8 Things You Didn’t Know About Halo Top

Halo Top

From little kids running after ice cream trucks to couples splitting a cone on first dates, Americans really love their ice cream. So it’s no surprise that Halo Top, the low-calorie ice cream brand that allows you to indulge in an entire pint for less than 360 calories, has become so popular in recent years. In 2017 alone, Halo Top sold a whopping $342.2 million worth of ice cream. You probably have a pint (or 10) sitting in your freezer right now, but we bet you don’t know all there is to know about this low-cal trendsetter. Here are eight fun facts that every Halo Top fan needs to know.

1. Halo Top has three physical scoop shops in Los Angeles.

Halo Top

In the summer of 2018, Halo Top opened it’s first ever brick-and-mortar location in Santa Monica, California. Since then, the brand opened another two locations for a total of three physical shops, all in California. When visiting one of these stores, you can enjoy a 90-calorie scoop of soft-serve or OG Halo Top ice cream with a plethora of toppings of your choosing. Flavors range from classic vanilla bean to indulgent red velvet.

2. In 2017 Halo Top earned the title of “bestselling ice cream pint in America”

After launching in 2012, Halo Top has continued to win over more and more Americans — so much so that Halo Top’s sales saw a 2,500 percent increase between 2015 and 2016. On July 31, 2017, the low-cal ice cream brand won the top spot in United States grocery stores as the best-selling pint of ice cream. In doing so, Halo Top surpassed iconic ice cream brands like Ben & Jerrys and Häagen-Dazs.

3. We have the dietary restrictions of Halo Top’s CEO to thank for the pints.

Justin Woolverton, the CEO of Halo Top, had been struggling with blood sugar issues when he started experimenting with making his own ice cream. He wanted something sweet and satisfying without the “sugar bomb.” Thus, Halo Top was born. A half-cup serving of vanilla bean Halo Top ice cream contains just six grams of sugar, whereas the same serving size of Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream has 20 grams of sugar.

4. Halo Top boasts 25 unique year-round flavors.

Halo Top

The low-cal ice cream comes in 25 different flavors. You can pick between Chocolate Covered Banana, Chocolate Almond Crunch, Pistachio, Pancakes & Waffles, Caramel Macchiato, S’mores, Cookies & Cream, Blueberry Crumble, Lemon Cake, Mochi Green Tea, Chocolate Mocha Chip, Rainbow Swirl, Oatmeal Cookie, Black Cherry, Vanilla Bean, Candy Bar, Birthday Cake, Strawberry, Red Velvet, Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, Sea Salt Caramel, Mint Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Halo Top often also rolls out limited-edition flavors as well, like Pumpkin Pie and Peanut Butter & Jelly, that are available for a limited time only.

5. Some have tried a “Halo Top diet.”

Back in 2016, one GQ journalist decided to conduct an experiment with himself as the guinea pig by eating nothing but Halo Top ice cream for 10 days straight. The reporter ate five pints a day which totaled to 120 grams of protein, 80 grams of carbs, 60 grams of fat and a total of 1,200 calories each day. At the end of the 10 days, the journalist lost a reported total of 9.9 pounds. Experts, along with the journalist himself warned, that although he lost weight during this “Halo Top diet,” eating exclusively Halo Top (or any ice cream, for that matter) is not an effective or healthy long-term weight loss solution. Variety is key for a healthy diet and Halo Top doesn’t provide enough vitamins and minerals alone to allow you to live off of it and be healthy.

6. Some nutritionists are skeptical about Halo Top’s health benefits.

Halo Top

Because of its low-cal and high-protein makeup, Halo Top is often marketed toward those looking to lose weight without sacrificing their nightly ice cream habit. Many consumers love Halo Top because the 240 calorie-per-pint cap makes them feel like they can eat the whole thing without the post-indulgence “guilt.” But some nutritionists are skeptical about the health benefits of eating a whole pint of Halo Top in one sitting.

Halo Top is sweetened with stevia, a zero-calorie sweetener, and some experts believe that low-calorie sweeteners like this one could actually contribute to weight gain. One 2017 study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found study participants who regularly consumed zero-calorie sweeteners actually gained weight instead of losing it. The researchers speculated that regularly consuming these sugar substitutes could actually make people crave sweeter foods more frequently.

7. Halo Top is sold internationally.

The low-cal ice cream brand is highly popular within the U.S., but it’s also sold beyond the border. As of 2018, you can find Halo Top in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

8. Halo Top freezes harder than other ice creams.

Halo Top

Take a pint of Halo Top out of your freezer and you’ll find that it’s pretty much impossible to stick a spoon into it right away. Halo Top ice cream freezes harder than other ice cream brands because it doesn’t contain the high milk fat and stabilizers that contribute to the softening process.

RELATED

Poll Reveals America’s Favorite Ice Cream Flavor

Halo Top Debuts Vegan Pints For The Dairy-Free Sweet Tooth

The Ultimate Ranking Of Halo Top Flavors