This Dairy-Free, Fruit-Based Ice Cream Is Rich, Creamy, and Has 5 Ingredients (or Fewer!)

Dairy-free ice creams abound, but they're not all necessarily healthy. Which is fine, because look, you're eating ice cream. You're allowed to enjoy it without reading every last nutritional fact. But if you are looking for the healthiest option, taking a peek at the nutrition information often reveals a long list of ingredients, few of which are natural. And that matters; a recent study found that ultra-processed foods can and do cause weight gain.

That's why we're bringing Frönen to your attention: dairy-free, paleo-friendly ice cream with five — or fewer — ingredients in each flavor. A pint of strawberry, for example, contains strawberries, coconut cream, banana, and honey as a sweetener. No dairy, as advertised, but also no refined sugar, sugar alcohols, or gluten. Dairy-free Halo Top ice cream, for comparison, uses erythritol as a sweetener, a sugar alcohol that's low in calories but can cause bloating or stomach upset if you eat a lot of it (read: that whole pint). Halo Top can also include upwards of 14 ingredients, including highly-processed sugar alcohols and other additives, such as guar gum, that can be rough on your digestive system.

Co-founded by 23-year-olds Jessy Gartenstein, who was diagnosed with dairy sensitivity and celiac disease at age 13, and Erik Nadeau, whose grandmother's fruit-based "nice cream" provided the inspiration for the brand, Frönen is available in Whole Foods and Peapod stores in the Chicago area. (See its website for the exact locations.) The brand also ships nationwide, so you can get your sweet, dairy-free, natural-ingredient fix no matter where you are. Want to know more about Frönen's delicious flavors and intriguing nutrition facts? Of course you do. Scroll on ahead.