Are there really benefits of frozen yogurt as a dessert choice? Join me as I look into low calorie frozen yogurt, whether it actually contains probiotics, and discuss choices in toppings today.
Low Calorie Frozen Yogurt
Of course, a fresh pear or a handful of nuts and dried cherries would be a great choice to satisfy my sweet tooth. Sometimes I want something cold and creamy though. This is when I often turn to frozen yogurt (froyo).
Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt
One of the benefits of frozen yogurt is that it is lower in calories than ice cream (as long as you are mindful of toppings). Depending on the brand, it may also have some probiotic benefits. As long as you don't forget that frozen yogurt is a treat, it is a great choice.
Does Frozen Yogurt Have Probiotics?
I wondered whether frozen yogurt actually has any of the probiotic benefits of yogurt cultures. I did a little research, and got an answer.
Yes, some frozen yogurt does indeed provide probiotics. If the frozen yogurt says "active live cultures" on it, the product indeed contains real yogurt with live probiotics. In fact, it is required to contain a minimum of 10 million cultures per gram when packaged. The freezing process does not kill off all the beneficial bacteria, though some are lost. According to the National Yogurt Association (NYA), when yogurt is frozen...
the cultures go into a dormant state, but when eaten and returned to a warm temperature within the body, they again become active and are capable of providing all the benefits of cultures in a refrigerated yogurt product.
Frozen Yogurt Toppings
Of course, if you cover a serving of frozen yogurt with a handful of candy, it loses it lower calorie benefits. If you want to get that froyo shop experience of adding toppings to your frozen yogurt, then I suggest sticking with fresh sliced fruit and nuts.
Other Light Serving Suggestions
Serving your frozen yogurt on grilled fruit such as a peach or banana is also a fun choice. Try making an ice cream "sandwich" between graham crackers. A standard cone is not a bad serving choice either. A typical ice cream cone has between 20 and 50 calories depending on type and brand. It harkens back to childhood, and not having a dish to wash after does have obvious appeal.
Frozen Yogurt Bark
Another way to get the probiotic benefits of yogurt in a frozen for is to make a homemade yogurt bark. Make sure to purchase yogurt that contains probiotics or make your own yogurt.
Choosing a Frozen Yogurt?
When choosing a frozen yogurt, check for Live & Active cultures on the label to ensure you are getting probiotics in the product. If this is not on the label there is no guarantee there are any.
While the calories may be a bit lower in frozen yogurt, it is still often loaded with sugar or substitutes. Be mindful of the ingredients list.
Taylor Hansen says
Thanks for mentioning how frozen yogurt has fewer calories than ice cream and also has some probiotic benefits. I'm currently on a diet, however, frozen treats and ice cream are my absolute weakness. I appreciate the helpful information in this article and I'll be sure to find some good frozen yogurt to have on hand when the sweet tooth kicks in.