What Is Protein Ice Cream?
For the longest time, ice cream lovers who wanted to keep off the pounds had a tough decision to make — continue to eat ice cream and not lose weight or give up one of life’s greatest treats in order to keep a slim waist line. That dilemma might be a thing of the past thanks to the introduction of the protein ice cream — ice cream that is lower in calories and higher in protein than traditional varieties.
Marketed as healthier versions of normal ice cream, major ice cream brands like Halo Top are joining dozens of other smaller names in this fairly new market.
You may be asking yourself: “How is it any different from normal ice cream?” For one thing, protein ice cream is healthier than the traditional kind. Besides having fewer calories and higher levels of protein, there’s not too much different between the two variations of the famous frozen treat.
Now that we know what protein ice cream is, let’s take a look at some of the most popular names in the market.
The 7 Best Protein Ice Creams On The Market
Halo Top
Halo Top has made quite a name for itself in all corners of the ice cream world in recent years with its roster of high protein frozen treats. Each pint of Halo Top has 20 grams of protein and anywhere between 280 and 360 calories
You can find Halo Top in the frozen section of just about any grocery store with each pint costing you around $4 each.
Breyers Delights
Breyers is one of the most popular brands in the frozen treat market and so it should be no surprise that you’d be able to find versions of the brand’s classic ice cream with high protein. Pints of Breyers Delights have 20 grams and between 260 and 330 calories.
Breyers Delights can be found at most retailers for a little more than $4 a pint.
Arctic Zero
Arctic Zero isn’t a common name like the first two brands on the list but that shouldn’t take away from this high protein ice cream. With an entire roster of pints with styles ranging from chocolate chunk to cherry chocolate chunk, Arctic Zero’s pints come in between 120 and 360 calories with anywhere from 8 to 12 grams of protein.
You’ll probably have more trouble locating a pint of this frozen treat unless you have access to a speciality store or want to purchase ice cream on Amazon, where you can purchase a 6-pack for around $42.
Enlightened
Enlightened is another brand of ice cream that will leave you wanting more. While their pints vary between 360 and 400 calories per pint, it’s not the healthiest option out there, but it makes up for it with 28 to 32 grams of protein. This ice cream takes high protein to the next level.
You can find Enlightened products at retailers like Target where you can expect to spend around $4 a pint.
Yasso
Although it’s technically frozen Greek yogurt, Yasso is high in protein and flavor without the need for intense sweeteners. Each pint has around 400 calories, which is admittedly pretty high, but it also has 24 grams of protein, which is nothing to thumb your nose at either.
You can buy Yasso frozen Green yogurt at multiple retailers like Target as well as on services like Instacart where you can expect to spend around $4.50 a pint.
Chilly Cow
Chilly Cow’s line of 1/2 pint ice cream flavors uses a specialized ultra-filtered milk that is high on protein and low on sugars. Each container of Chilly Cow has 180 calories and 12 grams of protein. For the sake of comparisons, that would equal out to 360 calories and 24 grams of protein if they brand offered full pints.
You can find a two-pack of Chilly Cow ice cream at places like Walmart for around $4 each.
Forte Gelato
If you really want to mix things up, you could take the route of Forte Gelato. With only high quality and natural ingredients like cage-free egg yolks, agave nectar, and fair trade vanilla, combined with skim milk, cream, and milk protein, these little containers come with quite the punch of protein. Each 4 ounce container has 15 grams of protein, 18 grams of sugar, and 160 calories, all of which are high when compared to pints (60 grams of protein, 72 grams of sugar, and 640 calories).
You will have to buy Forte Gelato’s products directly from the company’s website where each 6-pack will cost you around $18.
Which Flavor Is The Most “Nutritious”?
All of the high protein ice cream brands listed above are pretty healthy, but we couldn’t end this without listing three of the healthiest options. Well, here they are.
3rd Place – Chilly Cow Brown Butter Salted Caramel
- 360 calories
- 24 grams of protein
- 34 grams of sugar
2nd Place – Halo Top Vanilla Bean
- 280 calories
- 20 grams of protein
- 24 grams of sugar
1st Place – Breyers Delights Vanilla Bean
- 260 calories
- 20 grams of protein
- 21 grams of sugar
And while these three brands were healthier than others on the list, they’re all healthier than your normal, run of the mill ice cream varieties. There’s no reason not to check them out.
