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Forte: Gelato with a Pinch of Healthy?

By T. Kallmyer

Healthy Gelato? Is that possible?

I was recently sent some samples of Forte to try. They are marketing themselves as a protein rich, all natural, healthy gelato.

I love gelato, but I was almost scared to taste what a healthy version of the Italian delicacy would be like.

In my opinion gelato has always been one step above ice cream. Its rich and creamy texture, along with its bold flavors, and less fat and calories than traditional American ice cream make it a winner.

However, typical gelato still has a fair bit of fat and calories, so it's just a rare treat for me.

Forte isn't so typical

I/2 cup serving of Forte Vanilla Gelato contains:

160 Calories
2.5 grams of fat
1.5 grams of saturated fat
20mg of cholesterol
70mg of sodium
18 grams of Carbs
18 grams of sugar
15 grams of protein
40% RDA Calcium

Ingredients: Skim milk, protein blend (milk protein, soy protein), cane sugar, cream, agave nectar, egg yolk, madagascar vanilla, vanilla beans.

Compared to another pre-packaged gelato

1/2 cup serving of Ciao Bella Vanilla Gelato:

220 Calories
12 grams of fat
7 grams saturated fat
45mg cholesterol
70mg of sodium
25 grams of carbs
21 grams of sugar
3 grams of protein
10% RDA Calcium

Ingredients: Milk, cream, cane juice, dry milk, tapioca syrup, vanilla extract, guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, vanilla beans

Well, Forte looks like it's definitely a step above this one in comparison to nutrition and ingredients, but does it taste good?

Not sure how they did it.

I sampled both Forte's vanilla and chocolate flavors and to be honest, they both knocked my socks off.

I don't know how they managed to make their product so creamy with such little fat. Both were full of natural flavor and would rival any traditional gelato I've tasted.

I'm thankful that they're sold in single serving cups. Otherwise, it could have been dangerous.

One gripe

Looking at Forte's website, they are marketing their product to be consumed as a daily part of the diet for adults, children, athletes, seniors, and those with health conditions.

In fact, they have their ordering broken down into "a 10 day supply" and so on.

Forte is a dessert and although it's a healthier alternative to other gelato and fortified with protein, I don't agree with the notion that we, especially kids, need a sweet treat everyday.

However, as an occasional treat, Forte is a smart choice and much healthier than ice cream or standard gelato.

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8 Comments

Kelly on 1 Dec 2011

I agree that a sweet treat every day isn't a necessity, but it depends on your definition of dessert. Although the serving size would be a factor, Forte seems comparable to one of the greek yogurts in Calories, protein and "sugar", and I wouldn't consider yogurt an occasional treat. I guess it just depends on what your kid (or patient) is willing to eat ;)

James on 1 Dec 2011

I would agree with Kelly, Forte is comparable to Greek yogurt which contains a good amount of protein. Having the additional protein will be beneficial for kids, athletes, seniors and patients who need extra protein for support of muscle. For those who may be concerned about weight loss, Forte is a great alternative to ice cream as the protein will leave you satisfied in one serving. Note you would need to eat about 5 servings (2.5 c) of Gelato to get the same amount of satisfying protein in Forte.

Yeah for Forte!

T. Kallmyer on 2 Dec 2011

Actually, I would consider a sweetened Greek yogurt a dessert. My point is that America and other western countries have too much of a sweet tooth. Sugar is in almost everything. If people can switch their thinking from refined sugars being a part of the daily diet to only consuming them a couple times a week as a treat, big changes can take place. Weight comes off, taste buds readjust making healthy foods taste better, and ocasional sweet treats satisfy a person with smaller servings.

I understand that Forte wants to sell a lot of product and we live in a capitalist society so I can't blame them. But, I can remind our readers that we don't need gelato or any other dessert everyday.

Scott on 2 Dec 2011

From what I understand Forte is only being sold in 4oz cup packages, ehere as other companies sell their products mostly in pint size and if you want a small ounce size you pay more in the end. Comparing them to Ciao Bella they are actually cheaper. do you think they are better off selling in pints then?

T. Kallmyer on 5 Dec 2011

No, I like the concept because it helps a person portion size better. Forte is very tasty and If I had a pint, I think I wouldn't have been able to stop after 4 ounces :-) It's still a lot cheaper than buying gelato out I believe. Definitely healthier.

mike on 1 Dec 2011

While I understand your thinking with regard to "regular desserts" and needing to keep away from the empty calories that traditional sweet treats provide, if you look at Forte's nutrition panel, this product would make an excellent "recovery product" after a workout in place of the bland beverages that are out there. It is actually pretty nutritionally balanced, so why "deny yourself" a sweet treat every day? There is no need to "eat yucky" because one is "eating healthy"...

I have tried Forte myself, and it is awesome.

Spectra on 1 Dec 2011

I generally don't eat ice cream or gelato, but I do put regular yogurt in the freezer and it gets to be the consistency of ice cream. It's a little tart, but very tasty and very cheap.

Richard Perry on 6 Dec 2011

It looks like a nice cold treat every once in a while. I currently have a McDonald's Ice Cream Cone to satisfy that craving. I would prefer the extra protein.