Low-calorie dessert brands are like sweet gifts that just keep on giving! 

I particularly love low-calorie and low-sugar ice cream. But let’s get real: these desserts aren’t cheap! They usually come at a premium when compared to regular ice cream. So, let’s get into the differences between halo top vs arctic zero so you know which is best when you’re at the grocery store.

How Many Calories Does Ice Cream Have?

Ice cream is a yummy treat that’s creamy, cold, and sweet—what’s not to love? But, just like many sugary goodies, it packs a punch in calories, sugar, and fat. Obviously, since it’s made from heavy cream, it’s going to be calorie-dense from the fat content.

A one-cup serving of vanilla ice cream has around 280 calories, 28 grams of sugar, and 14 grams of fat. Add chocolate chips, cookie dough chunks, or peanut butter swirls to that, and the calories stack up even more!

The high calorie and sugar content in regular ice cream is what inspires many to seek alternative low-sugar desserts.

How is Low-Calorie Ice Cream Made?

We can all guess what makes low-calorie ice cream low-calorie. It could be that they use low-fat dairy instead of regular dairy or that they contain sugar-free sweeteners instead of traditional sugars. But just because something is labeled “low-calorie” doesn’t always mean it’s good for you.

Some low-calorie ice creams contain more sugar or are more processed than traditional ice cream. They may also contain artificial sugars that could cause side effects. So, always look beyond diet-friendly labels and pay close attention to nutrition facts and ingredients. 

Typically, low-calorie ice creams use skim milk instead of whole milk, and sometimes, they’re mixed with yogurt or milk proteins to make them creamy and rich. They also often use artificial sweeteners, which are sweeter and lower in calories than regular sugar.

In short, low-calorie ice creams are made with ingredients that have fewer calories, making them a light ice cream version compared to their full-fat cousins. But remember, even these treats are best enjoyed in moderation. Eating a whole pint of different flavors for the sake of sugar cravings might not be the best idea!

Is Halo Top Better than Regular Ice Cream?

Halo Top is one of the most popular low-calorie ice cream brands on the market, gaining ground over prominent old-school brands like Haagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s.

Their ice creams come in a wide range of flavors with dairy, nondairy, and keto-friendly varieties that contain roughly half the calories of regular ice cream and a little under one-third of the calories in premium ice creams.  

Halo Top Flavors

Here’s an overview of Halo Top’s ice cream flavors according to their product variety.

Dairy Pints

These varieties are made with low-fat milk and come in numerous Halo Top flavors. 

• Vanilla Bean 
• Vanilla Caramel Milkshake 
• Strawberry 
• Chocolate 
• Chocolate Mocha Chip
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
• Chocolate Caramel Brownie 
• Cookies & Cream 
• Oatmeal Cookie
• Caramel Macchiato 
• Sea Salt Caramel 
• Red Velvet
• Mint Chip
• Pistachio
• Peanut Butter Cup 
• Peaches & Cream 
• Blueberry Crumble 
• Candy Bar
• Birthday Cake
• Devil’s Food Cake

Non-Dairy Pints

Halo Top makes these varieties with a coconut milk base consisting of coconut cream and water. 

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough 
• Chocolate Almond Crunch 
• Sea Salt Caramel 
• Peanut Butter Cup 

Keto Pints

The Keto variety of Halo Top ice cream comes in 8 flavors, has a higher protein content, and has lower net carbs per serving. 

• Vanilla Bean
• Banana Cream Pie
• Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake 
• Chocolate Cheesecake 
• Brownie, a la Model
• Caramel Butter Pecan
• Macadamia Nut Cookie
• Banana Cream Pie

Is Arctic Zero Ice Cream?

Are Arctic Zero frozen desserts really ice cream? Well, not quite! Even though you might find them in the ice cream aisle, Arctic Zero isn’t technically ice cream. The FDA says real ice cream needs at least 10% milk fat, and Arctic Zero doesn’t hit that mark. That’s why it’s labeled as a frozen dessert instead.

But don’t let that fool you—Arctic Zero desserts are cold, sweet, and creamy, giving you a lot of the ice cream vibes you love but with fewer calories. They’re also dairy-free and vegan, made from a fava bean base instead of cow’s milk. So, they’re a tasty treat that’s a bit different from your regular ice cream!

Arctic Zero Flavors

Here’s a list of the flavors offered by this brand:

• Classic Vanilla 
• Vanilla Latte
• Purely Chocolate 
• Strawberry Shortcake 
• Chocolate Peanut Butter 
• Salted Caramel
• Cookie Shake
• Pistachio 
• Hint of Mint 
• Cake Batter

Arctic Zero also offers deliciously flavored and healthy dessert bars that have way fewer calories than regular ice cream bars.

Halo Top vs Arctic Zero Ice Cream: A Comparison

So which is the better brand? There’s a lot to consider when choosing one over the other, and a lot of it has to do with personal preference. If your concern is fewer calories or the best flavor, your choice might differ. Halo Top and Arctic Zero are top low-calorie dessert brands that offer similar products. However, they both have their perks and quirks.

