The term “healthier-for-you” ice cream might sound absurd initially. However, reasonably healthy ice creams do, in fact, exist. They’re becoming more common with each passing year.
“Twenty-five years ago, there were limited ingredients, and [brands] were using traditional ice cream ingredients like milk, sugar, and flavoring,” Janelle Bober – a registered dietitian nutritionist at Dietitian Live – told FI. “Now we have a lot of low-calorie options, high-protein options, plant-based options. …”
Walk down the ice cream aisle at any grocer and you’re sure to notice multiple “low-cal” offerings. Many brands in this category call upon skim milk as their base, as noted in an article by delish. Some brands utilize yogurt, while some lean on milk proteins to increase their ice cream’s protein content. In some cases artificial sweeteners are used.
“Ice creams are definitely getting healthier, but the more interesting part is how and why,” said Andrew Dickow, managing director at Greenwich Capital Group.
“Over the past 25 years, we’ve moved from the fat-free craze of the ‘90s to today’s focus on clean labels, functional ingredients, and digestive wellness.”
Traditional ice creams, conversely, often rely on cream and refined sugar – unwelcomed guests in the kitchens of health-conscious consumers.
Manufacturers are getting innovative in their efforts to reduce the calories of their ice cream while maintaining a traditional texture. Fat replacers, like Epogee, reduce caloric density by almost half, for example. Meanwhile, cryogenic freezing improves creaminess in reduced fat or plant-based ice cream by limiting the formation of large ice crystals.
Ice Cream 2.0: Brands Winning in Wellness Game
Which brands offer the healthiest ice creams in 2025? Here’s an analysis, shaped by insight from experts:
5. So Delicious: Calling primarily upon coconut milk, this dairy-free brand produces low-sugar ice cream that tastes surprisingly similar to the traditional dessert.
4. Rebel: With just 16g of carbs per serving – and 3g of protein – Rebel’s Coffee Chip Ice Cream earned acclaim from eatthis.com in 2024. The product is sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit. The brand’s Coffee Chip Ice Cream also contains zero grams of sugar.
3. Nick’s: This Swedish brand has been praised by the likes of yahoo.com due to the smooth texture of its ice cream (not to mention large mix-in chunks), especially in its Cookies and Kram flavor – which is 90 calories per serving, with zero added sugar.
2. Enlightened: With just 2g of net carbs per serving, Enlightened is beloved by many consumers, especially for its creamy ice cream texture.
1. Halo Top: This brand is widely respected for ice creams that are less than 400 calories per pint, with rich flavor. One fan-favorite variety, according to online reviews: Peanut Butter Cup, which boasts a supremely creamy texture.
“It’s tough to overlook what Halo Top has been able to accomplish in terms of ‘healthy’ treats,” said Ben Emminger, a nutrition coach at BarBend. “For example, the brand’s Chocolate variety contains 6 grams of fat per pint. … The fat content is kept low through the use of ultrafiltered and standard skim milks.”
Modern, healthier-for-you ice cream brands have “leaned into using sugar alternatives like erythritol or allulose, boosted protein with whey or casein, and focused on lower calorie counts per pint,” said Matt Dustin, a nutrition coach at Garage Gym Reviews. “Some are also using prebiotic fibers or fat alternatives to keep the texture creamy without packing in as many calories.”
“My advice,” Bober said, “is to do your research on brands, look into what ingredients are non-negotiables for you, and taste different options.”
