Braums is a popular fast food chain and dairy producer based in the midwest. They are known for their milk, ice cream, and frozen yogurt products. Many customers wonder if their frozen yogurt options are healthier than traditional ice cream. This article will compare the nutrition facts and ingredients between Braums frozen yogurt and ice cream to determine which dessert is the better option for your health.
Calorie Differences Between Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream
One of the biggest nutritional differences between frozen yogurt and ice cream is in the calorie content. Ice cream tends to have significantly more calories per serving compared to frozen yogurt.
For example, here are the calorie differences in some popular flavors from Braums:
| Frozen Yogurt Flavor | Calories per 1/2 cup |
|---|---|
| Braums Lowfat French Vanilla Frozen Yogurt | 100 |
| Braums Lowfat Strawberry Frozen Yogurt | 90 |
| Braums Lowfat Chocolate Frozen Yogurt | 110 |
| Ice Cream Flavor | Calories per 1/2 cup |
|---|---|
| Braums French Vanilla Ice Cream | 140 |
| Braums Strawberry Ice Cream | 130 |
| Braums Chocolate Ice Cream | 160 |
As you can see, the frozen yogurt options all contain significantly fewer calories per serving compared to the regular ice cream flavors. Just 1/2 cup of chocolate frozen yogurt has 110 calories, while the same serving of chocolate ice cream has 160 calories – 50 more calories!
This calorie difference is largely due to frozen yogurt containing less fat and air whipped into it than ice cream. The freezing process for ice cream incorporates more air into the dessert, which contributes to the higher calorie count. Frozen yogurt tends to be denser and lower-fat.
Sugar Content Comparison
Another big difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream is their sugar content. Regular ice cream tends to have substantially more sugar per serving than frozen yogurt.
Again, using Braums products as an example:
| Frozen Yogurt Flavor | Grams of Sugar per 1/2 cup |
|---|---|
| Braums Lowfat French Vanilla Frozen Yogurt | 10g |
| Braums Lowfat Strawberry Frozen Yogurt | 11g |
| Braums Lowfat Chocolate Frozen Yogurt | 12g |
| Ice Cream Flavor | Grams of Sugar per 1/2 cup |
|---|---|
| Braums French Vanilla Ice Cream | 15g |
| Braums Strawberry Ice Cream | 17g |
| Braums Chocolate Ice Cream | 18g |
The sugar content ranges from 5-7 grams higher in the regular ice cream flavors. This is because frozen yogurt relies more on fruit for sweetness, while ice cream has lots of added sugar. The higher sugar content in ice cream also contributes to its higher calorie count.
For people concerned about blood sugar spikes or limiting added sugars, frozen yogurt is the better choice over ice cream. Even though both are treats, frozen yogurt has less of an impact on blood sugar.
Nutritional Benefits of Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt contains more nutrients than ice cream, making it a healthier choice overall. Here are some of the key nutritional benefits of frozen yogurt:
– Higher protein – Frozen yogurt tends to contain more protein than ice cream. This helps keep you fuller for longer.
– More calcium – The yogurt contains active cultures and is enriched with calcium and vitamin D, providing a significant amount of these important nutrients. Ice cream has little to no calcium.
– Probiotics – The live and active cultures in yogurt provide probiotic benefits for digestion and gut health. Ice cream has no probiotics.
– Lower fat – Frozen yogurt is made with lowfat or fat-free milk and has about half the fat content of ice cream, or less. This leads to fewer calories and less saturated fat.
– Fewer chemicals – Since it has fewer additives like corn syrup, carrageenan and artificial flavors, frozen yogurt tends to have a “cleaner” ingredient list than ice cream.
Downsides of Frozen Yogurt
Although it’s generally a healthier option, a couple downsides of frozen yogurt compared to regular ice cream include:
– Less creamy – The lower fat content means frozen yogurt has a thinner, less creamy texture than ice cream. Some people prefer the richer mouthfeel of ice cream.
– Can be high in sugar – While frozen yogurt has less sugar than ice cream, some flavors still contain added sugars like cane sugar to make it taste sweet. Check the labels and choose low-sugar varieties.
