The Best Non-Dairy Ice Creams That Won’t Hurt Your Gut

If I could go back in time and give my younger, IBS-struggling self one piece of advice, it would be this:

Life is too short to eat puréed frozen bananas and pretend it’s ice cream.

I know, I know. We’ve all been there. Desperately blending frozen bananas at midnight, trying to convince ourselves it tastes “just like the real thing.”

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

And here’s the thing I wish someone had told me years ago: You don’t have to give up ice cream just because you have IBS.

Why “Just Eat Banana Ice Cream” Is Terrible Advice

When I was first navigating my IBS diagnosis, I felt like I had to say goodbye to all my favorite foods. Ice cream? Definitely on the forbidden list.

So I did what many of you probably did: I turned to the internet for “IBS-friendly alternatives.”

The result? Recipes for frozen banana “nice cream,” cashew-based concoctions that tasted like sweetened tree bark, and overly complicated homemade versions that required an ice cream maker and three hours of my life.

Here’s what I learned: Restriction breeds resentment. And resentment makes you miserable.

Instead of eliminating foods you love, my approach is to find alternatives that you actually enjoy AND that work with your gut.

Because you deserve to eat foods that bring you joy—not just foods that won’t make you bloated.

The Non-Dairy Ice Cream Trap (What to Watch Out For)

“Easy!” you might be thinking. “I’ll just buy non-dairy ice cream and call it a day.”

Not so fast.

Many non-dairy ice cream brands are packed with high-FODMAP ingredients that can trigger IBS symptoms just as much as regular dairy ice cream.

❌ Ingredients to Avoid:

Look at the ingredient list and steer clear of these common IBS triggers:

• Inulin (a prebiotic fiber that causes major gas and bloating)
• Erythritol (sugar alcohol found in “low calorie” or “keto” ice creams—hello, digestive distress)
• Agave (high in fructose, a common FODMAP trigger)
• High fructose corn syrup (another fructose bomb)
• Wheat (sometimes used as a thickener or in cookie/brownie mix-ins)
• Chicory root extract (another name for inulin)

Pro tip: The more “healthy,” “low-calorie,” or “high-protein” the ice cream claims to be, the more likely it contains these problematic ingredients. Sometimes the “regular” non-dairy version is actually the better choice for IBS.

My Top 5 IBS-Friendly Non-Dairy Ice Creams

I’ve taste-tested A LOT of non-dairy ice cream this year (tough job, I know). Here are my favorite finds that are both delicious AND won’t trigger your IBS symptoms:

Best Chocolate: Righteous Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate

Why I love it: A true, rich, decadent chocolate experience. Not overly sweet. Not fake-tasting. Just really, really good chocolate ice cream.

IBS-friendly factor: No high-FODMAP ingredients. Clean ingredient list.

Best Fruit Flavour: Nora’s Strawberry

Why I love it: This one genuinely surprised me. It’s incredibly creamy (you’d never guess it’s non-dairy) with a fresh, authentic strawberry flavor—not that artificial, overly sweet taste you get from some fruit ice creams.

IBS-friendly factor: Simple ingredients, no sneaky FODMAPs.

Best Product That Won’t Break the Bank: President’s Choice Coconut Milk

Why I love it: This PC ice cream is almost half the price of premium brands, but don’t let the lower price fool you—it’s just as creamy and delicious as the expensive stuff.

IBS-friendly factor: Coconut milk base with minimal ingredients. Available in multiple flavors.

Where to find it: Loblaws, No Frills, and other stores carrying PC products (Canadian readers, you’re in luck!).

Budget tip: This is my go-to recommendation for clients who want to keep non-dairy ice cream in regular rotation without breaking the bank.

Best Big Brand: Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia

Why I love it: Ben & Jerry’s makes some of the best non-dairy ice cream on the market, hands down. BUT—and this is important—many of their flavors contain wheat in the mix-ins.

The exception: Cherry Garcia doesn’t contain wheat, making it IBS-friendly. While it might not be their most popular flavor, it’s absolutely delicious with sweet cherries and dark chocolate chunks.

IBS-friendly factor: Watch out for other B&J flavors, but Cherry Garcia gets the green light.

Where to find it: Widely available at most grocery stores.

Best Bar: So Delicious Coconut Almond Bars

Why I love it: Full confession—I avoided So Delicious for YEARS. They were one of the original non-dairy brands, and if you remember the early days… the products weren’t great.

But they’ve seriously upped their game. Their ice cream bars are creamy, perfectly portioned, and genuinely satisfying.

IBS-friendly factor: Simple coconut milk base with an almond coating. No weird additives.

Where to find it: Most major grocery stores carry them in the frozen section.

Bonus: Perfect for portion control if you tend to overeat ice cream from a pint (no judgment—we’ve all been there).

Why Finding Your Food Freedom Matters

Here’s something I talk about with my clients all the time:

IBS management isn’t just about avoiding trigger foods. It’s about finding JOY in eating again.

When you’re constantly restricting, constantly afraid of food, constantly settling for subpar alternatives… it takes a toll on your mental health AND your relationship with food.

I’ve worked with so many clients who’ve spent years:

• Avoiding social situations involving food
• Feeling anxious every time they eat
• Missing out on life experiences because of their gut
• Settling for foods they don’t even enjoy

This is not the life you’re meant to live.

Yes, managing IBS requires some dietary modifications. But those modifications should expand your life, not shrink it.

Your Turn: What’s Your Favorite IBS-Friendly Ice Cream?

Have you found a non-dairy ice cream that works for your gut and actually tastes amazing? Drop it in the comments below! I’m always on the hunt for new recommendations to share with my clients.