Is Frozen Yogurt Actually Healthier Than Ice Cream?

You Should Know: Frozen yogurt has had a health halo since the 1980s, and honestly, it’s not totally undeserved. Compared to ice cream, it’s lower in calories and fat, since it’s made with cultured low-fat milk instead of cream. Some versions also contain live and active bacterial cultures, which can be good for your gut (though how many actually survive the freezing process depends on the product).

Going Deeper: Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. To balance out the natural tanginess of frozen yogurt, manufacturers often add more sugar than you’d find in a comparable serving of ice cream. And the self-serve set-up at many froyo shops makes it easy to overdo it, since the average container holds 16 to 24 ounces before you’ve even approached the toppings bar.

Takeaway: How much you eat and what you pile on top of it probably matter more than whether you chose froyo in the first place. And if you’re craving ice cream but settle for frozen yogurt, you may just end up wanting both.

Bottom Line: Neither one is exactly a health food, so you might as well get what actually sounds good to you.