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Healthy Swaps-Root Beer Float

If you're vigilant about your sugar intake, one old-fashioned treat that you would never even consider is a root beer float.

Sugary soda with a giant scoop of ice cream? No way. Well, here's a way.

You can use diet root beer, cream soda, or cola if that's all you've got on hand. Otherwise, buy some sugar-free, flavored syrup and mix it with seltzer water. (Make sure the seltzer is new; don't use it if it's even just a tiny bit flat). These syrups are sold in dozens of flavors, so you can experiment with vanilla, cola, cherry, grape, coconut, caramel, etc. Add one scoop of no-sugar added or low-carb ice cream (don't forget to look at carbs, calories and fat when comparing varieties). Depending on the ice cream you choose, you can end up savoring this nostalgic indulgence while taking in only 140 calories and 6 grams of carbs (the stats from one-half cup of Edy's Carb Benefit Vanilla Bean).







Reviewed by Susan Weiner, R.D., M.S., C.D.E., C.D.N. 3/08