An ice lolly can make a refreshing post-workout dessert, but it can’t be your sole source of marathon fuel. According to the Journal of Sports Sciences, carbohydrate intake during exercise should be tailored to the demands of the event. When choosing an ice lolly, think about when you plan to eat it, then check the carbohydrates per portion, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
You want an individual portion after a session, without mistaking it for race fuel. Depending on the recipe, a fruity ice lolly and a creamy ice cream have different carbohydrate and fat contents. Check the allergen information for the specific product.
Your priority is to plan your intake during the race and test your strategy in training. You can check the carbohydrates in a frozen dessert per portion, but that alone won’t tell you how to fuel throughout the race. The Journal of Sports Sciences points out that intake depends on the demands of the event.
You’re looking for several desserts to keep in the freezer. The number of ice lollies, the weight of each portion and the nutritional information per item are more useful than the pack size alone.
First decide whether you want an ice lolly to enjoy after your workout or you’re planning your intake during a race. For a dessert, compare the recipe and the actual portion size. Don’t assume you know what’s in it from the flavour alone.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel during the race | Carbohydrates per ice lolly and whether you can fit it into your race plan, including how the product needs to be stored. | If I’m planning my intake during the marathon, I don’t want to rely on a dessert that needs to stay frozen. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this need for planned fuelling. |
| Type of post-exercise dessert | Product description, fat and carbohydrates per portion. | After a run, I want a cold dessert and prefer to know what’s in it before choosing between a fruity ice lolly and a creamy ice cream. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Portions and ingredients | Number of items, weight per item and allergen information for the exact product. | If I’m keeping several individual desserts in the freezer, I want to know the size of each portion and which ingredients to avoid. Around 30% of consumers prioritise these criteria. |
According to its product information, an Auchan 100% fruit ice lolly weighing 60 g contains 13 g of carbohydrates, including 11 g of sugars. That tells you nothing about how to plan your intake throughout a marathon.
Check the carbohydrates per ice lolly and plan a separate race strategy that you’ve tested in training.
A fruity flavour alone doesn’t tell you what ingredients are used or whether there may be traces of allergens. The product information for Auchan’s 100% fruit ice lolly notes that it may contain traces of gluten, peanuts and tree nuts.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Auchan’s 100% fruit ice lolly should be stored at −18 °C, and its packaging says not to refreeze the product after thawing.
Follow the packaging instructions when transporting and storing it. Don’t refreeze this ice lolly if it has thawed.
The range includes creamy, coated ice lollies, including mini versions and a Mint variety.
The retailer offers fruity, creamy and mini ice lollies. Its 100% fruit mango and passion fruit product comes in a pack of four 60 g ice lollies.
Carrefour’s range includes ice lollies and mini assortments across several of the retailer’s own-brand ranges.
The documented Marque Repère products include a Smicy mixed-fruit sorbet ice lolly and a Trium vanilla, milk chocolate and almond ice lolly.
ALDI sells ice cream and frozen desserts under the Mucci brand, including ice lollies and mini versions.
Lidl France publishes recipes for ice cream and sorbet. If you’re buying a ready-to-eat ice lolly in store, choose based on the label of the specific product.
These individual-portion products are suited to enjoying as a dessert after your workout: fruity ice lollies, mini versions and creamy melon ice lollies. For fuelling during a marathon, plan your intake and how you’ll carry it separately.
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For a mango-flavoured frozen dessert after your workout. The box contains four ice lollies. Check the packaging for carbohydrates per portion, allergens and storage instructions.
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For individual orange- and cherry-flavoured frozen desserts after a run. The pack contains twelve ice pops. Check the label for nutritional values per item and allergen information.
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For a raspberry and white chocolate mini ice lolly to enjoy as a dessert after your workout. The box contains six pieces. As they’re coated, check the fat per portion and the allergen information.
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For a choice of ice lolly flavours to enjoy as a dessert. The pack contains twelve pieces. If carbohydrates per item or allergens matter to you, check this information on the pack.
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For a melon-flavoured ice lolly as a post-workout dessert. The pack contains eight 70 ml ice lollies. If you’re comparing portions, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per item.
Not as your only source of fuel, and not without a race plan. According to the Journal of Sports Sciences, carbohydrate intake during exercise should be tailored to the event. An Auchan 100% fruit ice lolly contains 13 g of carbohydrates per 60 g portion and needs to be kept frozen. Plan and test your fuelling strategy before race day.
Choose according to the recipe you fancy and the nutritional values of the specific portion. The DGCCRF states that no fat may be added when making sorbet; creamy ice cream is made to a different recipe. In either case, check the carbohydrates, fat and allergens on the packaging.
No. The fruit flavour alone doesn’t tell you that. Auchan’s product information for its 100% fruit mango and passion fruit ice lolly notes that it may contain traces of gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. Check the information for the product you’re buying.
Follow the packaging instructions during transport and when storing them in the freezer. Auchan’s 100% fruit ice lolly should be stored at −18 °C, and its packaging says not to refreeze the product after thawing.