Calories 

• Halo Top has a wide range of low-calorie ice cream flavors with calorie counts ranging from 280 to 380 calories per ice cream pint. 
• Arctic Zero frozen dessert pints typically range from 150 to 300 calories per pint. 

The clear winner of this category is Arctic Zero. This brand generally provides way fewer calories than Halo Top.

Ingredients 

The distinguishing ingredient between these dessert brands is their food base. 

• Halo Top ice creams typically use low-fat or skim milk as their base
• Arctic Zero desserts have a fava bean and purifying water base.

Arctic Zero desserts are the clear winners of this category. These products provide both low-calorie and healthy treats as opposed to Halo Top ice creams, which are simply just low-calorie alternatives to regular ice cream.

Protein and Fat Content

• Halo Top typically has a higher protein content than Arctic Zero and contains significant amounts of fat. 
• Arctic Zero provides low-fat or non-fat desserts. 

Sweeteners

• Halo Top ice creams are sweetened with stevia leaf extract, a bit of cane sugar, and erythritol, a sugar alcohol found in fruits.
  • It’s important to note that the sugar alcohol erythritol in Halo Top can cause gas and bloating for some people. This traditional sugar substitute is mainly absorbed into the body before it reaches the colon, where it is most likely fermented. Although erythritol has no proven dangerous side effects that we know of, if you’re sensitive to it, you may have some digestive upset after having Halo Top ice cream.
• Arctic Zero desserts are sweetened with mostly cane sugar and some monk fruit. They mostly steer clear of sugar alcohols.

Taste and Texture 

• Halo Top has been able to replicate the rich taste and creamy texture of regular ice cream almost perfectly.
• Arctic Zero desserts, on the other hand, have a more icy and slightly slimy texture and a fairly flavorful, sweet taste. 

The difference in taste and texture is quite apparent between these two brands. When it comes to taste and texture, the winner of this category is quite clear: Halo Top. 

Product Diversity 

• Halo Top offers more than 17 ice cream flavors in nondairy, dairy, and Keto varieties. 
• Arctic Zero only offers nondairy frozen desserts in 10 flavors. 

Which Should You Choose?  

Both Halo Top and Arctic Zero are great low-calorie alternatives to traditional ice creams. Your choice between the two depends mostly on your preferences and sensitivities.

• Halo Top tastes more like regular ice cream than Arctic Zero and provides a wider range of diet-friendly products. It’s great for most ice cream lovers looking for a healthier substitute to quell their sweet tooth. However, compared to Arctic Zero, it does have a higher calorie and fat content, in addition to using dairy and sugar alcohols, which could cause digestive upset for sensitive folks. 
• Arctic Zero has fewer calories, is non-dairy, and is mostly free from sugar alcohols. However, it’s not as great at replicating that real ice cream flavor and has a very tapered taste. If you’re on a restrictive diet and lactose intolerant, Arctic Zero may be your best choice. They provide more health benefits than Halo Top ice creams and most probably wouldn’t cause bloating or make you gassy.

What Other Low-Calorie Ice Cream Brands Are Out There? 

There are lots of low-calorie ice cream and frozen dessert brands on the market besides Halo Top and Arctic Zero. Here’s an overview of a couple of the best ice cream alternatives you should try next time.

Nick’s Swedish Style

Nick’s Swedish-style ice creams are actually my top favorite sugar-free and keto diet ice creams—I actually prefer them over Halo Top! They taste like the real thing and are very low in calories. Nick’s is also high-protein and low-carb and comes in lots of fun flavors.

Nick’s secret is using EPG, a plant-based, low-calorie alternative to fat, which sets it apart from most of its competitors.

Additionally, plant-based whey protein is used in their milk base to make their ice cream creamier, low-calorie, and closer to the real deal.

Nick’s has flavors ranging from triple chocolate to cookie dough to birthday cake and everything in between. The only downsides are that it’s not cheap, and they do use sugar alcohols, which may cause digestive upset for sensitive folks. But I prefer to have no sugar in my ice cream!

Skinny Cow

Skinny Cow makes delicious low-fat ice cream bars and sandwiches. It’s not loaded with sugars and comes in full flavors to satisfy your taste buds. 

This brand’s treats are a good option for after-meal snacks and are relatively cheap to purchase.

Enlightened 

This diet ice cream brand was inspired by a healthy batch of high-protein ice cream treats made specially by its founder for his personal training signups. 

Enlightened desserts are known for being minimally sweet, keto-friendly, and flavor-packed. They’re just as popular as Halo Top and Arctic Zero due to their strong social media presence and quality products, particularly healthy ice cream. 

Some of the flavors this brand offers include dairy-free chocolate, almond macaron, cookie dough brownies, butter pecan, and more.

Yasso

Yasso is a healthy dessert brand that produces mainly yogurt bars and low-carb ice cream sandwiches. They use greek yogurt for added protein.

Favorite Day

Known for its high protein content and low-fat ice creams, Favorite Day is another dessert brand to check out.

Due to their high sugar content, their products are great for most types of diets, apart from keto, but they come nowhere close to the sugar levels in regular ice cream.