Best and worst ice cream choices: Expert tips on what to avoid
As the warmer days arrive, we eagerly reach for ice cream. The choice is vast, with numerous coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and stands offering a wide variety, not to mention the options in store freezers. So how do we choose the best, the healthiest, and what should we avoid? An expert explains.
7:11 PM EDT, June 7, 2024
On a stick, in a cup, Italian or scooped? From an ice cream parlor, a coffee shop, or a small stand from a friendly vendor? The choice isn't easy, especially when considering price, taste, quality, and potential health impact. Clinical dietitian Karolina Topolska addresses all doubts on the portal zywienie.medonet.pl.
What is the healthiest ice cream? What ice cream should you avoid?
The dietitian explains that when choosing products, attention should be paid to their ingredients. The longer the list, the worse it is. Store ice creams contain large amounts of simple sugars and additives such as colorings, stabilizers, and preservatives. She adds that an alternative is to make ice cream at home, providing full knowledge about the ingredients used.
Ice cream from parlors or coffee shops is also an option, but once again, the ingredient list is crucial (you can ask the seller for information about the ingredients of ice creams available for sale). The dietitian advises choosing venues offering artisanal products instead of those based on ready-made factory mixes. It's also worth considering sorbets.
"To sum up, homemade ice cream is a great idea. However, do not dismiss products from recommended ice cream parlors. The key is to pay attention to the nutritional composition of the ice cream and keep it as simple as possible. Of course, moderation in consumption is also essential," concludes the specialist.
What to pay attention to when buying ice cream: A sanitary guide
- It's best to choose ice cream from small manufacturers made with eggs, milk, cream, and fruits rather than ready-made mixes in powder form.
- An employee selling automatic or scooped ice cream should wear protective gloves. Ice cream should be served in untampered plastic or cardboard packaging or a wafer cone through a napkin.
- Avoid ice cream with unnatural colors and improper consistency, such as distorted or too soft.
- Do not buy ice cream that appears to have been stored at too high a temperature.
- When buying automatic or scooped ice cream, avoid those with clearly visible frozen water lumps. Their appearance may result from thawing and refreezing, posing a health risk, and they should not be consumed.
- It's worth knowing that you always have the right to ask the seller for information about the ice cream ingredients and potential allergens. For our health's sake, the employee is obliged to provide the necessary information.
