Tag Archives: frozen yogurt

Dessert Fads: Cupcakes Out, Frozen Treats Vying to be In

This past week, Business Week reported on the epic rise and fall of The Cupcake. Sad, but not completely surprising: I’ve been digging all of the cupcake shops popping up in the past few years although, I’ve seen almost as many close down. And this isn’t just happening near me—cupcakes are on decline everywhere! Per the story, just a few years ago Crumbs Bake Shop, which has been in business since 2003, couldn’t make enough of their gourmet cupcakes to keep up with the orders. But the shop has shifted their focus to “specialty desserts” like the the “Crumbnut,” which is a hybrid between a cupcake and a croissant. (Largely inspired by the blockbuster “cronut,” which is a combination of a donut and a croissant, the “crumbnut” may easily be the next big thing.)

cupcake

But if cupcakes are out, and the croissant-hybrids aren’t yet huge sensations, what is the next dessert fad?

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Healthy Labor Day Recipes for the Last Weekend of Summer

Seeing as Labor Day is right around the corner, many Americans will be pulling out their grills this weekend. Equipped with our figure-friendly summer cookout recipes, you ought to be one of them.

The problem with most cookout recipes, however, is that they’re usually high in calories and fat. In addition, they leave you feeling lethargic long after the table is cleared. Thankfully though, the line-up we’re sharing today won’t have you reaching for your stretchy pants. Instead, think light, savory, and scrumptious dishes that are the perfect, healthy way to kiss summer goodbye.

First up, enjoy the end of summer with a glass of our famous Red, White, and Blue Sangria. This sangria is perfect for any cookout because it’s light, refreshing, perfectly sweet, and loaded with antioxidant-containing strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Cheers to that!

Sides

Avocado Serrano Coleslaw will make a great side dish for your cookout side. Our slaw contains pineapples and orange bell peppers with a light avocado dressing. Using avocado instead of mayo is a healthier substitute and adds more southwest flavor to the dish. (more…)

Surprise! Avocado Frozen Yogurt is Simple, Versatile, and Yummy

I like food trends far more than I do fashion trends. For one, even if cupcakes aren’t “in,” it’s still socially acceptable to eat them. The black Crocs in the back of my closet, well, I’m saving those for a bad Halloween costume.

One of the biggest food trends this summer has been the one ingredient banana ice cream, which we shared a few weeks ago. For those who love ice cream or have a sweet tooth, it’s got to be the best idea ever. Freeze bananas, blend, and watch it turn in to a creamy ice cream texture that would have you believe it’s the real deal. Except, it’s totally good for you. How could it not be when it’s just bananas?

Well, I don’t love bananas, but I do have a full blown obsession with avocados. That creamy, buttery flavor that’s neutral enough to go with just about anything… could these be my banana ice cream?


I took advantage of a 10 for $10 special at the grocery store and got enough to experiment with avocado frozen yogurt and have plenty for sandwiches, smoothies, and salads all week. Yes, I eat that many avocados. (Hello… they are so good for you.)

I started with six avocados and split them lengthwise so the pit could be removed and the flesh easily scooped out. These avocados were perfectly bright green and separated from the pits without much mess. They were also a little firmer than I might ordinarily use for guacamole, but certainly not nearly as hard as the ones you could play baseball with.


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Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream: Which is Healthier?

Unlike most summer dessert eaters, I crave frozen treats all year-round and simply can’t get enough of their sweet, creamy texture. But because I indulge so frequently – at least once a week – I try and keep my choices healthier by avoiding full-fat ice creams and keeping the toppings on my ‘froyo’ tower to a reasonable minimum.

Nutritionally speaking, frozen yogurt is perceivably healthier than ice cream because it typically contains live active cultures, and is often available in low- or no-fat and reduced-sugar varieties. Ice cream, on the other hand, is typically laden with fat and rarely comes in low-sugar flavors. Let’s keep track of the points, shall we?

Frozen yogurt: 1: Ice cream: 0.

In terms of quality, most ice cream and frozen yogurt shops have equally high standards when it comes to their ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s, for instance, is well known by now for its die-hard commitment to only the highest quality ingredients, and even tries to source local ingredients when possible. Now that’s a sweet deal: One point for each. (more…)

Avoid Packing on the New Relationship Pounds

Dating – either as a single person or half of a committed couplecan make for a very exciting time. When you think of going on a date, most often you might envision dinner, maybe a movie, or coffee and dessert.

