As every health-conscious person knows, everything is good in moderation. Ice cream is one of those delicious treats that often falls into the ‘rare’ category of most balanced diets; however, times are changing and there are a few foodie creatives who have made delicious icy treats that aren’t all bad. Check out our favourite healthy ice creams in Hong Kong: calorie-light, vegan and lactose-free, and traditional low-fat alternatives to suit every taste and diet.
The Diet Savvy Snack
Calorie-conscious treats packed with nutritional benefits
Fityo
Because of its high fat content, you wouldn’t usually think of ice cream as great work out food—but Fityo is changing that. Their frozen yoghurts are protein-loaded and calorie-light, and with the focus on great flavours and counting macros it’s perfect for a post-gym treat. The relatively new brand is now being stocked Sweet World in Landmark Prince’s Building, Shek O Tung Lok Beachside Store, and Youni Wan Chai.
Genie Juicery
Genie Juicery’s Nice Cream Bars are probably a the lowest-calorie healthy ice cream in Hong Kong you could ask for. Ranging from 71 (Pink Lady) to 131 calories (Mudslide), these delicious vegan treats use organic coconut milk for that creamy texture and sweeten with raw organic maple syrup and organic Medjool dates. Coming in three different flavours—strawberry and raspberry, pineapple and banana, and chocolate (using avocado and raw cacao for an intense taste)—this is an ice cream you can include in your diet plan.
Yo Mama
Yo Mama’s mission to make the world’s best fro-yo is well underway. Their 98% fat-free milk ice cream is also ‘super-biotic’, which means it contains a probiotic formula of good bacteria: it improves digestions, lowers the risk of heart disease, supports essential bone health, and can improve your immune system. With a range of flavours from green tea to pink guava, you’ll be back time again to try them all.
The Dairy-Free Favourites
Vegan-friendly and lactose-free
Wild Mylk
The plant-based, vegan ice cream from Wild Mylk uses organic cashew milk and pure coconut milk to get a creamy consistency, and chooses natural sweeteners like maple syrup, coconut sugar and evaporated cane juice. This ice cream isn’t lighter in calories, but with carefully sourced all-natural ingredients, you don’t need to worry about the harmful effects of processed foods or additives.
Happy Cow
Lactose-intolerance doesn’t mean you don’t love ice cream, which Happy Cow know all too well. Their vegan, egg-free, dairy-free, no cholesterol and no added sugar ice creams tick pretty much all of our dietary boxes—and speaking from experience, you’ll be hard pushed to notice the difference between their rich chocolate and salted caramel flavours and the real thing.
Givres
Known for their super-Instagrammable rose-shaped scoops, Givres has a comprehensive selection of all-natural vegan flavours including the vividly purple Butterfly Pea Tea, peach, and hibiscus. Pop along to their Wan Chai store for a coffee and dairy-free delight—and if you’re feeling extra indulgent, ask about their secret menu item, the four-flavour gelato rose.
Lab Made
Collaborating with Green Monday, Asia’s first liquid nitrogen ice cream makers Lab Made added three limited-edition vegan flavours to their menu back in April—Thai Mango Coconut Sticky Rice, Dark Chocolate and Salted Almonds, and Sicilian Pistachio—that proved so popular they added a vegan ice-cream permanently to their daily-changing menu. Pop along to see which flavour is starring today.
XTC
Gelato specialists XTC offer vegan or lactose-intolerant customers dairy, sugar and fat-free sorbetto and gelatos. All of their ice creams are made daily in Hong Kong, using natural and responsibly-sourced ingredients with no additives—so you can be sure your icy treat will be extra fresh.
Nice Pops
The majority of Nice Pop’s playful flavours are vegan, and 100% natural and handmade. Using an abundance of fresh fruity flavours, the gourmet ice creams also offer a range of boozy pops that are naughty and nice. Available to buy individually for a quick treat or in bulk for party catering, Nice Pops are the perfect summer snack.
Grom
The Italian Gelato connoisseurs have a selection of vegan-friendly and gluten-free sorbets. And if you thought sorbets were all fruit, think again: while they do have fresh flavours like Sicilian lemon, they also feature a gelato-style Venezuelan dark chocolate ‘Cioccolato Extranoir’ sorbet that uses Sparea® Springs water from the Piedmontese Alps to enhance the rich flavour of the cacao. Every ingredient is painstakingly sourced, meaning you know you’re truly getting the best.
The Low-Fat Alternatives
For those who love traditional ice cream, just… lighter
Oddies
The Instagram-famous Oddies, known for their extremely photogenic egg waffle ice cream Sundays, offer low-fat soft gelato and lactose-free sorbets to top your waffle with. We’re not going to recommend this is something you do every day, but you can keep your calories in check with this treat by making smart ice cream choices.
Emack & Bolio
Boston’s ice cream experts have granted the health-conscious among us a way to still enjoy their tasty ice creams. The no-fat chocolate frozen yoghurt is all the pleasure of ice cream without the guilt, while their low-fat coffee and grasshopper flavours offer another lighter option.
Zilch! By NZN
New Zealand Natural premium vanilla and chocolate ice creams contain no added sugar, which means you can have a scoop guilt free. Still worried about the fat content? They’ve got you covered. Their fruity, dairy-free sorbet selection is 99% fat-free, while their frozen yoghurts are 97% fat-free still with zero added sugar.
