Here's the Scoop: When to Indulge in Frozen Treats

AS SUMMER APPROACHES, our thoughts turn to that most tempting of hot-weather treats: ice cream. (Full disclosure: We've had Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day — today! — on our calendar for a long time.) Unfortunately, many a conscientious calorie counter has met his or her downfall at a local scoop shop. How can a sweet tooth face beach season?

First, don't deny yourself what you want. "You should really balance it with everything else," says Kathy B. Glazer, owner of Glazer Nutrition Counseling Services in Falls Church.

"If you have a healthy diet, you can have a treat 10 to 20 percent of the time" — so, one or two sweets every 10 days or so. Glazer advises those concerned about their weight to watch their portion size, as most ice cream servings are measured by the measly half-cup. Start by choosing a frozen dessert that's low in calories and fats, such as sorbet (which is basically fruit, sugar and ice), then eat only one or two scoops. Gelato and frozen yogurt can be lighter than regular ice cream, as well.

Local ice cream shops dish out plenty of alternatives, too. Dolcezza (1560 Wisconsin Ave. NW) features a gelato menu with champagne mango and grapefruit campari flavors, while Alexandria's The Dairy Godmother (2310 Mount Vernon Ave.) sells sangria, lemon lavender and pink grapefruit sorbets. Gifford's (555 11th St. NW) serves up a tempting blood orange sorbet.

But if you find yourself in line at a Ben & Jerry's, a free cone won't hurt you. Try a cup of sorbet: Strawberry Kiwi, Mango Mango and Berry Berry Extraordinary are some of the lightest options on offer — each has about 100 calories per half-cup.