Frozen Treats: The Healthiest Picks for Hot Days

The grocery store is packed with a countless assortment of frozen delights. Load up your own freezer with the healthiest of the choices.

The majority of the foods in the ice cream aisle have more calories and fat than the traditional treats from 20-30 years ago. These days, you can easily have a frozen ice cream snack of up to 500 calories, compared to the more simple treats in that same freezer that range from 45 to 170 calories. On the upside, the number of non-ice cream frozen bars has jumped dramatically and many of them contain real fruit.

Helpful Hints
Here are few tips for frozen treats that will fit into your own healthy eating guidelines:

• Think Mini — The 100-calorie or smaller packaging trend that hit the cookie and cracker aisles has also come to the frozen food aisle. There are many smaller or mini-sized choices now that come with substantial calorie and fat savings.
• Try Half — More than a handful of the bar or pop treats list two bars as a serving. But there is nothing wrong with eating just one. It's a cool, sweet way to get a treat without going overboard.
• Skip the Ice Cream — Between Popsicles, Creamsicles and Fruit Bars, there is no shortage of treats that are not based on ice cream. And don't forget frozen yogurt. Still loaded with great taste, these make lower calorie, fat and sugar alternatives.