With the mercury rising to stroking heights, a tub of ice cream is the one guilty pleasure that men, women and children will be indulging in. Women, who can’t seem to find enough guilt-free food, may turn to the other popular cold dessert: frozen yoghurt, thinking it to be a healthier alternative to ice cream. Here’s the bubble-breaker: the same amount of ice cream and frozen yoghurt, both ideally having milk and sugar and fat, technically will cost you the same number of calories. As you’re likely to colour your fro-yo with a variety of tempting toppings, you’ll probably add much more calories to the yoghurt than you would consume in one scoop of ice-cream. But then, it’s not always about the calories; which option is healthier? How to choose between the two?

With such a huge market for desserts in Karachi, one has to wonder and thoroughly explore the choices available. Should one have a scoop of the ever-growing array of ice cream flavours or the apparent healthy alternative of frozen yogurt? Well let’s just say that there are some myths and facts about both; read on before you decide what your guilty pleasure will be!

Myth: ‘Fro-yo’ is healthier’

Fact: So there is some truth to this. Whilst frozen yogurt may be a healthier alternative to ice cream, the amount of mix-ins could make it equally bad for you if not worse. Most of us tend to splurge and cheat a little and mix in those devilishly divine chocolate chunks and what not, while not realizing the amount of saturated fats and empty calories that were just added.

Learn to curb back on the enthusiasm. The next time frozen yogurt is on the cards, go for the healthier options of toppings like fresh fruits. After all, who minds a delicious, healthy fro-yo topped with fresh pineapples, kiwis or even watermelon! This can be a great substitute for lunch.

Myth:‘ Ice Cream is just made of ice, milk, and all the natural goodness available’

Fact:  Let’s just say that no ice cream is just made of its namesake. With so many additives, sweeteners and preservatives added to ensure a long shelf life and a ‘real’ authentic taste, ice cream sold in packaging is literally empty calories. Very rarely can one find ice cream that is actually authentic and made with good ingredients. And most commercially popular varieties of ice cream are not even made from milk, which is why they are now legally refered to as ‘frozen desserts’. Read the label before you indulge.

That said there are some healthy and wholesome alternatives available, especially if you can afford the superior gelato. Be it the moderately priced ice-cream from Lal’s, or the hand churned Peshawari style ice cream offered locally, one can be sure that they tend to be more pure.

Myth: ‘Chocolate Ice cream is made of chocolate’

Fact: The truth is, chocolate ice cream is as real as a Louis Vuitton bag from Thailand! Like the latter, one can expect more essences than the true flavor. Like the use of vanilla essence instead of pure vanilla pods, chocolate based flavours tend to be made out of chocolate-based essences, which use caffeine as a substitute. Now you know why there’s a sugar rush after eating ice cream!

Verdict: While both ice cream and frozen yogurt has its pros and cons, going for a healthy cup of frozen yogurt is definitely the better albeit pricier option. Yoghurt will keep you fresh throughout the day and the probiotic qualities of yogurt keep the body relaxed and the stomach content. Fro-Yo definitely has our vote!