What do you think about the health value of Skinny Cow Ice Cream? I realize they are a very popular brand and I know I’ve sampled them a time or two, vaguely remembering that I did enjoy the taste. But regardless of whether they taste okay, is it healthy? Time to take a closer look at TWO KEY FACTORS!!
1. NUTRITION FACTS.
Although somewhat high in sugar, the Skinny Cow brand of ice cream products is not unreasonable in the nutrition facts area. People who need a treat every now and then feel comfort in the fact that these pre-packaged bars have approximately 150 calories and 3 grams of fat per serving. In this area alone, Skinny Cow meets my seal of approval for a satisfying treat. Below are the nutrition facts for several ice cream varieties.
Cone: Chocolate with Fudge. (per bar) 150 calories, 3 g fat (2 g sat.), 29 g carbohydrate, 17 g sugar, 3 g fiber, 4 g protein.
Cups: Chocolate Fudge Brownie. (per container) 150 calories, 2 g fat (1 g sat.), 29 g carbohydrate, 17 g sugar, 4 g fiber, 5 g protein.
Sandwiches: Chocolate Peanut Butter. (per sandwich) 150 calories, 2 g fat (1 g sat), 3 g fiber, 30 g carbohydrate, 15 g sugar, 4 g protein.
2. INGREDIENTS.
Although we looked at the nutritional info and found it to be fairly reasonable, now it is time to check out the ingredients (I usually do this first, FYI). Below I’ve listed the ingredients of the Chocolate fudge ice cream cone (most of the other products have a similar list). I’ve highlight several questionable ingredients. Do you know what they are? If not, should you be eating them?
skim milk, cone [wheat flour, sugar, palm oil, soy lecithin, caramel color, salt], sugar, corn syrup, cone coating [sugar, coconut oil, salatrim, cocoa powder, soy lecithin, artificial flavor], fudge topping [high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, cocoa processed with alkali, sugar, modified corn starch, salt, mono and diglycerides, vanilla, natural flavor, artificial flavor], polydextrose, cocoa processed with alkali, whey protein, calcium carbonate, cream, Inulin (Dietary Fiber), natural flavor, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, microcrystalline cellulose, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, monoglycerides, carob bean gum, sorbitol, vitamin A palmitate, carrageenan, salt
Opinion:
As in every case, if Skinny Cow is a product you consume each and every day, I might tell you to pick a different poison. However, if you happen to be at a BBQ where your friend offers a chocolate fudge cone for 150 calories vs a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s for 350 calories, I would opt for the latter. In the end, it’s all relative to how frequently you consume any product with a long list of questionable ingredients. I won’t tell you NOT to eat Skinny Cow products, but I will tell you to limit your consumption because they are not your healthiest option for a treat.
SIMILAR/HEALTHIER OPTIONS:
Homemade smoothie pops. Blend up your favorite smoothie combination and pour into popsicle molds. Freeze and enjoy!
Homemade fudgcicles. Make an avocado chocolate pudding, scoop in to popsicle molds. Freeze and enjoy!
Breyer’s Naturals Vanilla Ice Cream; evaporated whole milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, natural vanilla flavour and pure ground vanilla bean. Easy to read ingredient list! I like it!
Turtle Mountain’s Purely Decadent Soy Ice Cream. Dairy and lactose-free, certified organic, and they support sustainable agricultural practices.