Warmer weather means a lot of things -- the re-introduction of shorts, T-shirts and flip flops into the wardrobe, lazy afternoons spent ambling around outside, and, of course, sweet cold treats consumed on park benches. Any calorie-conscious eater knows that ice cream is out -- it's just got way too much sugar, fat and calories to justify.

An alternative? Gelato, which seems to be available on every street corner, is just as cool, refreshing and delicious. In fact, gelato is usually considered a lower calorie alternative to ice cream. But is it any wiser for the waistline? What do you think?


The answer is 440 calories, including 18 g of fat! That's in a full cup serving, so bear in mind that you can halve that number by sticking to the standard small half cup (4.2 oz) serving. It also matters what kind of gelato you're having -- the calorie count is for the Italian Tiramisu kind, which sounds delicious -- and deliciously sinful. Most of the creamier gelatos are high in calories, whereas if you opt for a fruit variety, the calorie and fat count is much lower.

Overall, gelato does have less fat than ice cream -- but it's still got its fair share of sugar and calories. Bottom line? Proceed with caution.