Counting Carbs--how many in scoop of gelato?
 

Since the last time enjoying gelato in Italy I now have to count carbs and need
to know approximately how many carbs are in a scoop of gelato. From the
gelato I have checked at the grocery store it is about the same as regular
ice cream. However, I don't know if the gelato in Italy would be different.
I know this may sound like a strange concern, but I need to know. How sad it
would be to go to Italy and not get to have gelato!!!!!!!
Thanks.

Doesn't it matter what the "flavor" is? Some gelati have a lot of nuts, others are made of whole fruit. Would a grapefruit gelato be different from a fig gelato scoop? A coffee as opposed to a chocolate?

But you don't want the cone!

This might help you, since it's a chain that markets gelato worldwide including italy.

http://www.mondogelato.com/content/gelato/nutrition.php

increasingly i see yoghurt and soy flavors of gelato in italian gelaterie

Just climb a few more domes and towers to work it off. And then there's the pasta...

If you have to ask you can't afford it. :)

While on vacation in Italy, the gelato, pasta, pizza, etc. have no carbs and NO calories!! :)

What is your definition of regular ice cream. In the US, most ice cream has a high percentage of air so you can't compare ice cream to gelato in Italy. Per 1/2 cup serving of vanilla, Breyer's has 16 grams of carbs; Ben & Jerry's has 22 grams of carbs since it's a much denser ice cream. Calories and carbs will be higher for premium ice creams.

Ouch! I don't think any of us WANT to know the answer to that question. Good luck in your quest to stay on the "carb counting program." I know living here I could even fathom that... just too many temptations! For more info on gelato, here's a post I did with many of the "better" locations. I've got a few more to add, and hope to update soon! Have fun and enjoy the gelato - however much you can have!

http://www.roninrome.com/2009/03/03/...rome-gelato-2/

Thanks to everyone. I think I am going to go with the assumption that most gelato will have about 25 carbs per
l/2 cup. May be wrong but think I will be safe with that.
I am a diabetic and have to count carbs,but just thankful
I can do that and still partake of very small portions of
all the goodies. I actually eat ice cream every night for my
bed time snack because I have a difficult time keeping up my
weight and the doctor told me to eat it because of high calorie content and not so high carbs.

I figured this was for a medical reason, good luck to you violetduck on your trip. Fortunately Italy also has loads of great food besides carbs... along the lines of meat dishes, cheeses, salamis, amazing vegetable preparations too. Personally pasta is far down my list of things I'd be looking to eat in Italy!

What's a carb? One gram of carbohydrates? If so, the fruit flavored gelato will be in the area of 90-120 calories per 100g (about 3.6 ounces) and the calories will be only from the sugar. That means 22-30 grams of carbohydrates.

For non-fruit flavors (including the nut flavors that are often the most revered gelato flavors) the calorie content will be from 180-220 per 100g, with about 1/2 from fats and about 1/2 from sugars (with a small amount from protein because of the milk base). These are closer to the ice cream you eat to maintain your weight.

suze, thanks for your encouragement. Actually, I am a vegetarian so that makes the carb situation even more difficult. I remember the Caprese salad when there before and
could actually live on those if necessary! :)Seemed to taste much better there than the ones I have tried here.

BigRuss-Thank you for the helpful information. For me calories are good so maybe I will have less of my favorite
limone gelato and try some new flavors.

Violet, the GROM gelato chain posts in it outlets all its nutritional information for its various products (gelato, sorbets, hot chocolate, etc.)

They're also available online: http://www.grom.it/eng/info_nutrizionali.php

That includes sugars within carbs.

Hope it's helpful. I think GROM makes a good product!

violetduck, oh dear you're right of course... low carb and vegetarian is a tricky one!

sacc-Great help, thanks so much. GROM is in two places we will be and I have already written down the addresses.
It shows one small cup (100 grams or about 3.50 ounces)of
their gelato to range from 16 to 24 carbs and 180 to 240 calories. Knowing exactly how many carbs I am getting makes it much more enjoyable.
Enjoyed the scenery on Grom's website also.

Hi Violet, I really like GROM -- the gelato is great and it's helpful to have all the nutritional info. I tend not to worry about calories on vacation, but for people with medical conditions I know it's important that they know what they're getting.

And every GROM I've been in -- Florence, Perugia, Ferrara -- have posted all the nutritional info so it's easy to double-check.

Have a great trip!