Frozen aisles are often the final pit stop before hitting the grocery checkout, and there’s no shortage of ice-cold sweet treats. Many decisions exist on which icy cold treat to pick, whether dairy-based or plant-based. While you try to choose, you may wonder if frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream. “People tend to think since frozen yogurt is made from yogurt, it must be healthier,” says Alex Oskian, M.S., RDN at Working Against Gravity. In this article, we’ll give you the scoop on frozen yogurt, ice cream and which is a healthier choice for you, according to dietitians. 

Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream Nutrition

Consider frozen yogurt and ice cream to be distant cousins. While they’re related, they have some differences. Depending on the brand, frozen yogurt often has fewer calories than most ice cream brands. Many recognize frozen yogurt has less fat than regular ice cream and may choose “froyo” instead.  As for protein and carbohydrates, the icy duo has similar amounts. However, some types of frozen yogurt may offer more protein, especially if it’s made of Greek yogurt versus regular yogurt. 

Ice cream takes the cake for higher vitamin B12, an essential vitamin that helps your body produce energy and supports brain and nerve health. Both desserts offer similar amounts of calcium to help build and sustain strong bones.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the nutrition of a half-cup of vanilla frozen yogurt and a half-cup of regular vanilla ice cream, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.

Serving: 1/2 cup	Frozen yogurt, vanilla	Ice cream, vanilla
Calories	114	140
Total carbohydrates (g)	17	16
Protein (g)	3	2
Total sugars	17	14
Total fat (g)	4	7
Saturated fat (g)	2.5	4.5
Cholesterol (mg)	1	29
Fiber (g)	0	0.5
Sodium (mg)	63	53
Calcium (mg )(%DV)	103 (8%)	85 (7%)
Phosphorus (mg )(%DV)	93 (7%)	69 (6%)
Vitamin B12 (mcg) (%DV)	0.2 (9%)	0.26 (11%)

What’s The Difference Between Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream? 

Processing Methods

Making frozen yogurt and ice cream are similar processes, with slight differences. “They both start with pasteurizing a dairy base to eliminate harmful substances. Frozen yogurt uses yogurt cultures and needs to undergo a fermentation process to thicken the mixture and develop the distinct tartness of the product. Then it undergoes chilling, churning and freezing until the desired flavor, texture and consistency are right,” says Catherine Gervacio, BHSc, RND. “Ice cream, on the other hand, is rapidly cooled after pasteurization. It is then kept in a freezer for a few hours to allow flavors to blend in. Then, it undergoes churning and freezing for the final product,” says Gervacio.

Key Ingredients

“Frozen yogurt‘s key ingredients include milk solids, some milk fat, yogurt cultures and sugar or a sugar alternative. Ice cream’s key ingredients include cream, milk, sugar and flavors,” says Oskian. One stand-out difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream is the fat content from its milk source. “Frozen yogurt is made with cultured milk, and ice cream with cream,” says Oskian. Generally, regular ice cream provides more total fat than frozen yogurt.“For ice cream to be called ice cream, it must have at least 10% milk fat. Frozen yogurt can have anywhere from 2-6% milk fat. Despite that, both can contain similar calories,” says Oskian.

While the fat in frozen yogurt and ice cream contributes to their satisfying tastes, fat can’t take all the credit for their flavors. It’s called a sweet tooth for a reason. “Frozen yogurt often contains more added sugar for a few reasons: to improve the mouth feel of the product, to help offset the tangy flavor of yogurt and to provide more flavor since the fat content is lower,” says Oskian.

Presence of Probiotics

When scanning the freezer section for the right frozen sweet, there’s another factor which may encourage people to pick up a carton of frozen yogurt. “Some frozen yogurt brands include probiotics, which are not commonly found in ice cream. Probiotics are live microorganisms that help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, aid in the body’s defense against harmful pathogens, assist in the digestion of lactose and reduce gut inflammation caused by some gastrointestinal disorders,” says Yendi Caraballo Lopez, M.S., RDN, LD, CNSC, Director of Nutrition Systems at Morrison Healthcare. 

A common misconception is that all frozen yogurt varieties include probiotics, but this isn’t necessarily true. “Always check the product label to see if there are ‘active and live’ strains of probiotics,” says Oskian.

