Frozen yogurt may be fat free or low fat, but that doesn’t mean sugar free or low calorie.
Be aware of the amount of sugar that you may still be consuming at these popular frozen yogurt stores.
The word “Yogurt” Doesn’t always equal “healthy”…..
Frozen Yogurt Chains
- Pinkberry: ½ cup of chocolate frozen yogurt contains only 15 grams of sugar (some of this from the natural milk lactose), 120 calories, and 15% of your daily value for calcium.
- Yoforia: Uses only organic dairy from Stonyfield Farms and similar companies. ½ cup serving= 19 grams sugar
- Yogurtland: Has some flavors that contain no added sugar for 80 calories and 6 grams sugar per ½ cup. But, this means those are sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
- TCBY: Also has some flavors with no sugar added, but uses Splenda and sugar alcohols instead of aspartame making this a slightly better choice. Other flavors are about 17 grams of sugar per ½ cup. Does contain some nasty additives like propylene glycol.
- Red Mango: A “cleaner” frozen yogurt that is all natural, gluten free, and uses no high fructose corn syrup. ½ cup is still about 20 grams sugar.
- Yogurt Mountain: Contains the most preservatives and additives like polysorbate 80, sodium benzoate, and food colorings.
- Tutti Frutti: Offers soy frozen yogurt for those with food sensitivities or allergies!
What to Watch Out For
- High fructose corn syrup, and processed milk is often what you are paying for when you buy frozen yogurt. Look for more natural chains like Yoforia and Red Mango that are either all natural or use organic ingredients.
- Don’t forget about the toppings! Some may contain trans fat like the cookie dough bites, or other cookie and candy add-ons. Choose fruits instead to add an antioxidant (and fiber) punch!
- Don’t believe the probiotic claims. Many of the active cultures are killed in the yogurt processing.
- “Tart” yogurt does not mean less sugar. They have the same, or even more, grams of sugar.
Moderation is Key
Of course you can enjoy some frozen yogurt. It is often a lighter, lower calorie choice. The most important thing is to watch your serving size. Don’t fill up the giant bowl they give you. Use half a fist as a good visual for a ½ cup portion. Then, top with some fruit, and you have a nice and light treat!
Do you enjoy frozen yogurt?
Frozen Yogurt is one of the best food that has been created in the whole world. Really and I do like this very much.
I love to eat yogurt and I was always looking at the calories and not the sugar. It just never dawned on me. Now that summer is here, frozen yogurt is a treat, but now I know what to watch out for and how to order. Thanks for the helpful info.
So which is better for you: Ice Cream or frozen yogurt?
I used to eat frozen yogurt at TCBY a lot, but I tended to eat more than just 1/2 cup. What I usually do is to freeze regular plain nonfat yogurt and eat it with fruit and a little honey. It’s almost the same as ice cream and it’s much healthier.