The sun beat down on our backs and glimmered on our skin. We were wholeheartedly enjoying another spring break, and our mouths were craving something cold and satisfying.

Walking through the outdoor shopping streets, we realized that there were several different options for frozen yogurt. We instantly decided that nothing would be better than a smooth ice-cream-like texture, complete with juicy and delicious fruits.

Frozen yogurt has recently become a popular commodity, indoors and outdoors, winter or summer. A healthy alternative to ice cream, frozen yogurt is helping to make better diet choices easier.

There are a variety of flavor options, but every store is guaranteed to have the original tart flavor, strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.

Next are the fruit toppings, often including mango, kiwi, blueberries, bananas and strawberries. Combining two of the sweetest fruit groups, fruit and sugars, it is no wonder this treat is on the rise.

There are a variety of stores that offer several different options. Tyson’s Corner Center offers at least three different types of frozen yogurt stores.

Our personal favorite is Fruity Yogurt, located on the second floor above the Wasabi sushi restaurant and next to Auntie Anne’s toward the exit.

This frozen yogurt place has so many choices, and has only 20 calories per ounce of frozen yogurt. There are almost no restrictions to how much yogurt or fruit can be placed in an order. There are two options for cup sizes; larger and huge.

You have the ability to choose what flavors and how much. There is no limit to the number of flavors or number of toppings.

The toppings include candy, nuts, baked goods, syrups and original fruit.

However, you will have to pay a certain price for the abundance of toppings and yogurt that fill the cup, by ounce. Further, it is not particularly expensive; it is definitely cheaper than ice cream places like Coldstone or Maggie Moo’s.

The other option we have tried in Tyson’s Corner Center is called Yogen Fruz, a kiosk located on the first floor right across from H&M.

This yogurt place also has many options. There are frozen fruits that you can mix with vanilla or the traditional tart to create a new flavor, like mango, strawberry or mint.

Then there are several fruit options as well as a few nut options, but the abundance of toppings is limited to the amount the server can stick onto the yogurt because the dishes are not as deep. Yogen Fruz is a little more expensive, but just as tasty.

Frozen Yogurt places are popping up all over the region, so be sure to take advantage of this trendy treat. Instead of ice cream, choose this similar option that has far fewer calories; it is definitely worth the switch.

Ice cream, with its heavy calorie count, should be reserved for a rare treat while frozen yogurt can become a more frequent sweet after-school snack.