Summer Memories: The Good Humor Ice Cream Truck

The sweetest sound of summer is the tinny music tinkling a warning that the Good Humor ice cream truck is in your neighborhood. As soon as the music is heard children run to their parents, clamoring for money to buy a cold sweet treat. It was always a race against time to force them to capitulate before the truck meandered on down to the next neighborhood. Unfortunately when I was young the ice cream truck hit our neighborhood right before dinner. I wasn't allowed the treat often but when I was I treasured every last bite.

I recall the joys of an achingly cold Bullet, the red, white and blue popsicle that stained tongue, lips, face and hands. The sherbet in a plastic cone with the gumdrop at the bottom was a fun treat. The almond crunch bar had an exotic flavor back in the 70s. Yet my absolute, all time, decadent favorite was the chocolate coated vanilla ice cream bar with a solid chocolate candy center.

Now that I'm an adult I still feel the visceral thrill when I hear the ice cream truck pull into the parking lot at our community pool. I almost feel like a girl again, ready to leap up and beg my parents for money before the truck leaves. Only now I have money. I also can't eat ice cream the way I could as a girl. Especially at a pool, in my bikini, with my stomach waiting to bloat out with the smallest nudge.

I decided to do a little research and find out which Good Humor products are better choices for adults who struggle with weight and health. After all, it's been proven that eating the occasional treat in moderation is actually good for you. It keeps your cravings in check and you don't feel deprived.

My favorite, Candy Center Crunch, has 310 calories, 23 grams of fat and 19 calories. It has 10% of RDA of calcium but it's still pretty bad for you- but oh so decadent. Not the best choice for the health conscious. Everyone should try it once though!

The Chocolate Éclair bar usually came in second place for me. It's vanilla ice cream with a chocolate ice cream center, with a "cake-like" coating. Yum! It has 220 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 16 grams of sugars. A little better but definitely not health food.