Blue Bell Vs Tillamook: Which Chocolate Ice Cream Is Healthier?

There aren't many desserts that are as refreshing and indulgent as a scoop of chocolate ice cream. With so many popular brands selling this classic flavor, two that stand out in the bunch are Blue Bell and Tillamook. The differences are largely in taste and texture, but when comparing both brands' chocolate ice creams, they are actually quite evenly matched as far as nutrition.

For example, while Blue Bell has a slightly lower calorie count per serving than Tillamook, the latter has far less sodium. Of course, you should also keep in mind that either of these sweet treats can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Choosing the right chocolate ice cream for you will come down to your specific dietary needs as well as your own preferences for taste and texture.

By the numbers, the two brands stack up fairly close together. In a ⅔ cup serving, Blue Bell's Dutch Chocolate has 210 calories, while Tillamook's chocolate ice cream has 220. Comparing total fat and saturated fat, Blue Bell's has 12 grams and 7 grams, respectively. In contrast, Tillmook's contains 13 grams of total fat and 8 grams of saturated fat. Notably, both list 0 grams of trans fat per serving. There are still several other factors to consider, though.

Looking at cholesterol and carbohydrate content, both Blue Bell and Tillamook chocolate ice creams are relatively close in numbers. Blue Bell's contains 45 milligrams of cholesterol versus Tillamook's 40 milligrams. Tillamook contains slightly fewer carbs than Blue Bell: 22 compared to 24 grams. The biggest difference between the two chocolate ice creams is sodium. A serving of Blue Bell's Dutch Chocolate contains 85 milligrams of sodium, while Tillamook's chocolate flavor has just 50 milligrams.

As for fiber, Blue Bell contains less than a gram, whereas Tillamook's lists a single gram. Tillamook also has 21 grams of total sugars to Blue Bell's 22 grams. Both contain 4 grams of protein and just over 1 milligram of iron, though Blue Bell does have 20 milligrams more of calcium and 50 milligrams more of potassium.

Notably, Blue Bell's Dutch Chocolate was towards the bottom of Tasting Table's ranking of Blue Bell ice cream flavors, while Tillamook's placed seventh in a roundup of 11 chocolate ice creams from popular brands. Fans of Blue Bell's Dutch Chocolate ice cream praise its flavor, and while Tillamook certainly has many fans, some customers have questioned whether it's worth the price. With both being so similar in terms of nutrition, it's up to you to determine which is the overall best for your needs.