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Home » Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream [Updated] 2023: What is Healthier

Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream [Updated] 2023: What is Healthier

A frozen dessert is all you need to uplift your mood at times. While Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream are the two popular choices, there has always been a debate on the health benefits of these frozen treats.

 Quick Fact: Frozen yogurt is slightly healthier than regular ice cream because it has lower fat. The sweet toppings also vary depending on what kind of frozen yogurt you buy.
Quick Nutritional Analysis: Frozen Yogurt Vs Ice Cream
  Frozen Yogurt (Per Serving) Ice Cream (Per Serving)
Fat Content 4 g (low fat yogurt) 14 g
Probiotic Content No Mostly are dormant
Sugar Content 15 g (low fat yogurt) 30 g
Calorie Content 214 (low fat yogurt) 267

So if you want to make healthier choices, choose flavors that have low sugar or low-calorie fresh fruit toppings for your frozen treat. Both products do contain milk and milk products that are nutritious, healthy, and have many benefits.

There are also sugar-free options available for both frozen treats.

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Is frozen yogurt (Froyo) and Ice Cream Same?

As per Dietary Guidelines for Americans, if the added sugar is more than 10% of daily calorie, it shall be considered high in sugar content.

In terms of sweetness between regular ice cream and frozen yogurt, there is not much difference. Both cold treats are sweet because they contain sugar as a primary ingredient.

But if you make a side-by-side comparison of nutritional information, you will find that frozen yogurt has slightly less sugar per serving.

Check the labels of your frozen treat before picking it up from the grocery store. Some of the best froyo available on Amazon.com are:

If you are in the mood to try your hand at making frozen yogurt at home, here are some recommended frozen yogurt-making machines that is worth your consideration:

Check out the detailed recipe of frozen yogurt.

How Both Frozen Desserts are Made?

Frozen yogurt is made by adding bacterial cultures to low-fat or non-fat milk. Once the mixture thickens, non-sweet flavors and sweeteners such as fruit purees are added.

It is then churned and frozen at about 14 degrees Fahrenheit in a machine keeps the product soft enough for scooping and eating immediately.

Ice Cream is made by adding additional ingredients. Sugar, flavorings, and color are all added before the mixture is churned in a machine.

Ice cream Vs Frozen Yogurt: Which Has More Calcium and Protein?

Both ice cream and frozen yogurt have approximately equal amounts of calcium. Both contain whey, casein, and non-fat dry milk solids, which are excellent dietary protein sources.

Eating ½ cup of Frozen yogurt provide 8% of DV (Daily Value) of Calcium which Ice Cream provides 7% of DV of Calcium. (Source)

Frozen Yogurt Vs. Ice Cream – Flavor and Texture

The tart flavor of yogurt comes from its cultured milk content. To balance this tangy flavor, many frozen yogurts come with added sugar.

Ice cream comes with a fluffy texture as the air is filled during its churning process. Compared to Frozen Yogurt, the ice creams have a softer texture due to the presence of cream.

Frozen Yogurt Vs. Ice Cream : Nutritional Analysis

Fat Content

Ice cream may consist of up to 25% milkfat with the minimum value of 10% milkfat essentially, as per Food and Drug Administration. The fat in ice cream comes from milk fat, while frozen yogurt is made from cultured milk.

Even full-fat yogurt contains 3-6% milk fat, which is considerably lower than regular ice cream.

Gluten-Free

Yes, both ice cream and frozen yogurt are gluten-free dairy products. If you’re concerned about allergies, it would be best to check ingredients before purchasing.

Lactose-free

Both ice cream and frozen yogurt are good low-lactose dairy products. Ice cream manufacturers either filter out the lactose or add synthetic lactase enzymes to break down the lactose.

Frozen yogurt with active cultures is safer for people with lactose intolerance. It is recommended to opt for Frozen Greek Yogurt with high active cultures that help deconstruct the lactose during digestion.

Make sure to choose your frozen dessert as lactose-free to make it a safer bet!

Is frozen yogurt the same as soft serve?

Yes, they are both aerated desserts that have a similar consistency and taste. However, some frozen yogurt brands go through a longer freezing process, making it denser and less fatty than soft serve ice cream.

It also has less air whipped in, so it is thicker. But ice creams have a fluffy texture.

How many calories are in frozen yogurt?

The amount of calories in frozen yogurt varies depending on the brand and flavor, but it usually contains less than ice cream. If you make a side-by-side comparison of nutritional information, you will find that frozen yogurt contains approximately 120 calories per serving while ice cream has upwards of 300.

Is frozen yogurt an excellent alternative to ice cream?

Frozen Yogurts are made from cultured milk that delivers probiotic benefits. Regular ice cream consists of Milk fat and comes with more sugar. Fat-Free Ice Cream is good to count upon, but frozen yogurts are best to go with.

Frozen yogurt is an excellent choice if you want to limit the fat content in your diet. Non-fat on-fat and low-fat yogurt are also available in the market.

Be mindful in choosing the portion size and the toppings. In general, Ice cream contain more fat than frozen yogurt.

Is frozen yogurt healthy?

In moderation, frozen yogurt is a healthy treat. It has slightly less fat and sugar content than ice cream. It also contains more calcium and protein per serving.

As active bacterial cultures are added to ferment the milk, it is healthier for gut bacteria. However, frozen yogurt does not have the same live cultures as regular yogurt has.

Be sure to read the nutritional information carefully because some brands add in extra sugars or fats.

Conclusion

Both ice cream and frozen yogurt offer a sweet treat with healthier options. Ice cream is higher in calories and fat, but there are several low-fat varieties and dairy-free options such as soy or coconut-based products on the market today.

Frozen yogurt has less fat, around one percent on average, and sometimes contains probiotics, depending on the ingredients. The probiotics can help promote a healthy gut and may have other health benefits as well.

Yogurt Expert Sonia Uvezian was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. A renowned expert in Middle Eastern and Caucasian cooking and winner of a James Beard Award, she is the author of six other highly acclaimed cookbooks, such as Recipes and Remembrances From An Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen, Cooking from the Caucasus along with The Book of Yogurt.