Don't Be So Vanilla

I have a friend whose favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla. Not vanilla bean, mind you. Plain old vanilla. When we would go out to the ice cream parlor, he would always order vanilla, without any toppings, and be perfectly happy. I thought he was nuts.
Or that maybe he should have added some nuts.

Well, eventually I convinced him to bump it up to strawberry. And soon after that, he opted to have strawberries on top!!
I was so proud...

Today I'm reviewing Arctic Zero "Ice Cream" - Vanilla.  I use quotations around ice cream because it isn't like normal ice cream and it certainly doesn't have all the fat and calories of normal ice cream.  According to their website:

Arctic Zero™ is:
• All Natural
• Low Carb
• Fat Free
• Gluten Free
• Kosher
• Lactose Intolerant-Friendly
• Made With High Quality Whey Protein Concentrate  

Because it is made with whey protein, it clocks in at only 32 calories per 1/2 cup. In other words, you can eat an ENTIRE pint of Vanilla Arctic Zero for only 136 calories. That in itself is amazing. TRULY! 

So how does it hold up to regular ice cream? Well the texture is pretty DARN close. It's creamy and smooth like ice cream, maybe more like a reduced fat version that you buy in the supermarket. It melts the same and doesn't have a dry or chemical taste. 

As for taste, it's really good!! It's not a really indulgent flavor, but it definitely tastes like vanilla and a touch of maple (which is advertised on the carton).  The only thing is that it doesn't leave much of an aftertaste. This is good and bad. Most foods leave you with the taste of that flavor in your mouth. A gross example would be a chemical aftertaste. A good example would be like chocolate cake. Arctic Zero doesn't have one at all. Suddenly, you've swallowed and it's gone. 
Onto the next bite then! Which is okay because you can have more bites without more calories. LOVE IT!

Arctic Zero™ has a handful of other flavors, too, including:
Chocolate
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Strawberry Banana
Mint Chocolate Cookie

I have seen all except the Mint Chocolate Cookie sold near me (at Sprout's Farmer's Market).  I will review Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter soon. Overall, I would say this product is totally worth buying, especially if you have a hard time sticking to the portion size of 1/2 cup. 

I guess my friend wasn't so nuts. He just recognized that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  :)

Arctic Zero Website.  
First Photo from Arctic Zero Website above.