Frozen yogurt, a complicated friend
I find comfort in a bowl of ice cream (about 1 cup) before bed. I’ve been looking to make healthier choices lately, as I’m following the Weight Watchers guidelines, and thought I would turn to frozen yogurt instead. However, I’m noticing that some frozen yogurts tend to be high in sugar and saturated fat. My recent favourite is Breyers Strawberries and Cream frozen yogurt. Any suggestions for an ice cream alternative that is actually healthy?
You’re right — frozen yogurt does seem like an obvious healthy alternative to ice cream. The big difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream is in the fat content. Ice cream has to contain at least 10-per-cent milk fat, which is usually achieved by the addition of cream. Frozen yogurt is not made with cream and is usually made with cultured milk products such as yogurt — however, the healthy gut probiotic bacteria in yogurt do not survive the freezing temperature.
Is a lower fat content a good thing? Not always. Many frozen yogurts compensate for less fat (and therefore less flavour) by adding sugar, and sugar-laden additions such as syrups and candy pieces. The ingredient list can be long, including gums, corn syrup and flavour additions.
Instead of frozen yogurt, try a whole food approach by adding natural sweetness to plain Greek yogurt. Mix a swirl of natural strawberry jam (choose one with strawberries as the first ingredient) to Greek yogurt and top with three strawberries. This adds some sugar but much less than you would get from a flavoured Greek yogurt or frozen yogurt. With just three ingredients, you have a healthy comfort food that fits your healthy eating guidelines. In a small bowl, spoon yogurt and swirl in the jam. Top with sliced strawberries. Serves one. Nicole Osinga is a registered dietitian. Want to pump up a meal? Email nicoletorontostar@gmail.com or tweet @nicoleosinga_rd