[the big chill]

break
Does your local ice cream & frozen yogurt stand deliver when it comes to nutrition and taste? Tampa has seen a boom in frozen yogurt and ice cream specialty stores in the past year –we’re thinking way beyond the classic ice cream parlor here-- with price points and health benefits to appease any craving. I’ve personally spent the last year eating all of these frozen confections (pure research of course):

Cali Yogurt
2303 West Morrison Avenue, Tampa
Size options 4 ounce/8 ounce/13 ounce, 25 calories an ounces, Fat 0
Cali Yogurt and I are currently involved in an illicit love affair—my husband knows about it and frequently supplies my stash as it is on his way home from work. This tangy, yogurt treat is actually good for you because it carries all the properties of yogurt, including acidophilus, which is the good bacteria that aides in digestion. I know—creamy bacteria—yum, but I swear this stuff is amazing, although I will admit if you are not a yogurt fan you may not flip for it. Three flavors are offered daily: regular, green tea and the flavor of the week (think peach, raspberry or mango). Not open on Sundays.

Berryism
701 South Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Size options: 3, 5, 8, 13 ounce, 88 calories per 4 ounces, Fat 0
A new, natural frozen yogurt shop has opened (and this one is on the way to my son’s preschool—very dangerous!) Berryism has a similar concept to PinkBerry out of California and Cali Yogurt in Hyde Park. Natural, real yogurt based products, including smoothie products, are offered in this modern take of the corner soda shop. All contain the properties of regular yogurt, making them healthy. Green tea, regular, mixed berry and espresso are the flavors offered here. Espresso is lightly flavored and almost has a chocolate quality to it—yummy! Be aware though, Green tea at both Cali and Berryism contain naturally occurring caffeine and so does the espresso here. All the flavors are creamy, cool and healthy—just what the doctor ordered!

Dairy Joy
3813 South Manhattan Avenue, Tampa
Size options: Cones/ Cups
Approx. 135 calories per 4 ounces/regular soft serve, Fat 3.5
Approx. 160 calories per 6 ounces/fat free vanilla yogurt, Fat 0
You’ll get a true ice cream stand feel at this long-standing staple on South Manhattan Blvd. Creamy soft serve like you expect it to be, plus many flavor, topping and creative ice cream combinations that will please everyone. They serve regular soft serve and fat free yogurt (see nutritionals above) and if your kids don’t like the tanginess of the natural yogurt based products, they will certainly find a home at Dairy Joy.

D’Lites Emporium
1906 South Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Size options: 4 once, 8 ounce, 12 ounce, 16 ounce/32 ounce take home packs
All ice creams are made with one of the following bases and offer these nutritionals:
Vanilla 40 calories per 4 ounces, Fat 1.4
Chocolate 35 calories per 4 ounces, Fat 2.4
This revolutionary new ice cream shop is dedicated to everything diet. If you are on one or are wishing to shed a few pounds, you need to stop by here because everything low-carb, low fat and low calorie that is worth eating can be found within these four walls (even hard to find items like vita-muffins and vita-brownies) Their daily soft serve light ice cream includes a assortment of six flavors with chocolate and vanilla always appearing on the menu. They have over 100 flavors, so you have to go back frequently to check what’s rotating. If you can’t wait to try a certain flavor, check out their frozen case with too many flavors to count (coconut, strawberry cheesecake, banana, cake batter, cookie dough and my favorite, peanut butter are just an example of what you’ll find) all packaged up and ready for take home enjoyment. Bonus: They offer cakes and pies for take home parties made with their ice cream, so it’s a great way to celebrate someone’s birthday without sabotaging their weight loss goals.

Yogurt Naturally
3906 South MacDill Avenue, Tampa
4004 Henderson Blvd., Tampa
Size options: Small/Medium/Large
No-Fat 22 calories per ounce, Fat 0
Regular 28 calories per ounce
30 flavors of frozen yogurt are on display constantly for your taste buds to jump right in. These frozen yogurt shops offer drive-through windows, which we know moms LOVE, and their yogurt doesn’t have the tanginess that some of the other natural yogurt places have, perhaps appealing more to the younger crowds. They have a large frozen yogurt menu: shakes, sundaes, twirl cones, you name it its here.


Best Kept Secrets
Evo’s Organic Vanilla Milkshake
Regular size, 180 calories, 2.5 grams fat
If your taste buds are demanding a milkshake, than check out this creamy baby. Not only are the dairy products they use organic, so you can feel good about it, but the large serving size is filling and satisfying. I like to grab one of these for an afternoon treat (much more fun than my typical granola bar).

McDonald’s Vanilla Ice Cream Cone
One cone, 150 calories, 1 gram fat
I’ve known about this dirty little secret since my college days. Probably the only thing on the menu besides ketchup that is in this calorie range, McDonald’s Ice Cream Cone is cool and sweet and easily accessed through a drive-through window---definite bonus! Be careful though; although it would make sense that their milkshakes would have similar nutritionals they sadly do not. One medium milkshake has 550 calories and 13 grams of fat!

The Scoop on SoHo Gelato spot La Casa Dolce Café
A friend of mine recently stopped by for pistachio gelato two weeks ago and was met with closed doors and no lights or furniture. It’s true that La Casa Dolce is gone from its Howard location, but they are not out of business. They have plans to relocate, but not sure where yet. We’ve heard that they are looking for a family friendly spot with better parking. Whew! We will keep you updated…