Fro-Yo: a misinterpreted treat

For years following fro-yo's rise to mega-popularity, I would make frequent trips over to the many speciality shops in my area. Having a tenacious sweet tooth and a desire to eat healthfully, I viewed frozen yogurt as the answer to all of my sugar-induced needs. No feelings of guilt ever emerged as I'd hold down the handle of the shiny self-serve machine. The sign mounted off to its side further assured me that I was making a health-conscious choice, stating that the thick stream of goodness flowing into my over-sized cup was sugar-free, low-fat, or fat-free. Once satisfied with my serving, I would head to the toppings bar to garnish my fro-yo with sprinkles, mochi, fruit, and/or chocolate. I figured that since I was just eating yogurt, there was room for the extras! After years of what I believed to be sinless indulging, I came to learn that fro-yo wasn't as great for you as I'd thought. Sad to say, frozen yogurt is more complex than fans would like to believe.

The misconception stems from the name itself— frozen yogurt. Many of us naturally assume that this is simply yogurt in frozen form, and yogurt is a great source of calcium, protein, and probiotics (good bacteria that aid in digestion and immunity). In order to be considered yogurt by the National Yogurt Association, both of the probiotics' two chains of bacteria must be present (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus). These bacterias are responsible for transforming pasteurized milk into yogurt during the fermentation process.

Some frozen dessert chains, such as Tasti-D-Light, don't include these active and live cultures in their formulas (which they are very forthcoming about), but even true fro-yos may not be as wholesome as you may think. As David Katz, founding director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, says, "the fact that there's yogurt in the name in no way exonerates what's in your cup...it's not an alternative to yogurt, it's an alternative to ice cream." And it's a sad truth.

Low-fat and fat-free frozen yogurt is a step up from ice-cream, but compared with regular yogurt, fro-yo contains a host of additives (which may or may not affect your health) and around double the amount of sugar. Most plain and original frozen yogurt varieties contain 100-130 calories and 15-20 grams of sugar per half cup (the equivalent size of one scoop of ice cream— an amount easily surpassed by those who go for self-serve). Pile on the toppings, and those numbers soar. Meanwhile, the dessert's freezing process can cause the probiotic content to drop. 

Simin Nikbin Meydani, professor of nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, says that fro-yo's flash-freezing process shouldn't kill off the probiotics the way slow freezing in a freezer would, but you can't be certain that this won't still happen. He explains that the number of surviving probiotics is based on the type and amount of bacteria that a given fro-yo is made with, but frozen yogurt typically ends up having much smaller quantities of probiotics than regular yogurt. To be sure you're getting a beneficial dose, look for the National Yogurt Association's Live and Active Culture's seal at your local fro-yo shop (Red Mango is one such manufacturer that has been approved for the seal) and on pre-packaged varieties from the grocery store.

Although a large cup of frozen yogurt wouldn't make for the most nutritious meal, a properly portioned serving can be a delicious dessert to enjoy on occasion. If you're interested in options offering additional advantage, Lisa Brown, assistant professor of nutrition at Simmons College in Boston, says that the tart fro-yo flavors will slow down your body's release of sugar (helping to control appetite and energy), while the Greek yogurt varieties will have a creamier texture and provide you with a higher protein and lower carbohydrate count. Now, if you're feeling for Cake Batter or Triple Chocolate, I say to go for it. Fro-yo, after all, isn't a health food, so if you're yearning for something sweeter, treat yourself! Just be sure to take it easy on the self-serve handle.