New relationships always seem to pack on the pounds. Many experts say it is because once you are comfortable, happy and secure in a relationship, you are not as diligent about your physical appearance. While in the beginning it is a nice feeling to be able to relax in a new and exciting relationship, a few months in, you may look in the mirror and wonder where all your hard work went.

Especially in the summer, dating can often involve activities and foods to keep your temperature down, but summer time dating doesn’t have to be a body buster. Instead of curling up with your cutie in a dark room, some ice cream and watching TV, here are some terrific summer date activities that will help you keep your cool, but won’t leave you running for a mu-mu to cover up your not quite ready for close up body.

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Is Frozen Yogurt a Healthy Choice?

Trying to lose weight often means dropping beloved high calorie foods from your diet. Sometimes a swap is barely noticeable – skim milk for whole, low fat cheese for full fat – but when trying to drop ice cream, you may not be pleased with your choices. Low fat or no fat ice creams are indeed lower in calories and fat, but many times have a different mouth feel or slightly bitter aftertaste. One of the most popular lower fat frozen desserts is frozen yogurt.

Drive through your city, and you’ll see an overwhelming number of businesses offering frozen desserts. Ice creams, custards, Italian ices, and the newest fad – frozen yogurt. From scoop shops to dispense your own, and many with massive topping choices, these dessert bars are popular for the ability to create a dessert that is exactly what you want – be it loaded with sugar and fats, or a more restrained, less calorically dense choice. Fro Yo (Frozen yogurt) is most often thought to be a healthier choice, with less fat and lower in calories, but is it really?

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Healthy Recipes for Memorial Day Parties

Memorial Day is one holiday almost everyone looks forward to. What’s not to love? The last Monday of every May, we honor our fallen U.S. soldiers and their families on a weekend when the weather starts to heat up in most parts on the country. Barbecues, camping trips and outdoor parties are how most people celebrate Memorial Day, the sunshine, and show their patriotism.

Memorial Day is tons of fun, but barbecues are notorious for being full of calorie and fat packed foods, so plan ahead. If you are taking advantage of the long weekend and going camping, indulging in 3 days worth of this indulgent food can really do some damage. If you are hosting, you have full control of the menu, but if you are a guest, bring your own “safe” dish that you know is healthy, and you already know the calories and fat per serving.

Whether you’re planning to usher in summer at the beach or with a backyard cookout, there are a lot of tempting, warmer-weather treats that might appeal to you no matter how much you want to stick to a healthy diet. Fend off cravings by making slimmer versions of your favorite meals and treats.

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Cool Low-Calorie Family Treats for Summer

Summer time is here in the Northern Hemisphere, and at least in my area, that means hot and humid weather. Spending any length of time outside almost immediately puts me into the mood for Popsicles, ice cream and other frozen treats.

But those treats can wreck havoc on your diet. After all, who wants to run an hour and then negate the caloric burn with a bowl of ice cream that could top more than 750 calories? Here are some lower calorie, icy treats that won’t break your calorie bank and can leave you feeling cool and refreshed:

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Food Find: Only 8 Frozen Yogurt

If your food Achilles heel is ice cream then listen up: Only 8 frozen yogurt is a new kind of soft-serve frozen treat that is cropping up in ice cream shops all over the country. Only 8 is similar to Pinkberry and Tasti D-lite in its taste, texture, nutrition stats and popularity. Only 8 frozen yogurt

Only 8 has a tart flavor like Pinkberry, thanks to its active yogurt cultures. Its wide selection of flavors like peanut butter, caramel and about 30 others allow ice cream shop owners to keep their customers returning for new tastes.

One half-cup serving supposedly contains 32 calories, zero fat, zero cholesterol and four live active yogurt cultures. The “supposed” remark refers only to calories and serves as a gentle caution that the eight calorie per ounce labeling might be skewed depending upon how much syrup was added to the mix and the actual weight of the serving cup. (more…)

We Love Edy’s Slow-Churned Tart Frozen Yogurt Blends

edys tart honeyThis week, we are goo-goo, ga-ga in love with Edy’s Slow Churned Tart Frozen Yogurt. The key word here is “tart” because right now, not all stores are carrying these new flavors, Tart Mango and Tart Honey, so you don’t want to confuse them with Edy’s regular line of Frozen Yogurt Blends. Trust us ice cream-lovers, if you don’t find these new tart blends in the freezer section of your grocery stores, talk to the manager and beg and plead for him or her to get them in.

Coming in at just 100 calories per half cup serving, and 3 grams of fat, both flavors Tart Honey and Tart Mango contain live active yogurt cultures and 10 percent of your calcium needs. (more…)