Smart Swap Saturday: Halo Top Ice Cream

ByMacy Michelle

When starting a healthier lifestyle, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by all the products and food on the market. I am a firm believer that simple swaps add up and make a difference over time. Each Saturday I will feature a Smart Swap! These Smart Swaps will be healthier choices and recommendations for your favorite not-so-healthy foods. 

Today’s Smart Swap: Halo Top Ice Cream

I am a bit of an ice cream fanatic. It can be -30 degrees and I’ll still say yes to ice cream. Who doesn’t love Ben and Jerry’s?! But I when I started paying attention to nutrition labels, I was honestly shocked at what I was eating. 

Let’s break it down! 

There are about 57 grams of fat, 94 grams of sugar, 134 grams of carbohydrates and 1100 calories in a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Wowza. These numbers may vary slightly depending on the flavor of Ben and Jerry’s. For this example, I am using the nutrition facts from the “Half Baked” flavor. 

Those numbers are truly shocking. How often do you reach for a pint after a bad day? Once in awhile eating Ben and Jerry’s is totally okay! But being aware of these nutrition facts is important. Just like small, healthy changes add up over time- small, unhealthy habits also add up over time. 

Healthy Swap: Halo Top Ice Cream

When I first started dabbling in “healthier” ice creams, I wasn’t impressed. After all, I grew up on Culver’s custard! But, then I found Halo Top.

Halo Top has 12 grams of fat, 28 grams of sugar, 68 grams of carbohydrates and 360 calories per pint. What a difference! 

Halo Top also has many flavors to pick from! They recently added a dairy-free option as well. 

Now, please note- I am not saying Halo Top is healthy. I am just saying it is a healthier choice than Ben and Jerry’s. Of course it would be best if we could eat fruit when we were craving sweets! But that’s not always realistic- at least not for me. 

Finding healthier alternatives is key for helping me reach my goals and also enjoy my life! What kind of life would I be living if I cut out ice cream?! 

Key Takeaways:

  • A whole pint of Halo Top is less than HALF the calories of Ben and Jerry’s
  • Halo Top has less than half the sugar than Ben and Jerry’s
  • There are so many healthier ice cream alternatives on the market. You don’t have to eliminate your favorite foods to reach your goals! 

What is your favorite healthier ice cream alternative? There are SO many out there that I am excited to try! Drop your favorites below! Which one should I try next?!