Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is not something you want to indulge in when you are dieting. Their homemade ice cream is so delicious and decadent that I believe you are actually gaining weight while staring at the many delectable flavors available in your grocer’s chill chest.

I ogled the frozen-treat freezer chest recently at my local Provigo, where Ben & Jerry's ice cream is on sale -- two 500 ml cartons for 7$! With a spectacular amount of restraint, I only bought one after examining the nutrition labels of several flavors.

A half cup of their Cinnamon Buns (caramel ice cream with cinnamon bun dough and a cinnamon streusel swirl) ice cream is 290 calories and 15 grams of fat, while their Peanut Butter Cup (peanut butter ice cream with peanut butter cups) ice cream is 340 calories and 24 grams of fat for an equal serving size. And the Powers That Be know I can’t stop at just half a cup!

Fortunately, they do offer lighter options when you are craving something sweet, such as their low-fat version of Cherry Garcia. It is made with a creamy and tangy yogurt, real, fresh cherries that explode with flavor that are the highlight of this fro-yo, and enticing fudge flakes.

What's more, this lighter version of their original Cherry Garcia flavor has a very reasonable 160 calories and 3 grams of fat for that same half-cup portion that tastes nothing like the stale and flavorless low-fat ice creams one typically finds at the grocery store. This is one decadent low-fat treat!

I can definitely deal with that calorie count and the small price I’ll have to pay later to savor some right now – a 40-minute workout on the elliptical trainer.