trying to get you to pick the “healthier” options, when in reality, they may not be the healthier choice for you at all.
I like to refer to this as the Almond Butter Phenomenon.
Some years ago, when Paleo was really a thing and legumes (aka, the content of peanut butter) were out, Almond Butter was IN. And people would basically chug it. Like, recklessly eat it out of the container with a spoon. I know this because I was one of those people, and knew others like me.
And, sure, debatably, the almond butter might have had “healthier” ingredients than traditional peanut butter, but if we’re all eating it in excess, then it’s not necessarily the best option depending on each of our goals.
The same goes for this ice cream conversation.
If you pick Halo Top because it’s healthier, and eat the whole pint, then you very well may be consuming more calories than a serving of regular ice cream, thus potentially negating the point of getting the Halo Top in the first place! (This is, of course, outside of any allergy-related choices, or if you just like Halo Top better!)
Exhibit A: The nutrition label for Chocolate Cake Batter Halo Top
Exhibit B: The nutrition label for Bryers Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
The 2/3 cup serving of the “real” ice cream contains less calories than the whole pint of the Halo Top. So just because it’s “healthier” doesn’t mean you don’t have to take portion size into account.
As I mentioned above, paleo cookies are still cookies. They do not necessarily mean free-for-all-no-consequence cookie eating.
With this all being said, if you are trying to be mindful of overall calories as part of working towards your goals, some food switches might be helpful…. as long as you still like those foods, that is.
For example: Use carrots or cucumbers with your hummus instead of chips. Drink soda water and lime instead of an alcoholic beverage. Have a piece of fruit as a snack instead of cookies. You get it.
So, what are the overall messages here?!
All foods can fit as part of a healthy food plan. Period.
Don’t fall for marketing and packaging. Look at the nutrition labels to best understand how much of that product is right for you to consume.
Eat foods you actually enjoy. Restricting real ice cream for a “healthier” version that you don’t even like typically doesn’t help us. This kind of behavior can also lead to overindulgence down the line. Typically, mindfully including a food you really like in a way that fits for you can help you stay more consistent with your efforts over the long term.
Knowing your personal goals, and the intake you need to achieve them, is key to this whole process. How and how much ice cream fits into your plan is dependent on you knowing what you’re trying to accomplish.
Remember that phrase mentioned above to help you make decisions on these kinds of questions moving forward: ______(fill in name of food in question here)___ is a great choice for me because I like it and it fits with my goals!
Calories and macronutrients still matter. Even if the ingredients are “healthier” it’s still possible to eat too much, or too little, in relation to your goals. Again, read and learn to understand nutrition labels and ingredients lists so you can make educated decisions.
If you DO end up eating the whole pint (or equivalent amount) of something, it is NOT the end of the world. You did not ruin your progress/fall off the wagon/get off track. Remember: Each choice is it’s own. You can proceed from there however feels best for you!
With all of this being said, if you have questions about any specific foods in relation to your goals, or questions about your goals in general, I’m here for you! Comment here, message me, or send me an email at sara@nutritionforlifeproject.com!
As always, thank you for reading!
xoxo,
Sara