Geez, could I make that headline sound any more like clickbait? Thing is, I do have something to discuss. I usually do a preliminary check on what the top ten new reviews of the year will be sometime in early December. Things don't change much at the end of the year so it gives me a sense of where we have been and where we are going. For the past 9 years, the top ten has effectively been "what has Ben & Jerry's been up to?"
Well, not this year. The #1 post of the year is my end of 2016 review of enlightened ice cream with a healthy 30% margin over it's nearest competitor, my mid summer post about Breyers going after Halo Top. That post has a 60% margin over what will be my number one new review of 2017. In other words, "healthy" ice cream is the most popular topic on a blog that has spent almost a decade enjoying premium and super premium ice cream. It also means that the most popular topic is something I can't eat because it doesn't make me feel well. This is not good.
Am I saying I'm giving up? No, that's not it. The blog still had a respectable half a million pageviews so that's reason enough to press on, but I have been using this downtime to think about how to handle 2018. Well, that and a boatload of work to do in the real world that will keep me busy for at least another month. In 2018 I want to try harder to adapt to our modern world but I don't want to be here just to add noise in the background, I want to continue to be a reliable (and relevant) place to get freezer aisle ice cream info to you, my fellow ice cream enthusiast.
Alright, time for some reading and then off to bed. Top ten will be up next week.
Do bottom ten too! Worst ice creams
ReplyDeleteI'll try but I make no promises as I'm not sure how to get that specific with google analytics (finding top ten is quite easy)
ReplyDeleteI also can't eat those "healthy" ice creams because of digestive issues Tbh even if I could, I'm not sure I'd want to...the real stuff is just so good! As long as companies keep making regular premium/super premium ice cream, I'll keep buying it, and I'll probably keep reading any reviews you want to write!
ReplyDeleteThis might be kind of a fad that dies down, or at least regresses to normal, after the novelty wears off. Only time will tell
It seems like there is always some kind of "healthy alternative" on the market, so I do lean towards thinking this will be akin to something like the greek froyo fad, but only time will tell for sure.
ReplyDeleteLol on "the top ten is usually 'what has Ben and Jerry's been up to?'".
ReplyDeleteThey always have interesting new flavors, I've collected the lids for a while now and have a fun collection. What's great is the flavors are never overdone or too artificial tasting. If anything, they err on the side of good ice cream rather than novelty flavor.
Sigh of RELIEF! For a minute there I thought you were going in another direction with this post! I’ll read wherever your want to write about but I don’t care much about healthy ice creams. Only because I work out hard and when I do indulge I want only the best. And healthy has not reached that level of deliciousness yet!
ReplyDeleteI read your posts whether I can (no gluten for me) or want to eat (I hate coconut and coffee) the item you are reviewing. I find your site entertaining, review what you want to review, I will read it because you usually make me laugh at least once :)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Dubba!
Don't scare me - I'm all about healthy ice cream, but I love your reviews. Maybe they'll create something healthy you can eat :) Happy Holidays!!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think healthy “ice cream” is a fad. I think it’s also worth noting that super premium high end ice cream is really trendy right now. While some seek healthy - others are indulging. Good ice cream will always be in.
ReplyDelete@Aleksandr: thought of a way to do bottom ten that's not too hard to compile, so I will post it in a few days.
ReplyDelete@Joshua: I can be a little hard on B&J's from time to time but I will always be a fan.
@Anon: and it never will :)
@Sophia: Merry Christmas to you too!
@NCgirl: Happy Holidays! I miss the days of double churn and slow churn being the primary healthy alternative.
@Anon#2: I would love to know how much market share the trendy high end stuff really takes up. I know it does great (and looks great) on social media, but how much of total sales is it really? I should try to dig that info up.
These silly trends come and go. I think it’s psychological. I can eat a serving of awesome ice cream and feel satisfied - or I can eat an entire pint of fake, chalky, airy stuff ... and not have to exercise self control. People eat the entire thing because there is nothing to it. I’ve tried it. It’s ok for what it is. But if I’m eating ice cream, I want ice cream.
ReplyDeleteThe funny part is "healthy" ice cream is usually chock full of artificial sweetner crap that is horrible for your health.
ReplyDelete@Latchkey: ha! yeah, we were having this discussion on facebook but things went a little sideways.
ReplyDeleteWe were? Do we know each other outside of this blog? I knew you were familiar! Small world!
ReplyDeletehardy har har, very funny! :)
ReplyDeleteI meant me and other readers of the blog!
Gotcha. I actually did have a discussion online the other day and it denigrated into a political discussion lol
DeleteDoesn't everything?!
ReplyDeletePretty much lol
DeleteI tend to read about what I am currently eating (a habit which my family finds amusing xD) so when I'm eating ice cream (which is often) here I am reading your articles. Keep up the great work! :3
ReplyDelete