Cream is full of calories (per 100ml: Fresh Double Cream 449kcal; Fresh Whipping Cream 373kcal; Canned Sterilised Cream 239kcal). What alternatives could you use which would still taste good, but not throw your daily calorie quota out of the window?

Table 1: Low Cream Alternatives Compared Product Crème Fraiche, Healthy Eating, Half Fat, Tesco* Crème Fraiche, Be Good to Yourself, 50% Less Fat, Sainsbury's Organic Natural Yogurt, Virtually Fat Free, Sainsbury's Ranking Calories Per Serving 50ml† serving



85kcal 29g† pack 47.6kcal 100g† pack 71kcal Calories Per 100ml/g 170kcal 164kcal 71kcal Fat Per Serving 7.5g 4.4g 1.2g Fat Per 100ml 15g 15g 1.2g Conclusion Looked the picture of pure delight. Thick and creamy with a good consistency. Although obviously similar to the other Crème Fraiche, all agreed this one came out top for a mouth watering, well-balanced taste. A pleasant tasting alternative to cream with a good consistency A good alternative to cream. Looked delicious and tasted good. Some felt the taste overpowered the taste of the strawberries a little. However if you like yogurt, you'll like this. Overall held its own.

Table 2: More Low Cream Alternatives Compared Product Crème Fraiche, Healthy Choice, Half Fat, Safeway* Evaporated Milk, Asda* Single, Light, Elmlea* Ranking Calories Per Serving 30ml† serving



71kcal 50g† serving



80kcal 30ml serving † pack 37.2kcal Calories Per 100g/ml 165kcal 160 kcal 124 kcal Fat Per Serving 4.4g 4.5g 2.9g Fat Per 100g/ml 14.6g 9g 9.2g Conclusion Looked tempting to eat. Good consistency with a pleasant, creamy taste. A pleasant, good dairy cream taste. Good, positive comments. Although runny, a good alternative to cream. Extremely hard to judge this one in a cream test - had the taste and consistency of milk but was not unpleasant.

Table 3: More Low Cream Alternatives Compared Product Real Dairy Cream, 35% Less Fat, Asda* Carnation, Light, Nestle* Swirls, Light, Half Fat Real Cream, Anchor Ranking Calories Per Pack 30ml† serving



14.4 kcal 25g† serving



27.5kcal 30ml† serving 13.5kcal Calories Per 100g/ml 48 kcal 110 kcal 45 kcal Fat Per Serving 1.2g 1g 1.2g Fat Per 100g/ml 4.1g 4g 3.9g Conclusion Thin in consistency but a pleasant taste. In comparison with Anchor's spray cream this one came out on top. Looked unappetizing and tasted very watery, with a sharp and sour taste. The panelists agreed you needed the taste of strawberries to wash away the taste of the milk, as it leaves a 'chemical taste' in the mouth. Looked very artificial and a 'fake' version of cream. Very little taste of anything. In fact, one of our panelists said his 'shaving cream probably tasted better'.

†Retailer's Recommended Portion Size

We think we found some good alternatives to the full fat creams. You don't have to miss out on this treat but be a little careful what you choose. For a satisfying creamy taste and texture try low fat Crème Fraiche, (notably Tesco's Healthy Eating); for a particularly low calorie option try Sainsbury's Virtually Fat free yogurt, or if you're into evaporated milk Asda's is worth a whirl!