Tag: Dietary Restrictions

Issues About Ice Cream

If you love ice cream, making choices that are right for you often involves more than your personal preference of flavor and style. As ice cream companies now manufacture and sell an increasingly-large range of ice cream products, it is helpful to know the differences between these products. Some ice cream products are simply better for you than others; and you may want to take these factors into consideration whether or not you have any dietary restrictions or weight-loss issues which directly affect you. Being a well-informed consumer is the best way to go about this, and it will provide for more healthy choices as well as more enjoyment of the ice creams that you select.

If you have the need to reduce the amount of sugar that you consume, you may be interested in knowing the difference between “no sugar added” and “sugar free.” Some people do not even realize that there is a difference, and the difference is not markedly clear on most ice cream packaging. These terms do not mean the same thing. The difference between sugar free and no sugar added is really quite simple, but unfortunately many consumers are not aware of it. No sugar added only means that there was no sugar added to the ice cream during its production; the sugar content from the original ingredients, however, remains in the final product.

For a product to be labeled sugar free, however, the requirement is that the product have no more than .5 grams of sugar per serving. This is difficult with a product such as ice cream, for many of the ingredients which are in ice cream contain their own natural sugars. The sugar free status is hardest to achieve in ice creams which contain fruit or nuts, for both are quite high in their own natural sugar content. Even the basic ingredients needed to produce ice cream contain natural sugar. Some ice cream manufacturers are currently working on methods to improve their sugar free ice creams, in order for these products to remain healthy while not sacrificing taste and quality.

An important consideration for those on weight-loss diets is that the calorie content itself of fat-free, lowfat, and light ice creams is not significantly different from the more standard styles. These designations are more relevant to those who specifically have dietary restrictions on their fat intake.

The standards by which these differences are determined begin with the requirement that ice creams which are labeled light or reduced fat must have a lower fat content than the regular style. Both have a higher fat content than products which can be labeled low-fat. As cream, the main ingredient in regular ice creams, has a very high concentration of fat, it is difficult to produce ice cream with a very low or nonexistent fat content; doing so generally places it in the category of ice milk.

Although ice cream in its natural state is a dairy food that is rich in calcium, those with a special dietary interest or health concern may wish to consider ice creams which are fortified with calcium. This would be a good choice for children and teens whose teeth and bones are still developing, and for women who have a concern or family history of osteoporosis. Although calcium fortified ice creams may tend to be a bit more expensive than the regular varieties, the longterm health benefits to choosing calcium fortified ice cream are well worth it.

Ice cream is no longer as simple as it used to be. But becoming informed about the differences in the many choices which are available to day is the best step toward making healthy choices.

Ice Cream Today

What is happening and new in the world of ice cream? As companies continuously strive to improve their products, and to make them more appealing to customers, much goes on behind the scenes to generate such improvements. Everything from taste, packaging, and numerous factors for the health-conscious are frequently scrutinized, debated, and changed, to keep up with the times and to generate the most sales.

The majority of customers would not be pleased if the only ice cream available to them was the original version first brought to America by Thomas Jefferson. The majority of customers would also not be pleased if ice cream companies did not present them with any flavor varieties, no provisions for customers with dietary restrictions or weight-loss issues, or even a basic choice in whether one prefers ice cream in a cone or a bar. When it comes to consumers, most do not want a “one size fits all,” but rather an extensive range of choices in the products they purchase.

One of the most important factors influencing choice is that of health concerns. No longer a product which is off-limits to many for this reason, ice cream is now being produced with two factors which were not available in ice cream’s early days. First, ice cream is now being produced which takes into consideration various health concerns. Second, ice cream is now being made in ways which promote better health for its customers in general.

An improvement to ice cream which has had positive effects on the most people has been the alterations to one of ice cream’s main ingredients: sugar. The subject of sugar is very important to those with certain health conditions, most notably diabetics. As a person who has diabetes must pay close attention to his or her intake of sugars, ice cream used to be one of the many treats which was completely off-limits. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. Ice cream manufacturers now produce a nice range of ice creams which allow diabetics to enjoy this product while at the same time safeguarding their health.

In addition to ice cream made especially for diabetic consumers, the sugar subject is also often of interest to those who have weight-loss goals. While sugar itself is not nearly as disastrous to weight-loss diets as many previously believed, ice cream manufacturers take this issue into consideration and make ice creams which are sugar-free, as well as no-sugar-added products. Keeping their ice cream customers happy has accounted for sugar being replaced by numerous sweeteners and substitutes. One which is currently favored is aspartame.

