The Best Healthy Ice Cream Brands You Can Buy

Whether you're looking for no added sugar, low-calorie, or high-protein ice cream, these are the pints for you.

woman eating healthy ice cream pint out of the freezer

Perusing the ice cream aisle can feel like a chore when you're looking for a healthy pint that is worth the price. Below, find a guide to the best low-calorie, high-protein, and low-sugar healthy ice creams so you know which to spend your $$$ on.

01 of 08

Nick's Ice Cream

If you love trying to pronounce the Swedish names of Ikea products, you'll find similar excitement with the flavor options from Nick's Ice Cream — only these you'll be able to get right (think: Hazelnöt Kräm, Swedish Vanilj, Rocky Fjord, Peanöt Choklad Chip). The brand offers Swedish-style light ice cream in over two dozen flavors, including seasonal specialties and creamy vegan pints.

With 230 to 370 calories per pint (with many falling below the 300-calorie mark), plenty of fiber, and no added sugar, you've met your new favorite frozen dessert. Plus, each of Nick's flavors has 3 to 6 grams of protein per serving — so triple that per whole pint. Want even more protein tha a single serving can offer? Opt for one of the brand's ice cream sandwiches, which boast 8 grams each.

02 of 08

Halo Top

halo top healthy ice cream
Halo Top

If you've been on Instagram anytime in the last few years, you've likely seen Halo Top on your feed. This social-sensation brand uses organic stevia and erythritol (a sugar alcohol that's not supposed to affect blood glucose or cause bloating) to create sweet, creamy desserts that clock in at only 280 to 360 calories per pint. Their collection now boasts a keto-friendly ice cream series, dairy-free offerings, pops, sorbets, and more, allowing vegans and lactose-intolerant ice cream fans to get in on the hype too.

03 of 08

Keto Pint

As you may have guessed, Keto Pint products are keto-friendly, but on top of that, the ice creams are all formulated without added sugars, artificial sweeteners, or any traces of gluten, plus they're certified kosher. Keto Pint offers a variety of delicious, creamy flavors, from Triple Chocolate Brownie to Butter Pecan to Cake Batter — and depending on your flavor of choice, you'll get up to 8 grams of protein per serving. And if you're into counting net carbs, each serving has three grams or less of 'em.

04 of 08

Two Spoons Ice Cream

Two Spoons is an LGBTQ+-owned brand based in Los Angeles, hand-making each batch of ice cream using local dairy products. With every pint purchased, the company donates a meal to a person in need via No Kid Hungry. If those facts weren't enough to persuade you to try a pint, look to the nutrition facts. There are 6 net carbs or less in any given pint, which is great news for anyone who's aiming to stick to a keto diet. You'll also get 3 to 5 grams of protein per serving, depending on which variety you grab, making it a fairly high-protein ice cream.

Oh, and the flavors? There are eight delicious options to choose from: Caramel Swirl, Strawberries & Cream, Rocky Road, Coffee Toffee, Vanilla Bean, Mint Chip, Chocolate, and Fudgy Brownie. If your mouth is watering, wait until you find out about the generous helpings of handmade mix-ins swirled into most of the flavors.

05 of 08

Arctic Zero Light Ice Cream

arctic zero healthy ice cream
Arctic Zero

Even if you weren't a fan of Arctic Zero's original lactose-free ice cream alternative, you need to give their dairy-free and certified plant-based healthy ice creams a shot. Made from a faba bean base, these pints contain no sugar alcohols, are non-GMO, have a low glycemic index, are gluten-free, and are keto- and kosher-friendly. You can grab pints in eight flavors, including Classic Vanilla, Pistachio, Cookie Shake, Purely Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Hint of Mint, and Cake Batter.

06 of 08

Must Love

Must Love, created by two lactose intolerant best friends, makes creamy banana- or oat milk–based ice creams that taste better than that leftover banana "nice" cream in your freezer — and might even one-up your fave pint that's made with cow's milk. Plus, every ingredient is non-GMO and all-natural, and the sugar in each scoop is almost entirely sourced from fruits (think: dates, coconut). Each serving packs just 180 calories or less, and the options made from bananas offer a solid 3 to 4 grams of fiber. If you want to go all-out, grab some Must Love plant-based sprinkles.

07 of 08

Enlightened

enlightened low-calorie high-protein ice cream
Enlightened

Enlightened crowns itself the best-of-the-best in healthy ice cream, logging even fewer calories, fewer grams of sugar and fat, and more protein and fiber than other healthy ice cream brands. Their flavors ring in at just 130 to 230 calories per serving. Sweetened with zero-calorie erythritol and packed with fiber from corn, Enlightened promises not to spike blood sugar. (Bonus: They offer cheesecakes, dough bites, and ready-to-bake cookies too.)

08 of 08

Fairlife Ice Cream

You've definitely seen Fairlife's cute cow mascot smiling at you in the milk aisle, but did you know the brand also makes yummy high-protein ice cream? A serving of any Fairlife ice cream flavor boasts at least 8 grams of protein, making it a great option when you want to maintain those #gains. Fairlife's ice creams are also lactose-free and promise up to 30 percent less sugar than leading competitors. Another plus? A serving of any of these healthy ice cream flavors offers up between 8 and 10 grams of protein.

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