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As I sit down to write this, I’m reminded of fun-filled Sunday mornings when we made ice cream at home. This was the early ’60s and the ice cream equipment consisted of a largish wooden bucket filled with ice and some salt! A cylindrical container in the middle contained a mixture of milk, sugar and the desired flavour of the day.
There was a handle attached to the container which churned the ice cream mix. We had to crank it for 2-3 hours and we kids fought with each other for our turn—oh the sweet fruits of labour! The ice cream was soft, most delicious and healthy. No worries about preservatives, chemicals or calories back then.
Making ice cream at home in this way would seem absurd and archaic now. We just avoid the fuss and buy it. It’s brilliant though that there are so many healthy, low-calorie options available. So, what are your choices?
To be called an ice cream, a frozen dessert is required by law to contain at least 10% fat. This is because ‘regular’ ice cream is made American style. Roughly 50% each of milk and cream. Sugar, plus a sprinkling of chemicals (stabiliser, colour, artificial flavour, etc) are added. Fat content can vary between 11% and 18% or more in ice cream!
Alternatives are Natural in Mumbai and Blue Berry in Gurgaon near Delhi—local brands of ice cream made fresh every day. No chemicals and lower on fat than regular brands. And then, there’s the new rage: gelato—Italian style ice cream. They claim ‘4% fat, using skimmed milk’. Very little cream or soy cream is used. Whereas ‘big’ ice cream brands are made to be stored for long periods, gelato is made fresh every day and so does not contain preservatives. Made with fruit or chocolate, there are no chemical flavours either. There’s Gerandine’s, Fresco and De Lucas in Chennai and Mama Mia and Gelato Vittorio across other metros.
Sorbet, also offered by gelato makers, is water-based and has real fruit. There’s no milk or cream and so no fat. But, there’s sugar. There are sugar-free versions of gelato and sorbet too but with fewer flavour options. The brands of sugar-free ice cream, gelato and sorbet I looked at have acceptable sugar substitutes made from sucralose—approved by the WHO.
And lastly, there’s delicious, low-fat fruit-based yogurt—on the shelf or fresh from gelato makers in your town. None of the sensory delight of ice cream or gelato but just simple dessert!
"Of course you live only once. Don't deprive yourself, just draw the line or remember to exercise."
As consumers, never before have we had so much choice or information. Not always easy to find or lined up in a row for you to choose from, but there’s a buzz… So, if the only exercise in your life is to exercise a choice, go on choose well and live well!
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