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To me, one of the most stressful sections/aisle in the grocery store is the yogurt and/or dairy aisle. There are so many options, I feel overwhelmed and then just don’t end up buying any. There is Greek, Icelandic, Australian, Kefir, non-dairy, added flavors, traditional yogurts, etc. All of these add to the confusion. Yogurt has benefits for your health. It can be a great snack, breakfast on the go, or even a small dessert for after a meal. Benefits of yogurt include:
- Probiotics!-these help with digestion, gut health, and boosting immune systems
- Calcium-calcium is needed for building bone tissue, blood clotting, and muscle to work properly
- Protein-can help fill you up, helps build muscle, healthy skin, cell growth, and many other functions of the body
- As you walk down the yogurt aisle you may notice the packages with say higher protein, low fat, no fat, no sugar added, real fruit, added fruit, etc. These labels can be confusing and overwhelming. How do you navigate them all? Read the nutrition label is the greatest tip to use. Read the ingredients list. Try picking yogurts with less ingredients. This helps to reduce amount corn syrup, preservatives and other added ingredients that are consumed through yogurt. Fat free doesn’t mean sugar free! Many producers will take out the fat, but then will add sugar or corn syrup back in to replace fat. This makes the sugar and carbohydrate amount be increased. A light yogurt or low fat yogurt would be a better option if you were diabetic as they usually have the sweeteners like stevia, Splenda, equal, etc. Maybe you are wanting a yogurt with more protein, go for a Greek yogurt or ultra-filtered yogurt. Want to stay fuller longer? Try a yogurt with more fat and protein. This provides more calories to keep you fuller longer. Fruits, honey, and granola will add more calories and carbohydrates. Try a plain or vanilla yogurt and add your own whole fruits or whole grain cereals to it. There isn’t a 1 kind fits all in the yogurt aisle. Explore which one you like the best and which one best fits your nutritional needs.
-Written by Alyssa Kauffman, SDSU Dietetic Intern
