How to Find Tasty, Healthy Frozen Treats

All the players in this category got top marks for containing real mango, not just mango juice or mango flavor, and no artificial colors. These two had the best combination of ingredients, nutrition, and taste.

The added sugars content is a bit on the high side, but this bar came out on top because of its super-simple ingredients list—just mango purée with lemon juice, water, and cane sugar. Plus, our testers said the pops had a fresh mango flavor and didn’t taste too sweet.

Calories: 60
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Added Sugars: 11 g

White grape juice is the sweetener in this mini-pop. Though it’s smaller in size, our testers found it satisfying. It has a big, fruity mango flavor and is mildly sweet. The texture is icy, like a classic popsicle.

Calories: 30
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Added Sugars: 0 g

Fudgsicles Original Fudge Pops may be the classic and have just 40 calories, but they also have a ton of additives, plus the artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Try one of these options with fewer additives instead.

When it comes to that chocolate pick-me-up we all sometimes crave, our testing found that these pops really satisfy. They have a dense, creamy texture and a deep fudgy flavor. 

Calories: 80
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Added Sugars: 8 g

The saturated fat in these was higher than the others we reviewed because they’re made with coconut milk instead of dairy milk. The bar is icy at first bite but gets creamier as you eat it. It has a dark chocolate flavor with a hint of coconut.

Calories: 90
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Added Sugars: 7 g

To keep them from melting while you eat them, ice cream sandwiches tend to have a lot of highly processed additives like gums and emulsifiers. Plus, perhaps because they’re a combination of chocolate wafers and ice cream, they tend to be higher in calories, saturated fat, and added sugars than some other frozen treats. We looked at 13 options made with dairy or plant milk and were able to find only one that met the mark for nutrition and taste.

These mini squares are a great alternative to full-sized competitors. They have far fewer added sugars, and they contain fewer additives than most of the others we looked at. The ice cream had a natural vanilla flavor and a creamy texture. The wafers were tender and chocolaty, but not so much so that they overpowered the ice cream.

Calories: 100
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Added Sugars: 7 g

Yogurt and berries—what could be healthier? Well, it turns out that first impressions can fool you. Despite the healthy-sounding name, some had as much as 13 grams of added sugars. These were the best bars in the berry patch.

Testers said the blueberries were “fragrant” and “jammy,” and the overall texture of the bar was creamy, like eating blueberry jam and cream.

Calories: 80
Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
Added Sugars: 9 g

This is a fresh-tasting, somewhat tart bar with good strawberry flavor and a dense and creamy texture. It contains the sugar substitute monk fruit as a sweetener in addition to sugar, but it’s the last item in the ingredients list. This indicates that it’s a small amount.  

Calories: 80
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Added Sugars: 9 g

These tips will come in handy when you’re cruising through the freezer aisle looking for something you can feel good about eating.

Downsize your treat. Just as your favorite protein bar or candy bar might come in a miniature version, some frozen treats are starting to as well. “The mini versions offer built-in portion control and are a great way to satisfy your urge to have a treat but not overdo it,” says Amy Keating, RD, the CR nutritionist who conducted our frozen treat testing.

Minis are an especially good option if you want a more indulgent treat. For instance, a regular-sized Häagen-Dazs Chocolate/Dark Chocolate ice cream bar has 270 calories, 12 grams of saturated fat, and 16 grams of added sugars. The mini version has 85 calories, 4 grams of saturated fat, and 5 grams of added sugars per bar. 

Look for real fruit juice vs. sugar water. What’s in a fruit bar, anyway? Some have sugar water, and some have actual fruit juice as the source of the fruit flavor. You want the latter: bonus points if it contains fruit or fruit purée, too, like the mango bars we tested. “Look beyond the name. Fruit bars can have a lot of added sugar and are not necessarily just fruit,” Keating says. “Those with fruit and fruit juice can have a little potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, making them a better nutritional choice than a fruit-flavored option that’s made with sugar syrup and natural and artificial flavors.” 

Weitzner, at Children’s Hospital, adds that consumers should look for whole fruit or 100 percent fruit juice as the very first ingredient on a fruit bar label. And if you’re craving an ice pop, she says, ask yourself why. It could be simply because you want it, but it could also be a sign that you’re thirsty or getting dehydrated. “Water first, treat second,” Weitzner says. 

Watch for sugar, saturated fat, and additives. We found full-sized bars that were fairly low in added sugars—11 grams or less—and had no alternative sweeteners. For mini-bars, 8 grams or less added sugar is doable. Ice cream and yogurt-based treats can be high in saturated fat, the type that can raise cholesterol levels. Keating recommends looking for products with 4 grams or less. 

While research on how harmful additives are is still ongoing, Keating suggests checking the ingredients list on frozen treats and choosing those with fewer additives. These include sugar substitutes, gums, emulsifiers, and artificial colors (such as blue No. 1 and No. 2, Red Dye No. 3, red 40, yellow 5 and 6, and titanium dioxide). According to the American Medical Association, additives are a sign that a food is ultraprocessed. Research has linked diets high in these packaged foods with increased risks of heart disease, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions. 

Make your own. If you don’t want to fight over frozen treats, make your own at home. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s going into them. Weitzner suggests making pops by blending real fruit, Greek yogurt, and 100 percent fruit juice or coconut water in a blender. (You can add a touch of honey or maple syrup if you need extra sweetness.) Pour it into ice pop molds. If you like, you can include some cut fruit, alternating it with the blender mixture. “Let kids pick the fruits and help layer them; it’s like edible art,” she adds. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours. With just a little effort, you’ll have your own customizable frozen treat ready for the next summer day or craving.