Which Is Healthier: Frozen Yogurt Or Ice Cream? 

The short answer is: it just depends on how they’re made, what ingredients are in them and how that aligns with your health goals. Frozen yogurt and ice cream are both sources of calories, carbohydrates (including added sugars), protein and vitamins and minerals. Their major differences come down to their fat, added sugar and probiotics. Regular ice cream is richer in fat while frozen yogurt has more added sugar. If you’re watching your fat intake or added sugar intake, that may help guide which is a better choice for you. Frozen yogurt may have probiotics which may offer health benefits to your gut health “But, do make sure that the frozen yogurt that you are consuming says it contains active and live cultures. Not all products are created equal! So, we encourage you to be a savvy shopper and look at what you are buying,” says Oksian.

Keep in mind that when you go out for soft-serve frozen yogurt, its nutrition profile can quickly change with the serving size and adding more ingredients. With just a pull of a lever, you can unload an oversized cup of sweet, tangy soft-serve, and next, you’re piling on the toppings. “The toppings are often where people can go overboard. Toppings such as chocolate or caramel sauce, nuts, sprinkles and candy can quickly add more [added] sugar and excess calories,” says Nicole Ibarra RDN, LDN.

How To Include Frozen Yogurt And Ice Cream In Healthy Ways

Ultimately, frozen yogurt and ice cream can fit into a healthy eating pattern, and the choice is delicious but also personal. “I recommend people consume the sweet treat they prefer because restriction increases cravings,” says Katie Schimmelpfenning, RD, Founder of Eat Swim Win referring to a 2020 study in Current Nutrition Reports. “If you are craving ice cream and eat frozen yogurt, but your ice cream desire persists, you will likely feel unsatisfied and finish feeling like you need more. I’d rather someone eat a serving of ice cream and enjoy it than needing three times as much froyo to try and satisfy an ice cream craving and vice versa!” 

She shares some tips on topping your iced confection with nutrients. “Adding toppings to either ice cream or frozen yogurt gives you the opportunity to boost your dessert cup with vitamins, antioxidants and fiber from fruits and filling fats and crunch from nuts!” says Schimmelpfenning.

Other healthy frozen yogurt and ice cream toppings may include:

• Shredded coconut and pineapple
• Pistachios and sliced bananas
• Hemp seeds and chopped strawberries
• Chia seeds and raspberry jam
• Peanut butter drizzle and mini dark chocolate chips

“To help make a healthier version of ice cream or frozen yogurt, you can create your own homemade ice cream or frozen yogurt. I would suggest using Greek yogurt as a base for your homemade version because it has plenty of protein. You can use this with a home appliance like a blender and freeze it,” says Ibarra. 

Our 5-star-rated Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream will be a hit in your home, with fewer calories and fat per serving than many store-bought brands. Plus, you can customize the flavors to your liking. And try our Granola & Yogurt Breakfast Popsicles for a refreshing and flavorful bite that’s nourishing enough for a morning meal. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is frozen yogurt easier on your stomach than ice cream?  

People with lactose intolerance or sensitivity may have difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar that’s naturally found in milk and milk products. Frozen yogurt could be a good alternative to regular ice cream because undergoing fermentation lowers the lactose it contains. For problem-free digestion, your best bet may be to pick a lactose-free frozen yogurt or ice cream brand.

2. Does frozen yogurt have more sugar than ice cream?  

Sometimes, frozen yogurt may have more added sugar than ice cream to make up for lower amounts of fat that remove some of its flavor. It also has a tangy taste, and sugar can help curb its intensity. Generally, it just depends on the brand of frozen yogurt.

3. Is eating ice cream every day OK? 

For some, eating dessert every day  may seem over-the-top, but ice cream can fit into a balanced eating plan. Depending on the type of ice cream, you may be getting more calcium, more protein and a healthier relationship with food by intuitively eating ice cream without restricting yourself. 

The Bottom Line

Nutritionally, frozen yogurt may have more added sugar, while ice cream could contain more fat. The decision on which one is right for you may come down to nutrients, existing health conditions or personal taste preferences. That said, no matter which one you take a spoonful of, know that both frozen sweets can fit into a balanced diet when eaten in moderation.