As summer season approaches ice cream sales begin to soar. Who doesn’t love the cool treat on a hot summer day or nite? And with so many interesting flavors it’s hard to resist. But what about “skinny ice cream”? “Diet” ice creams seem to be multiplying by the minute. Take a walk down the frozen dessert section of your local supermarket, and you’ll see dozens of different types of seemingly healthy ice cream varieties. They advertise that it is a guilt-free indulgence. Is this really the reality?
I am actually a believer that a scoop (and I mean a small kid size scoop) of good old-fashioned, full-fat ice cream may actually be better for you.
Here are my thoughts:
Have you taken the time to read the ingredients? I can’t even pronounce them! What does that mean? I have even saw the ingredient propylene glycol, which is better known as antifreeze. Yep- pretty scary!
There’s also the big problem that the low-fat ice cream can actually make you gain weight. When fat is taken out of food, sugar is often put in its place. The sugar causes your blood sugar to spike then crash, which makes you crave more. In addition, “skinny” ice cream might also contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame which conspire to make you pack on the pounds. I think it’s smarter to have a scoop of full-fat ice cream, which will satiate you, than sugary low-fat ice cream.
Did you know that fat alone doesn’t make you fat? Eating more calories than you burn does. And the satiety that full fat provides mean you’ll consume fewer calories overall.
So, don’t be seduced by ice creams that advertise an amazingly low-calorie count per pint, which encourages you to eat the whole thing in one sitting. In my opinion, that’s not the right attitude to have toward food. You are better off eating a diet rich in non-processed foods with the occasional treat.