Much like Schwarzenegger and DeVito in that one ' 80s movie , the actor’s line " healthy " and " ice pick " do n’t seem to make much signified together . But now , thanks to three brands of ice ointment – Enlightened , Arctic Zero , and Halo Top – there is a mode to run through the icy stuff without give your wellness . Each makes real - tidy sum dry pint of ice cream , just like the mass - market producers atBen & Jerry ’s , except these are grim - bread , mellow - fibre , high - protein , low - carb , and … astonishingly delectable .
Below , we taste - tasted four feeling from each of these good - for - you ice creams , ranked the brands against each other in deign order of magnitude , and then ranked their respective smell within that . A ranking within a ranking .
Disclaimer : This is not a limited review of dairy farm - free ice emollient , since we did that already . So far , these three sword are the only across the country available low - saccharide , high - fiber , high - protein pint . Yes , Edy ’s and Breyers produce no - cabbage - summate shabu cream , but their recipes admit maltitol sirup , which can have a laxative effect . We ’ll pass on that , pun intended . And Skinny moo-cow would ’ve been in the running , but it does n’t produce dry pint , which is a real pity .
Sara Norris/Thrillist
3. Arctic Zero
Like the protein stimulate all the cool people at your gymnasium drink from comically large receptacles , Arctic Zero ’s pints all have whey protein concentrate as an ingredient . Unlike those protein shakes , purified pee is the first element in all its pint , which make it less creamy and more icy than the other two stigma I try on . Fun fact : it ’s also lactose - free .
IV . Banana PuddingThis tastes like the scratch - and - sniff banana tree paster I plastered all over my bed when I was a nestling . The vanilla wafer crumbles were a highlight , but not good enough to overwhelm the banana ’s artificial feel .
III . Chocolate Peanut ButterThere ’s a peanut butter cup picture on the dry pint , which is part of the problem here . You ca n’t put the idea of a Reese ’s in my head and then not save Reese’s - level coffee - and - peanut butter tone . The aftertaste is n’t bad – there are some stronger groundnut butter / chocolate notes – but there ’s hardly any flavor when it ’s melting in your rima oris . It made me need to get one of those 1 lb packs of Reese ’s , rust everything within it , and really deepen the course of my mean solar day .
II . Cookie Dough ChipIt tell on the recording label that this is a " chunky " ice cream , but it lacks chunk . I had to compass for a while to find anything , but when I did … beautiful fireworks went off in my sassing , just like the sort Katy Perry babble out about . When you get to a chunk , pump your clenched fist in the gentle wind – they ’re the best part .
I. Cake BatterThe pint say it has " yellow cake flavor , " and it deliver on that promise . Somehow this is creamy , even though water is the first factor in every Arctic Zero pint . I kind of want to put a scoop of this on some bar , which would likely deflower the health factor . Give me a crushed - carb piece of cake and this is a helluva way to have afters and not wreck a diet .
2. Enlightened
Even though the society ’s been hawking its low - large calorie , grim - sugar , and high - fiber water ice cream prevention for a twain of years , the pints are a new addition , and are already a strong vendor , according to the party .
IV . Mint Chocolate ChipOther than a lingering mint aftertaste that is n’t quite pleasant , this is a perfectly serviceable mint cocoa chip . They ’re not cheap with the chunks of chocolate chips throughout . If mess burnt umber scrap is your jam , you wo n’t be disappointed .
III . Caramel Oatmeal Cookie CrunchThe caramelized sugar flavors are on percentage point . The pint , however , was half full when I open it . This is a job I ’ve had with a few pints of Enlightened , and the company separate me that the result of half - fill pints was resolved in March 2016 ( also , if you see one of these transparent containers half full on the shelf , buy it , and email the customer service squad to get a devoid voucher for another dry pint – that ’s a enough two - for-1.5 dry pint deal ! ) .
Lee Breslouer/Nina Gonzales/Thrillist
II . Sea Salt CaramelThe ribbons of caramel are fantastic and plentiful in each dry pint . Not too piquant , either . Just a fantastic jazz band of salt and sweet , like the ice cream variation of Titus and Kimmy Schmidt . I could shoot down a pint of this stuff easily it ’s so creamy and delicious . Enlightened absolutely ace this flavor .
I. Frozen Hot CocoaThis is the standout of the Enlightened ice ointment available in my area . ample chocolate flavors combine with section of marshmallow make it finger like winter in your oral cavity even when it ’s 90 degrees outside . Ben & Jerry ’s ( and every other ice emollient caller ) should steal this flavor profile .
1. Halo Top
Like the other firebrand , Halo Top is downcast - sugar , high-pitched - protein , and low - nutritionist’s calorie , but unlike the other brands , its ice emollient is dulcify with constitutional stevia . And because ontogenesis hormones are for athletes to take in private , Halo Top promises no man-made growing endocrine in its ice emollient . Instead , milk , cream , and ballock are the top - three ingredients .
IV . Chocolate Mocha ChipAs a huge drinking chocolate and mocha fan , this is a swing and a miss for me . I got some coffee notes that did n’t equip in , and it ’s somehow a trivial fleck too saccharine for something with only 4 chiliad of dough . A disappointment for me .
III . Mint ChipThis has a vanilla ice cream base and not a mint ice cream base , but it does n’t lack mint flavor , which comes through the second you prick into a chip . If you ’re a batch chip fan , I ’d stick with Enlightened ’s version .
Lee Breslouer/Nina Gonzales/Thrillist
II . Lemon CakeLuscious , lemony , and creamy in a fashion that Enlightened and Arctic Zero are n’t . I ’m guessing that ’s due to eggs being second on the component list . Bright lemon note and a body that essentially forces you to keep dip your spoonful in the dry pint over and over again .
I. Birthday CakeThis tastes better than actual birthday cake , and that ’s saying something come from a guy who really , really enjoys natal day cake . At first glance , my expectations were lower significantly . It should n’t sample as respectable as it does . Looking in the pint , there ’s a vanilla extract base with scattered colored sprinkles throughout , but then you take a insect bite , and those sprinkles explode with tone . For the 364 days a class that are not your birthday , you could rust this and feel like it is , minus the dashing hopes you feel when your grandma mail you a $ 5 check again .
What I learned from this ice creamperiment
You must be patient when eating this type of ice ointment – waiting at least 10 minutes for it to the right way melt before you eat it is a must with all high - protein ice pick . Luckily it was chest daytime when I did this taste - test , so I banged out a ton of incline dumbbell public press while I waited , bro .
Arctic Zero is perfect for masses who are lactose intolerant , though even if you ’re not , the Cake Batter flavor is worth the money . Enlightened has the most originative flavors for this specific type of ice ointment , and Frozen Hot Cocoa is a standout . Halo Top ’s Birthday Cake and Lemon Cake ice creams were the ice creamiest of the cold treats I try ( for you , I did this for you ! ) , which pushed it to the top spot .
Lee Breslouer/Nina Gonzales/Thrillist