– Higher cost – Due to its lower fat content and more ingredients like active cultures, frozen yogurt tends to be a bit more expensive than ice cream at most shops. It’s viewed as more of a premium product.
– Limited flavors – You’ll find more unique and indulgent flavors among ice cream options vs. frozen yogurt. Shops can get more creative with high-fat ice cream versus lower-fat frozen yogurt.
Braums Frozen Yogurt Nutrition Facts
Now let’s specifically look at the nutrition facts for Braums frozen yogurt flavors.
Braums uses a yogurt base instead of cream, resulting in a lower calorie, lower fat frozen dessert. Here are the nutrition facts for some of their popular frozen yogurt choices:
French Vanilla
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (66g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Sodium | 55mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 16g |
| Protein | 4g |
Strawberry
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (68g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90 |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Sodium | 55mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Protein | 3g |
Chocolate
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (70g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Total Fat | 3g |
| Sodium | 55mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 16g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, Braums frozen yogurt is low in fat, sodium and calories compared to regular ice cream. It provides more protein and less saturated fat. The chocolate flavor has 4g of fiber per serving as well.
Braums Ice Cream Nutrition Facts
For comparison, here are the nutrition facts for some classic Braums ice cream flavors:
French Vanilla
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (65g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 |
| Total Fat | 7g |
| Sodium | 50mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 15g |
| Protein | 3g |
Strawberry
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (65g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 |
| Total Fat | 7g |
| Sodium | 45mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 16g |
| Protein | 2g |
Chocolate
| Serving Size | 1/2 cup (67g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 160 |
| Total Fat | 9g |
| Sodium | 60mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 16g |
| Protein | 3g |
The ice cream clearly has more calories, fat, and sugar compared to the frozen yogurt. For example, the chocolate ice cream has 50 more calories and 6 more grams of fat than the chocolate frozen yogurt. The ice cream also lacks the protein, calcium, probiotics and vitamins found in the yogurt.
Braums Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream: Which is Healthier?
Based on the nutrition comparisons, Braums lowfat frozen yogurt is clearly the healthier choice over ice cream.
Here’s a quick recap of the main health advantages of their frozen yogurt:
- Fewer calories per serving
- Less fat and saturated fat
- Less sugar
- More protein for satiety
- Higher calcium for bone health
- Probiotics for digestive/gut benefits
- No artificial ingredients
While both frozen desserts should be enjoyed in moderation as a treat, there are clear nutritional benefits to choosing frozen yogurt over ice cream at Braums. Their frozen yogurt has about half the calories, half the fat, and more nutritious ingredients than their regular ice cream.
Just keep portion sizes in check, as it’s easy to overeat any frozen dessert! A 1/2 cup serving is a perfect amount when enjoying it as part of a balanced diet.
Tips for Making Frozen Yogurt Healthier
When ordering at Braums, there are also some easy ways to make your frozen yogurt even healthier:
- Opt for low-fat yogurt bases like lowfat vanilla or strawberry
- Choose fresh fruit as toppings instead of candies
- Ask for minimal swirl-ins and syrups which add more sugar
- Choose plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit
- Avoid toppings like granola or cookies that add more carbs, fat and calories
- Watch your portion size and stick to 1/2 cup
You can also boost the nutrition by:
- Adding nuts like almonds or walnuts for extra protein
- Sprinkling some chia seeds or wheat germ for fiber
- Drizzling with honey instead of chocolate sauce
With smart customizations and reasonable portions, Braums frozen yogurt can be an ideal cool, creamy treat for hot days!
The Bottom Line
When comparing Braums frozen yogurt and ice cream, the yogurt comes out on top nutritionally for less calories, fat, and sugar. Plus it packs nutrients like calcium, protein and probiotics. The frozen yogurt has around half the calories and fat that ice cream does per serving.
While both can be enjoyed in moderation, frozen yogurt is lower in calories, lower in sugar, and provides more nutritional value. It offers greater benefits for health-conscious consumers looking for a cool summertime treat. Just keep portion sizes in check and limit add-on toppings high in sugar and fat.
Overall, Braums’ frozen yogurt flavors are delicious options that are better for you than their regular ice cream when enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Frozen yogurt provides a lighter, nutrient-dense dessert during hot weather.