Packed with vitamin C, manganese, and fiber, the sweet-tasting strawberry is the latest addition to our list of superfoods.
Login
Frozen Yogurt vs. Sorbet – The Greatist Debate
They’re both creamy, icy, and delicious, but it’s a rough battle between these two frozen treats. While history favors the scoop-able sorbet, these days it’s seemingly all about the funky frozen swirls known as Fro-Yo. But which is the healthier choice?
Meet The Competitors
When Fro-Yo first hit the scene in the 1980s, it was billed as a healthier-than-ice-cream treat. In the last few years, though, frozen yogurt has come to reference a more tart, twisty variety (thanks to chains like Pinkberry and Red Mango now booming from coast to coast). Among Fro-Yo 2.0’s healthiest stats: it uses actual yogurt instead of cream or milk as the base, which reduces calorie and fat content. And with its live, active yogurt cultures, frozen yogurt packs a healthy dose of digestion-aiding probiotics [1] [2].
A tradition dating back to ancient Rome, sorbet has traditionally been served as a palette cleanser between dinner courses (fancy, we know!). A mixture of 70-80 percent fruit, water, and sugar churned until smooth, most sorbet flavors (except for the occasional chocolate and coconut) are dairy and fat free. And while it’s been around for centuries, the pre-packaged pints from the grocery store are far from the original product, which began as a simple mixture of snow and fruit puree or juice.
The Decision
For the waistline-conscious, frozen yogurt wins this frostbitten battle, containing roughly 35 fewer calories and 12 grams less sugar than sorbet per 4-ounce serving. But while Fro-Yo might be the lighter treat, remember it’s still a Greatist dangerfood because of the potential for large portion sizes that can quickly rack up empty calories. Plus, the dairy content can make it a no-go for those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies, while sorbet is usually dairy free. And though sorbet touts some added antioxidants from real fruit, frozen yogurt’s digestion-boosting bacteria and lower-calorie makeup are pretty tough to beat. Maybe this explains why we haven’t seen the same influx of sorbet chains around the globe (and on a nearby street corner).
Works Cited
- Should yoghurt cultures be considered probiotic? Guarner, F., Perdigon, G., Corthier, G., et al. Digestive System Research Unit, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. British Journal of Nutrition 2005 Jun; 93(6): 783-6.⤴
- Probiotics and their fermented food products are beneficial for health. Parvez, S., Malik, K.A., Ah Kang, S., et al. University, and Department of Biological Sciences of Oriental Medicine, Graduate School of Interdepartmental Studies, Institute of Oriental Medicines, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2006 Jun; 100(6): 1171-85.⤴
Related Posts
Sports and exercise improves quality of life and unifies communities. For these incredible charities, it also brings hope to the hearts of many, providing sanctuary from a world that isn’t always so easy to face.
They're good for more than just ketchup and salsa. We rounded up seven of the most unusual tomato tips and uses to get the most out of this super fruit.
Not a member? Sign up now!
Comments Leave a comment
Yogurt - Sorbet - it's a toss-up. I'm a very health conscious person. But when I crave a treat, i head to the local Ice Cream Shoppe and order a cone. It's satisfying, ends the cravings for at least a week, and i don't gain any weight. Now if I was to eat yogurt or sorbet or make my own icey slush, I'd never be satisfied and I'd continue to ingest until I had too much of whatever particular "bad element" whichever treat is famous for.
This sorta reminds me of the big fat guy, always watching his diet, but constantly chugging 2 liter bottles of "diet cola," which ends up threatening his health more than a single 16oz bottle of THIRST-QUENCHING real cola would! Eat and treat smartly, folks!
Frozen yogurt is way better.
It's really depend on the flavour of the sorbet but for the me sorbet wins
Thank you for clearing this up for me! I am basically addicted to the local yogurt shop in my town, Sweet CeCe's. They offer a lot of different flavors but they always have a sorbet too. I figured the sorbet was healthier and felt guilty getting my "flavorite" yogurt! Now I don't have to feel guilty anymore!
Also, I love this site because you include a works cited section. That is unheard of on the net and why there is so much misinformation out there. Awesome job.
I'm with Jojo - Sorbet wins. I *love* ice cream, and frozen yogurt does not even come close in most cases. However, the real fruity deliciousness of a good sorbet is completely different than ice cream, and satisfies different taste buds as well. I crave both equally.
Nice work!