Diets rich in protein and low in carbohydrates have proven their effectiveness when it comes to losing weight and stricter alternatives such as the keto diet are among the most popular and used in recent times. The market has taken advantage of these trends to reformulate certain products and for this reason, We nutritionally analyze Lidl’s protein ice creams (and we’ll tell you if they’re really worth it).
There are many new and reformulated products that the industry has recently launched with more protein, and in many cases no sugar or lower carbohydrate contentwhich attract a large public in search of health care and especially in the intention of losing weight.
In order not to blindly trust marketing resources or judge without real analysis, we’ve tried two of Lidl’s protein-rich ice creams: the bars and the chocolate stick.
The ingredients of Lidl’s protein ice cream
Lidl’s protein ice creams are marketed under the Gelatelli white brand and we find, in addition to the “Magnum” type chocolate bars and sticks, low-sugar ice cream in tub or glass. We show you the ingredients of the first ones:
protein ice bar
Each Lidl protein ice cream bar they are 50 g or 70 ml, although they cannot be purchased individually but rather come in a box with five pieces each.
The specific name of the product that we have tested is “white chocolate crisp“, a cookie-flavored bourbon vanilla ice cream, with sugar and sweetenerscovered with 26% white chocolate and 2% puffed rice.
The ingredients are:
55% Evaporated Skimmed Milk, Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Milk Proteins, Sweeteners: Xylitol, Stevioal Glycosides; bulking agent: polydextrose; whipping cream, concentrated butter, coconut fat, sunflower oil, rice flour, glucose syrup, emulsifiers: monoglycerides and diglycerides of fatty acids, lecithins, polyglycerol polyricicioleate; stabilizers: locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan; wheat gluten, bourbon vanilla extract, natural flavourings, barley malt flour, salt, caramel syrup
Classic protein ice create
The bonbon stick type ice creamalso comes in a cardboard box with four units of 45.5 g or 70 ml each and constitutes an ice cream covered in a solid chocolate coating, skewered on a stick.
Their ingredients are:
Reconstituted skimmed milk powder, 29.6% milk chocolate coating with sweeteners (sweetener: malitols, cocoa butter, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, concentrated butter, emulsifier: lecithins (soy), polyglycerol polyricinoleate; flavor natural vanilla, vanillin flavor), whey protein concentrate, sweeteners: erythritol, steviol glycosides; Inulin, Coconut Oil, Bulking Agent: Polydextrose; lactose and milk proteins, stabilizers: locust bean gum, guar gum, carrageenan; emulsifier: monoglycerides and diglycerides of fatty acids; dye: annatto norbixin; smell.
Nutritional analysis of Lidl protein ice cream
In addition to contemplating the list of ingredients of each ice cream, it is essential to refer to the nutritional information table that they present:
Protein Ice Bar | per 100g | Per unit (50g) |
---|---|---|
Energetic value | 274 calories | 138 calories |
protein | 10.2g | 5.1g |
fats | 14.3g | 7.2g |
of which saturates | 8.6g | 4.3g |
carbohydrates | 26.3g | 13.2g |
of which sugars | 20.8g | 10.4g |
Salt | 0.23g | 0.12g |
Classic Protein Ice Cream | per 100g | Per unit (45.5g) |
---|---|---|
Energetic value | 253 calories | 116 calories |
protein | 7.6g | 3.5g |
fats | 17.3g | 7.9g |
of which saturates | 11.3g | 5.1g |
carbohydrates | 22.5g | 10.2g |
of which sugars | 6.1g | 2.8g |
Salt | 0.15g | 0.07g |
As can be seen both in its list of ingredients and in the nutritional information table, white chocolate bars are superior in their protein content but also offer a appreciable amount of sugarvery similar to that of other commercial alternatives or slightly lower.
For his part, the milk chocolate ice cream on a stick it has much less sugar using a higher proportion of sweeteners among its ingredients and at the same time it is much less protein concentrate.
However, both have a higher proportion of protein than most commercial ice creams that usually have between 4 and 5% of this nutrient.
However, if we look at the total protein in each ice cream and look at its other nutrients, we actually it is not a product of great value to increase the protein content of the diet Since five grams of protein (which is what Lidl’s ice cream bar has) we can easily obtain it just by consuming a boiled egg or a glass of milk.
On the other hand, if we look at the amount of sugars that they possess is a not minor data to considerespecially in the case of the bar that has sugar as its second ingredient, which indicates its large proportion of this nutrient that we recommend reducing in the usual diet.
Also, it is important to clarify that It’s about ultra-processedsince they have a large number of ingredients with multiple additives and a small amount of natural foods, being at the same time sources of refined starch and flour, as well as a large proportion of saturated fats.
Is it worth its consumption instead of other ice creams?
Yes ok they are ice creams with a little less sugar and a higher proportion of proteins than other alternatives commercial, we must consider them as one more ultra-processed, with little nutritional value compared to what we can make with our own hands, based on fruits for example. Therefore, we recommend its occasional consumption and in moderation as we would any other ice cream.
Once again, it is shown that marketing strategies cannot be trustedsince the consumption of these protein ice creams would displace healthier foods and with quality proteins concentrated in greater proportions, in our usual diet.
Although these ice creams have an excellent flavor, there are richer alternatives such as high-end ice creams, which consumed in moderation and as part of a quality diet they can have the same place as these so-called protein options and therefore, wrongly considered “healthy”.
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Image | WTP