When the summer heat starts taking its toll, one of American’s favorite things to do is head to the local ice cream shop for some cool, sweet relief. Dairy Queen, or DQ, is American’s largest ice cream chain restaurant, with more than 6000 stores nationwide. From the popular Blizzard treat to that famous curly-Q on top of their sundaes, Dairy Queen’s soft serve ice cream treats are as iconic as good ol’ American apple pie.
For those who love ice cream and want to indulge sensibly, here are five delicious and diet-conscious options at Dairy Queen that will have your taste buds doing the happy dance while you rejoice that your favorite pair of pants still button easily. Bon appetit!
1. Small Chocolate or Vanilla Cone with Sprinkles
280 calories, 7 grams of fat (Chocolate is 290 calories)
Bring our your inner kid with a simple soft serve cone in your choice of chocolate or vanilla ice cream with lots of brightly colored sprinkles for less than 300 calories. Be sure to get plenty of napkins! If you want to cut back on even more calories, skip the sprinkles or ask the staff to go light on them. Yummy!
2. Small Pineapple or Banana Sundae
230 calories, 7 grams of fat
When it comes to being weight conscious, you’re in luck: nearly all of Dairy Queen’s small-sized sundaes are less than 300 calories each. The pineapple and banana varieties come in at just 230 calories each, while the chocolate, strawberry, marshmallow and caramel clock in at 260-290 calories each. Hot fudge falls on the line at 300 total calories, so they’re are definitely lots of sundae choices that have reasonable calorie counts at DQ.
3. Mini Banana Split Blizzard
290 calories, 8 grams of fat
Ahh, the Blizzard. It is perhaps Dairy Queen’s most familiar treat. Unfortunately, nearly all of these tasty ice cream concoctions are far, far, far above the 300 calorie mark (some even go up to 1400 calories). The one exception is the Mini size Banana Split Blizzard. With just 290 calories and eight grams of fat, it’s a good choice for an occasional treat that won’t undo an entire day of healthy eating.
4. Kid’s Size Chocolate or Cherry Dipped Cone
220 calories, 9 grams of fat
When I was a kid, I would practically beg my mother to take me to Dairy Queen for a vanilla cone dipped in the bright red cherry shell. As it turns out, you can still eat that childhood favorite of mine. Choose vanilla or chocolate ice cream with either a cherry or chocolate shell in a kid’s size and you’ll be able to indulge deliciously and wisely.
5. Dilly Bar (Regular or Mint flavor)
240 calories, 15 grams of fat
The Dilly Bar is available in Dairy Queen’s take-home product freezer in boxes, but did you know it is also available behind the counter? Order up your either mint or original vanilla and your snack will have just 240 calories. Take home a whole box for the family if you like! Everyone loves a Dilly Bar.