As many customers also wish to limit their intake of fat, ice cream is now produced which will aid in this factor also. Whether one is on a controlled-fat diet for health reasons, or simply a matter of choice, ice cream companies now produce a wide range of tasty low-fat ice creams which provide both the health benefits and variety that will make all of their ice cream fans happy. No longer having to cut ice cream out of their diets, or settle for less-enjoyable substitutes, consumers are being presented with more and more healthy ice creams from which they can choose.

Not content with merely making ice cream better, those in charge of its production wish to make it the best. Unlike the early days of ice cream, or even just a few decades ago, where what you saw was what you got, many ice creams are now being fortified with extra calcium, and research is being done to find what other improvements can be made. For ice cream fans, it is good to know that ice cream producers are constantly seeking ways to improve their products to make ice cream accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Comparing Ice Creams

There are so many brands, flavors and styles of ice cream available that it may be difficult to decide which ones you want to buy. If you do some comparison-shopping in advance, it will assist you in making the purchases that are best suited to your own personal tastes, lifestyle, and economy.

If you crave both simplicity and variety, Baskin-Robbins is an excellent place to find both. Currently having nearly three thousands stores in the United States, you are sure to find something to your liking amongst their famous “31 flavors.” Baskin-Robbins has twenty-one permanent flavors, eleven seasonal flavors, and two flavors-of-the-month. In addition to their most popular ice cream cones of one, two , or three scoops Baskin-Robbins also sells shakes, sherbets, ices, and wonderful custom-made ice cream cakes. For customers who have dietary restrictions, Baskin-Robbins also offers lowfat and no sugar added ice creams. Baskin-Robbins is definitely one of the best brands of ice cream.

When great taste and whimsy meet, the result is Ben and Jerry’s. You may already have a favorite Ben and Jerry’s favorite amongst their best-sellers, such as Chunky Monkey, Cherry Garcia, or Peanut Butter Cup; or you might like to try one of their new styles, such as Cinnamon Buns, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Banana Split. Ben and Jerry’s also sells their most popular flavors in the form of cool, frosty milk beverages. Raspberry Chocolate Chunk, Strawberries and Cream, Phish Food, and Chocolate Cookie Dough are also available in light varieties. Currently, Ben and Jerry’s also manufactures four organic ice creams.

Rare is the person who has tried and not automatically loved Moose Tracks! Moose Tracks, whose popularity nearly rivals that of vanilla, is made by the Denali ice cream company. As variety is what makes and keeps happy customers, Denali sells Moose Tracks ice cream in eight different styles, including one which has no sugar added. In addition to their famous Moose Tracks, they manufacture more than thirty other flavors, plus ice cream bars and ice cream pies. Moose Tracks ice cream is definitely not an acquired preference, for you will most likely choose it over any other ice cream once you have tried it.

Dreyer’s ice cream, which is sold in some parts of the United States as Edy’s ice cream, has something for everyone. Dreyer’s premium Grand ice cream sports thirty continuous styles of ice cream, cones, and bars, as well as limited edition flavors. They have sixteen slow-churned, no sugar added, light ice creams, as well as light ice cream bars in Vanilla Almond, Cookies and Cream, Creamy Vanilla, and Vanilla with Nestle Crunch coating. If you like your ice cream packed with extras, Dreyer’s Loaded comes in Butterfinger and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, amongst others. They also carry nine delicious flavors of fruit bars, and six sherbets, including orange cream and tropical rainbow.

Located in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, the Hood ice cream company was established in 1846. Without a doubt, Hood ice cream is one of the very best! If basic great taste is what you are seeking, you need not look any further than the Hood brand for ice cream. Hood ice cream is not about pretentious, fancy, or modern, but instead focuses on simple, time-honored goodness. Hood ice cream comes in fifteen classic flavors including Holiday Eggnog, Spumoni, and the vanilla and chocolate checkerboard known as Patchwork. You can also find such unique ice creams as Boston Crme Pie, Martha’s Vineyard Black Raspberry, Mystic Lighthouse Mint, Vermont Maple Nut, and others in Hood’s New England Creamery Ice Cream.

There are many ice cream manufacturers in the United States. Some distribute their ice creams nationwide, while some only sell their products in specific locations. But these are some of the finest, and amongst them you will certainly find one or more ice creams that suits your liking!