ICEE: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits

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A 12 fl oz ICEE in cherry or blue raspberry has about 95 calories and 24g of sugar, per ICEE's own table. A 16 fl oz cup at Auntie Anne's lists about 140 calories and 37g of sugar. It is all sugar with no protein, fat or fiber.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 small cup (12 fl oz) frozen ICEE, cherry or blue raspberry

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	95 kcal
Protein	0g
Carbohydrates	24g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	24g
Fat	0g
Sodium	5 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

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NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

ICEE's published label is for a 12 fl oz cup, where 95 kcal looks small. The cup sizes at theaters and convenience stores run larger, and a 16 fl oz cup reaches about 140 kcal and 37g of sugar, which is above the American Heart Association limit of 36g of added sugar a day for men and 25g for women. The drink is liquid sugar with no protein or fiber, and the cold makes it easy to finish fast. Pick the small, drink it slowly, and have it after a meal instead of on an empty stomach.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: An ICEE is mostly ice, so it has hardly any sugar.

TRUTH: A 12 fl oz cup has about 24g of sugar and a 16 fl oz cup about 37g. The ice is frozen sweetened syrup whipped with air, not plain water, so a cup holds about two-thirds of the sugar in the same volume of regular soda. ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product); Eat This Much: ICEE Blue Raspberry, 16 fl oz (Auntie Anne's)

MYTH #2: Cherry and blue raspberry differ a lot in calories.

TRUTH: ICEE lists both at 95 kcal and 24g sugar per 12 fl oz. Most ICEE flavors share the same numbers; only Cherry Lime (23g carbs) and Red White and Boom (100 kcal) differ. ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product)

MYTH #3: A small ICEE fits easily into a low-sugar day.

TRUTH: The 12 fl oz cup has 24g of sugar, about the full 25g daily added-sugar limit the American Heart Association sets for women. ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product); American Heart Association: Added Sugars

MYTH #4: Because it has no fat, it will not affect weight or health.

TRUTH: Liquid sugar adds calories without making you feel full. Large studies link regular sugary drink intake to weight gain and type 2 diabetes risk. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		Liquid sugar with no protein or fiber, so 95 to 140+ kcal adds up without filling you. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks; ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product)
Muscle Gain		0g protein. It works only as a quick carb source, and a sports drink does that better. ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product)
Diabetes Management		24g to 37g of fast-absorbed sugar with no fiber, protein or fat to slow the rise. American Heart Association: Added Sugars; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks
Heart Health		A 16 fl oz cup passes the daily added-sugar limit for most adults in one drink. American Heart Association: Added Sugars; Eat This Much: ICEE Blue Raspberry, 16 fl oz (Auntie Anne's)
Low Sodium		Only 5 to 10 mg of sodium per cup. ICEE: Flavors and nutrition facts (per 12 fl oz frozen expanded product); Eat This Much: ICEE Blue Raspberry, 16 fl oz (Auntie Anne's)

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

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Blood Sugar Response to ICEE

A 12 fl oz ICEE delivers 24g of sugar as liquid with no fiber, protein or fat, so glucose climbs within the first 30 minutes and falls back after about two hours. A 16 fl oz cup with 37g of sugar gives a higher, longer peak. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Sugary Drinks; American Heart Association: Added Sugars

Estimated Blood Sugar Response (1 small, 12 fl oz ICEE)

Modeled estimate for a person without diabetes, not a measured trace. Individual responses vary.

How to flatten the spike

Order the small and sip it slowly instead of finishing a large.
Have it after a meal with protein and fiber, not on an empty stomach.
Walk for 10 to 15 minutes afterwards to bring glucose down faster.
Count the 24g to 37g of carbs if you track carbs or use insulin.

Cultural Significance

The ICEE Company started in 1967 in Los Angeles as Western ICEE, later became ICEE USA and then The ICEE Company, and expanded across the US into Mexico and Canada. J&J Snack Foods bought it in 1987 and still owns it. The company calls ICEE the No. 1 frozen beverage brand worldwide. You find it at movie theaters, convenience stores and snack stands, and cherry and blue raspberry remain the classic pair.

Compare & Substitute

ICEE vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Sugar-free frozen slush (12 oz)	Unsweetened iced tea with lemon (12 oz)	Sparkling water with a splash of juice (12 oz)	Plain Greek yogurt smoothie, homemade (8 oz)
Calories	15 kcal	2 kcal	20 kcal	110 kcal
Protein	0g	0g	0g	10g
Carbohydrates	4g	0.5g	5g	12g
Fat	0g	0g	0g	2g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in an ICEE?

ICEE lists 95 calories for a 12 fl oz cup of cherry or blue raspberry. A 16 fl oz blue raspberry ICEE at Auntie Anne's lists about 140 calories.

How much sugar is in an ICEE?

A 12 fl oz cup has 24g of sugar and a 16 fl oz cup about 37g. The AHA recommends no more than 36g of added sugar a day for men and 25g for women.

Is an ICEE healthier than soda?

Not really. Air whipped into the frozen drink makes it lighter, so a 12 fl oz cup has about 24g of sugar against 39g in 12 oz of cola, but it is still liquid sugar with nothing else.

Do cherry and blue raspberry ICEEs have different nutrition?

No. ICEE lists both at 95 calories, 24g carbs and 24g sugar per 12 fl oz.

Does an ICEE have caffeine?

Most fruit flavors do not. Cola flavors may contain some, and ICEE does not publish caffeine on its nutrition table, so check the cup or ask the store.