So what is "The Great Yogurt Debate"? It may only be a battle in my own mind that no one else gives any care or thought to. However, as a childcare provider, every time I peel back one of those foil lids, I'm wondering if the contents of the little plastic tub actually contain nutritional value for its toddler recipient. There are so many brands and so many varieties- most of which go against everything I've been taught about nutrition. Well, to put my own knowledge to the test, I decided to do my own research into this question, "Which yogurt is best?"
And I was right. There is vast universe of yogurt critics out there; from women's health to diabetic health, to kids health, and so on. Obviously, my focus is on children- their dietary needs differ from adults- and since I'm a back-to-the-basics kind of person, I like to judge foods by looking at the basics. What are the basics?
The Basic Criteria:
Resources:
Honestly, I assumed it was probably an old question that had already been asked and answered, right? I just needed to find and review the already provided research.
And I was right. There is vast universe of yogurt critics out there; from women's health to diabetic health, to kids health, and so on. Obviously, my focus is on children- their dietary needs differ from adults- and since I'm a back-to-the-basics kind of person, I like to judge foods by looking at the basics. What are the basics?
Going down the yogurt aisle can be very confusing for parents. How can you tell the difference between the natural sugar in milk and the added sugars? How much calcium should yogurt have? Is organic essential? What about probiotic benefits?
There are five important factors in choosing yogurt: sugar content, added ingredients, calcium, live and active cultures and taste (of course).
Sugar: If you check out the label, you might be surprised to find that some yogurt varieties contain more sugar than two donuts! And, many yogurts that claim to be "low sugar" are packed instead with artificial sweeteners. Though plain yogurts usually have less sugar than flavored ones, we know that many people prefer flavored yogurt. Because milk already contains natural sugar in the form of lactose, it can be difficult to tell how much added sugar is in the product. The best thing to do is to compare the sugars in the plain version (if it’s available) to the flavored one. So if the flavored product has 26g of sugar and the plain has 13g the product would contain 13g of added sugar.
Tip: Flavors like vanilla tend to have less sugar than fruity flavors and fat-free yogurt usually has more sugar than low fat or whole.
Added ingredients: Watch out for artificial colors, preservatives and filler ingredients that make for less yogurt in the cup. Look for yogurts without artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Just plain old sugar will do.
Live & Active Cultures: You want to make sure that the yogurt you choose contains “live & active cultures,” which are also called probiotics. Any refrigerated product legally called "yogurt" must be produced by culturing dairy ingredients with a bacterial culture. These good bacteria can take up residence in your digestive tract, supporting good digestion and immune function by keeping bad bacteria in check. The large intestine needs healthy, “good” bacteria to thrive and help fight disease. The bacteria are also responsible for making yogurt safe to eat for people with lactose intolerance. Refrigerated yogurts that bear a Live & Active Culture (LAC) seal contain at least 100 million bacterial cultures per gram at the time of manufacture. If you see the Live & Active Culture seal from the Yogurt Association, you know the product contains adequate amounts.
Calcium: The smaller the serving size, the less calcium the yogurt will contain.
Fat and organic: Kids under two need full fat dairy products for optimal growth and brain development so choose whole yogurt for them.
Back-To-The-Basics: What are the best yogurts for kids?
1. Plain yogurt and flavors like vanilla tend to have less sugar than fruity flavors and fat-free yogurt usually has more sugar than low fat or whole.
2. Watch out for artificial colors, preservatives and filler ingredients that make for less yogurt in the cup. Look for yogurts without artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Just plain old sugar will do.
3. You want to make sure that the yogurt you choose contains “live & active cultures”. The large intestine needs healthy, “good” bacteria to thrive and help fight disease. The bacteria are also responsible for making yogurt safe to eat for people with lactose intolerance.
4. Calcium: The smaller the serving size, the less calcium the yogurt will contain.
5. Kids under two need full fat dairy products for optimal growth and brain development so choose whole yogurt for them.
Resources:
8 of the Best Yogurts For Kids
Yogurt Cheat Sheet | The Dr. Oz Show
What's Really in Those Squeezable Yogurt Tubes For Kids?
Yogurt Ratings and Reviews | GoodGuide
5 Kid-Friendly Healthy Yogurt Options
