10 Healthiest And Unhealthiest Chocolate Ice Creams For Your Summer Social

Ice cream socials are the perfect way to kiss summer goodbye on a sweet note. While vanilla tastes delicious with almost any topping, chocolate doesn't really need anything but itself. Chocolate ice cream is legendary — the first recipe for this indulgent dessert was published in Naples, Italy, in 1692 — and has been around for even longer than vanilla ice cream. But most people who enjoy a frozen treat at their social are nervous about the calorie count — and with good reason.

Breyer's has a lower calorie count and fewer grams of sugar per serving than any of the other ice creams we considered, which is why it tops the list as the healthiest store-bought ice cream to serve at your summer social.

Calories: 130 per ½ cup

Sodium: 50 milligrams

Cholesterol: 25 milligrams

Total Fat: 7 grams

Sugar: 12 grams

Comparatively, Blue Bunny only narrowly escaped being the healthiest chocolate ice cream brand because of its slightly higher sugar content. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 130  per ½ cup

Sodium: 40 milligrams

Cholesterol: 25 milligrams

Total Fat: 6 grams

Sugar: 14 grams

Creeping up in calories, Edy's/Dreyer's are only slight off the health mark. They get extra points for being the lowest in sodium on the list. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 140 per ½ cup

Sodium: 35 milligrams

Cholesterol: 25 milligrams

Total Fat: 7 grams

Sugar: 15 grams

There isn't anything "Friendly" about this high amount of sodium. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 150 per ½ cup

Sodium: 40 milligrams

Cholesterol: 30 milligrams

Total Fat: 8 grams

Sugar: 13 grams

A favorite ice cream of Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, this beloved and familiar brand came out as No. 6 in terms of nutritional value. While its sodium content is on the higher side of its competitor's, the sugar, cholesterol, and calories are all lower than those in some other brands. — Lauren Gordon

Nutritional Info:

Calories: 150 per ½ cup

Sodium: 45 milligrams

Cholesterol: 25 milligrams

Total Fat: 7 grams

Sugar: 14 grams

Just because it lost the lactose doesn't mean it will help you lose the pounds. This chocolate ice cream is high in sodium, sugar, and fat, making it one of the unhealthiest choices.

Calories: 160 per ½ cup

Sodium: 40 milligrams

Cholesterol: 10 milligrams

Total Fat: 8 grams

Sugar: 13 grams

Branching into a whole new caloric bracket is Blue Bell Ice Cream. With its high sugar and fat content, it is hard to believe this isn't the worst on the list. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 180 per ½ cup

Sodium: 85 milligrams

Cholesterol: 35 milligrams

Total Fat: 9 grams

Sugar: 21 grams

Though known for their wild flavors, this famous firm's regular chocolate ice cream obviously is obviously pretty decadent itself. The high calorie count will pack on the pounds.

Calories: 250 per ½ cup

Sodium: 60 milligrams

Cholesterol: 50 milligrams

Total Fat: 14 grams

Sugar: 23 grams

For a generally health-conscious company, Trader Joe's shocked us by turning up as the second-unhealthiest ice cream on our list. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 250 per ½ cup

Sodium: 45 milligrams

Cholesterol: 65 milligrams

Total Fat: 16 grams

Sugar: 23 grams

The worst contender on our list in terms of nutrition is this classic brand. With a scary amount of calories, fat, and sugar, it may be worth skipping over in the freezer aisle. — Lauren Gordon

Calories: 260 per ½ cup

Sodium: 45 milligrams

Cholesterol: 90 milligrams

Total Fat: 17 grams

Sugar: 19 grams