Are There Healthy Ice Creams In Ice Cream Parlors?
Tall, creamy mountains of ice cream of many bright colors … eyes go wide, but what looks delicious is often a coven of additives. We explain what you should keep in mind when you go to the ice cream parlor.
Enjoying a snack on hot days at an ice cream parlor is a great idea. But how do you recognize the highest quality ice cream, without additives or unhealthy ingredients?
The “homemade ice cream” may not be real
The “self-produced”, “homemade” or “artisan” labels that adorn many ice cream parlors could be a first indication of quality, but unfortunately this is not always the case because they are not legally binding terms, that is, nobody is going to demand anything from them. .
Therefore, consumer advocates should demand more transparency from ice cream manufacturers.
So maybe it’s better to take a look at the ingredients? The bad news is that ice cream parlors are not required to list them. They only have to declare allergens and individual additives, such as colorants.
We can only trust our intuition. An ice cream counter that stands out for the intensity of the colors is usually an indication that it is cheap industrial ice cream filled with additives. High volume can also suggest excessive use of chemical emulsifiers.
The best clue is not to see the ice creams because they are in metal containers with a lid, as it indicates that the ice cream maker is concerned that the ice cream is not affected by changes in temperature. A product based on additives is more insensitive.
Differences between ice creams
The term “ice cream” does not always refer to the same thing, as it encompasses different presentations:
- The ice cream unspecified contains less than 10% milk fat and, therefore, is not suitable for vegans. Vegan ice cream contains another type of vegetable fat.
- The ice cream contains more than 10% milk or vegetable fat.
- The sorbet has generally been elaborated made with fruit juice and without fat. It can contain any amount of fruit.
- The slush is made with finely crushed ice to which some essence, fruit juice or an alcoholic beverage is added.
What emulsifiers does it contain?
The emulsifiers ensure that the ingredients mix well and that the ice cream does not melt quickly. But they also have disadvantages. For example, the emulsifier polysorbate 80, often found in ice cream , is suspected of promoting obesity and intestinal inflammation.
Lecithin, the most common emulsifier, is harmless to health. However, it can come from genetically modified soybean plants that are grown in monocultures.
Is hygiene correct?
As you enter the ice cream parlor, observe the cleanliness of the ice cream containers, work surfaces, workers’ aprons, and the instruments they use.
Any dirt is a bad sign and represents a risk that germs that may have contaminated the ice creams are multiplied by carelessness. Nut ice cream without nuts.
It is common to find vanilla ice cream without a trace of natural vanilla and dried fruit ice cream without dried fruit.
For example, in a pistachio ice cream, all or part of this dried fruit can be replaced by a synthetic aroma of bitter almonds. Green is achieved with coloring.
One clue that they are giving you a hoot is that the sign says ” pistachio flavored ice cream .” In this case you can assume that the taste is due to synthetic additives, not natural products.
If the sign says “pistachio ice cream” it is a better sign, but it is not a guarantee. You can ask the seller how much of the pistachio is in the ice cream. If it really does contain it, you won’t mind giving an answer.
Are supermarket ice creams a good option?
Supermarket ice cream has the advantage that you can read the list of ingredients. The bad thing is that surely you will not like what you can find.
If you have to choose, it’s simple: go for ice cream with fewer E codes and fewer unrecognizable ingredients.
When in doubt ask or do it yourself
If you want to be sure what is in your ice cream scoop or tub, you should ask at the ice cream shop. You can also make ice cream yourself, even if you don’t have a fridge at home. Then you will know exactly what ingredients you are consuming. I leave you with a few recipes:
- 6 homemade fruit ice creams: easy and without a refrigerator
- 5 desserts with homemade vegan ice creams for the summer
- 8 healthy ice creams that you can easily make at home
- How to make cherry ice cream without a refrigerator
- To the delicious ice cream! Gluten and lactose free
- How to make vegan ice cream without palm fat or hydrogenated at home
