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Halo Top Versus Regular Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
The serving size for Halo Top and regular ice cream is the same: ½ cup. But while a serving of Halo Top will have 60 to 90 calories, regular ice cream and frozen yogurt is usually in the 200- to 330-calorie range.
“You are also looking at a large differential in sugars, because Halo Top uses sugar substitutes and regular sugar as sweeteners as opposed to just sugar alone,” Mass says. Halo Top usually has about 5 grams (g) of sugar per serving, while regular ice cream can have as much as 22 g.
Halo Top’s protein comes from milk, eggs, and milk protein concentrate. But the protein count of around 5 g per ½ cup is on par with what you’d expect to find in regular ice cream. The other big difference is weight: Halo Top is noticeably lighter than other ice creams — Time notes that a pint of Halo Top weighs 256 g versus 428 g for Ben & Jerry’s.
Nutritionists Weigh In On Whether Halo Top Is Good for Your Diet
There’s no denying that Halo Top is low in calories, which is helpful if you’re trying to shift the numbers on the scale. “Weight loss is not entirely a calorie game, but it is an important part of it,” Mass says.
She’d recommend Halo Top to certain clients looking to lose weight, mainly those who have a sweet tooth and those who tend to snack all night long. “Some dietitians might argue it’s better to consume the 70 calories from some fresh berries and a few nuts,” Mass says. “I agree, but let’s be real. Sometimes that just doesn’t cut it, and when it comes to long-term maintenance, we need to consider the mind as well.”
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The question is whether you’ll feel satisfied after eating ½ cup of Halo Top, which is important, because Mass says not feeling deprived is key to weight loss and long-term weight control. “If you can sit down and enjoy a half-cup of Halo Top and feel satisfied, then you are cutting out significant calories and sugar” compared with eating regular ice cream, Mass says.
But if you view the low-calorie ice cream as a pass to indulge, it could work against you. “From a behavior standpoint, it’s not great to [eat the whole thing],” Carroll says. Mass agrees and says you may create bad habits that lead to bingeing on other foods.
What it comes down to is this: Just because Halo Top is low in calories doesn’t mean it’s okay to overdo it. If you’re sticking to ½ cup per serving, Halo Top is a better option calorie-wise than regular ice cream, so long as it doesn’t upset your stomach. But if eating a “guilt-free” product makes it hard for you to stop, you may end up taking in more calories than if you’d stuck with regular ice cream in the first place.
