Ask anyone if they occasionally crave certain foods, and most people will mention at least a couple of food items without hesitation. According to a 2019 New York Post survey of 2,000 men and women, Americans spend in average 240 hours a year (40 minutes per day) pondering about what their stomachs are craving. The same survey found out that an average American thinks about food an average of four times a day. Another survey estimates that 80% of women and 60% of men have regularly food cravings. Whether you lead a low-carb lifestyle or not, this sure covers most of us.
A food craving is a sign from the body that you're missing something — whether that be balanced, adequate nutrition, or a particular nutrient. Although there's usually a nutritional hook behind the overpowering urge for a specific food, emotional needs, such as calming stress, reducing anxiety or sensing pleasure may be partially to blame for keeping the food cravings coming.
If you can't stop thinking about ice cream, you might be sad or depressed. It's not just the rich, creamy texture and the perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors that makes ice cream so soothing. Eating ice cream has been scientifically shown to help make you feel more relaxed. That is because certain areas of the brain sensing pleasure and reward - the hippocampus, insula, and caudate - are partially responsible for your ice cream cravings.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for keto ice cream.
If you are on a low-carb/ketogenic diet, and decide to enjoy an occasional sugar free ice cream, here are some products we tested for you. We do not recommend Arctic Zero at all for multitude of reasons, so it did not even make our list.
Here are Comfort Keto's top four choices from best to lesser good ones in terms of flavor, scoopability, mouthfeel, net carbs per serving and how clean keto they are.
1. REBEL CREAMERY
This one is our top choice. You can find this brand in all major grocery chains and big box stores including Walmart.
Rebel ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. All flavors taste great and have perfect creamy mouthfeel. We recommend the triple chocolate among all flavors.
Its creamy texture makes it perfect to scoop straight out of the freezer.
They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.
Net carbs are between 5-8 grams.
The ingredients of all flavors are quite clean.
We consider this brand to be clean keto.
2. KETO PINT
This one is our second best choice. You can find this brand in Grocery Outlet.
Keto Pint ice creams taste great and have a good creamy mouthfeel, yet are less sweet than other brands.
This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 15 on the counter.
They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.
Net carbs are about 6 grams.
The ingredients are quite clean.
We consider this brand to be clean keto.
3. ENLIGHTENED KETO
This one is our third best choice. You can find this brand at Sprouts and other major grocery chains.
Enlightened Keto ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. All flavors taste great and have a good creamy mouthfeel, yet some flavors are a bit chalky.
This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 5-10 on the counter.
They use erythritol and allulose as sweetener which is good.
Net carbs are about 7-8 grams.
The ingredients are quite clean, yet this brand contains soluble corn fiber - not perfect for folks who are diabetic.
We consider this brand to be acceptable keto, yet not the best.
4. HALO TOP KETO
This one is our least favorite choice. You can find this brand at most major grocery chains.
Halo Top Keto ice creams have a wide selection of flavors. The basic flavors taste fine, yet some flavors are too sweet and artificial tasting. Comfort Keto's least favorite flavor is Jelly Donut. Some flavors have a creamy mouthfeel, yet some flavors are a bit chalky.
This brand is not easily scoopable straight out of the freezer and needs about 5-10 on the counter.
They use erythritol as sweetener which is good.
Net carbs are about 6-7 grams.
The ingredients are not totally clean, as this brand contains cornstarch, maltitol, and even wheat - not good for folks who are diabetic.
We consider this brand to be dirty keto at most. We recommend this brand if there are no other options available..