Yogurt

My brother and his wife eat a pretty steady breakfast diet of plain yogurt, fruit, nuts, and granola. This is an appealling breakfast diet for me because I don't drink milk and want to be mindful of getting calcium into my diet and I like sweet things for breakfast.

On a recent visit with them in Brooklyn, I was surprised to learn that my sister-in-law is opposed to flavored yogurt. It made me giggle and start reciting my old personal rant about flavored coffees (I believe flavored coffee is gross, to put it bluntly.)

I've always found it hard to eat plain yogurt on its own, but the flavored yogurt thing got me to thinking...how much sugar is in my favorite flavored yogurt? Mind you, sugar is not "bad", but like many people, I want to watch my intake of refined sugar AND I am opposed to eating yogurt flavored with sugar substitutes such as Splenda and Equal, which I simply don't trust.

Think about it: if you add fresh berries, granola, and nuts to PLAIN yogurt, who needs extra sugar? The sweetness from in-season, freshly picked blueberries (or whatever is in season when you read this) is lovely on its own. Mother Nature sure knows what she's doing!

Still, I would have a hard time giving up my own favorite flavored yogurt (Stonyfield Farms Banilla) so here's what I'm doing to reduce early a.m. sugar intake. I'm cutting my Banilla yogurt with plain yogurt; about half of each and adding my fruit and granola to this mixture. I also tried adding a mashed banana and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to 100% plain yogurt and it was surprisingly good.

I'm not sure I'll ever kick my Stonyfield Farms Banilla habit. I adore the stuff. But I must thank my sis-in-law for some great food for thought and inspiration for new yogurt ideas that incorporate my values about eating a little of everything in moderation AND healthy, natural habits.

Ann Zuccardy, Vermont Shortbread Company President and Yogurt Lover

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