Auburn has seen some record high temperatures this summer, and some could agree that an ice cold frozen yogurt is a great way to beat the heat. However, there is some debate on whether it is healthier than ice cream.
Leonard Bell, a food scientist and professor in nutrition, said there are some major nutritional differences between ice cream and frozen yogurt, and consumers should be aware of them by reading the informational labels to ensure they are making a healthy choice.
"When talking about frozen desserts, there are four primary dietary components people concern themselves with: sugar, fat, calories and calcium," Bell said. "To be called 'ice cream', the product must have 10 percent milk fat and the higher quality brands may be up to 20 percent fat. Consumers must read the nutrition label."
Bell also said that consumers should try and limit their intake of sugar and fat, but maximize their intake of calcium.
"I've always thought of frozen yogurt as a hands-down, healthy alternative to ice cream," said Emily Tant, a senior in hotel and restaurant management. "I'm really glad that I know I should double check the labels for both desserts."
"A light ice cream has 50 percent less fat or 33 percent less calories than regular ice cream," Bell said. "Reduced-fat ice cream contains 25 percent less fat than regular ice cream."
"Frozen yogurt can be full of fat, having about the same calories as ice cream, or non-fat, having fewer calories," Bell said. "They may or may not have active cultures."
There is a common misconception that 96 percent fat-free frozen yogurt is healthier than whole milk, but that 96 percent yogurt contains a lot of sugar too. Yogurt culture is the only exception between the ingredients that make up frozen yogurt and ice cream.
"I'm going to be much more careful when I grocery shop to make sure that I'm getting exactly what I'm looking for," said Marissa Parks, a senior in marketing. "Both frozen yogurt and ice cream have their benefits but it's good to know that there is a definite difference and it's important to find which is actually healthier. It would be nice if both desserts were just as healthy as a granola bar."
"Lower fat desserts can appear to contain greater amounts of calcium than that fuller fat ice creams," said Bell. "As you take the fat away, there is more milk
present, but these lower fat desserts may have more sugar too."
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