Taste Test: New Yogurt Smoothies
The other day I was reading labels in the yogurt section for a book I'm writing--I was looking to see which yogurts were fortified with vitamin D, but that's another blog.
Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that there are now about 4, count them 4, new yogurt smoothies on the market. When did this happen? How did I miss this? They come in pretty plastic bottles in all shapes and sizes and flavors. The idea of "drinking" yogurt may not appeal to some, but it is a nifty way to work in a serving of yogurt when you are at your desk working or in a car or riding a bus. The key is keeping it ice cold! It tastes better this way.
With so many yogurt smoothies to choose from, I bought the strawberry flavor of the three brands that had some fiber in it, so I could give this new product category an old-fashioned taste testing!
I decided if I was drinking a smoothie down, I would want there to be some fiber in it. It would be more likely to be digested a little more slowly this way and might have a more sustained effect on appetite and may encourage lower blood sugars for some. It's all good, trust me. All three also contain "live and active cultures" too.
Okay, on with the results!
Stonyfield Farm Light Smoothie: Strawberry
This one tasted the best to me and my tasters. It seemed to have a stronger cleaner strawberry flavor. For sweetener it uses "erythritol" which the label describes as a "natural sweetener", along with naturally milled sugar, and strawberry juice from concentrate. This is what the Wikipedia Encyclopedia says about it:
Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol, (a type of sugar substitute), which has been approved for use in the United States and throughout much of the world. It is 70% as sweet as table sugar and excellent-tasting, yet it is virtually non-caloric, does not impact blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols.
10 ounces = 130 calories, 3 g fiber, 9 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate (19 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin B1 = 4%
vitamin B2 = 15%
vitamin B6 = 2%
vitamin B12 = 8%
Calcium = 25%
Magnesium = 4%
Yoplait Nouriche Light SuperSmoothie: Strawberry
My tasters did like this one. It was thicker than the other two,a bit more like "drinking yogurt" than the others. It had some subtle flavors that you could taste other than strawberry, perhaps I was tasting the various and sundry vitamins and minerals added? The nutrition label does read more like a vitamin mineral supplement label than a yogurt label.
11 ounces = 170 calories, 5 g fiber, 10 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate (18 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin A = 25%
vitamin D = 25%
vitamin C = 25%
vitamin E = 25%
folic acid = 25%
B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 = 25%
Calcium = 30%
Magnesium = 25%
Zinc = 15%
Iron = 15%
Yoplait Light Smoothie (contains Splenda): Strawberry
This one had a definite artificial sweetener flavor or after taste but it didn't taste bad. The other tasters and I just liked the other brands better.
8 ounces = 90 calories, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate (9 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin A = 15%
vitamin D =20%
Calcium = 20%
Folic Acid = 4%
Do you have a favorite yogurt smoothie?
~Elaine
Related Topics: French Women's Diet Secret: Yogurt, Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
Technorati Tags: smoothies, yogurt, yogurtsmoothies
Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that there are now about 4, count them 4, new yogurt smoothies on the market. When did this happen? How did I miss this? They come in pretty plastic bottles in all shapes and sizes and flavors. The idea of "drinking" yogurt may not appeal to some, but it is a nifty way to work in a serving of yogurt when you are at your desk working or in a car or riding a bus. The key is keeping it ice cold! It tastes better this way.
With so many yogurt smoothies to choose from, I bought the strawberry flavor of the three brands that had some fiber in it, so I could give this new product category an old-fashioned taste testing!
I decided if I was drinking a smoothie down, I would want there to be some fiber in it. It would be more likely to be digested a little more slowly this way and might have a more sustained effect on appetite and may encourage lower blood sugars for some. It's all good, trust me. All three also contain "live and active cultures" too.
Okay, on with the results!
Stonyfield Farm Light Smoothie: Strawberry
This one tasted the best to me and my tasters. It seemed to have a stronger cleaner strawberry flavor. For sweetener it uses "erythritol" which the label describes as a "natural sweetener", along with naturally milled sugar, and strawberry juice from concentrate. This is what the Wikipedia Encyclopedia says about it:
Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol, (a type of sugar substitute), which has been approved for use in the United States and throughout much of the world. It is 70% as sweet as table sugar and excellent-tasting, yet it is virtually non-caloric, does not impact blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols.
10 ounces = 130 calories, 3 g fiber, 9 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate (19 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin B1 = 4%
vitamin B2 = 15%
vitamin B6 = 2%
vitamin B12 = 8%
Calcium = 25%
Magnesium = 4%
Yoplait Nouriche Light SuperSmoothie: Strawberry
My tasters did like this one. It was thicker than the other two,a bit more like "drinking yogurt" than the others. It had some subtle flavors that you could taste other than strawberry, perhaps I was tasting the various and sundry vitamins and minerals added? The nutrition label does read more like a vitamin mineral supplement label than a yogurt label.
11 ounces = 170 calories, 5 g fiber, 10 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate (18 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin A = 25%
vitamin D = 25%
vitamin C = 25%
vitamin E = 25%
folic acid = 25%
B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 = 25%
Calcium = 30%
Magnesium = 25%
Zinc = 15%
Iron = 15%
Yoplait Light Smoothie (contains Splenda): Strawberry
This one had a definite artificial sweetener flavor or after taste but it didn't taste bad. The other tasters and I just liked the other brands better.
8 ounces = 90 calories, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein, 18 g carbohydrate (9 g sugar), 0 g fat
vitamin A = 15%
vitamin D =20%
Calcium = 20%
Folic Acid = 4%
Do you have a favorite yogurt smoothie?
~Elaine
Related Topics: French Women's Diet Secret: Yogurt, Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie
Technorati Tags: smoothies, yogurt, yogurtsmoothies
9 Comments:
Try the Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom smoothies (Blackberry Creme is good). Great for diabetics who need to watch carbs. My 10 year old son loves them!
Dannon Light 'n Fit Smoothie is also good. Mixed berry and raspberry are best.
Dannon Light'n Fit is an excellant choice. Due to a previous MI, it became neccessary to persue dietary compatability. I use this variety of yogurt, some times, as a base for an active imagination, ie: Old Fashioned Oatmeal: replace milk with the yogurt of choice, & you wont miss the sugar. L'n F, flavored, plus a shake of cinnamon. It also helps to cool it to eating temp.
As a dip: with fruit, veggies, &/or various whole breads. Line a strainer with cheese cloth, place in an a container to catch the whey & press through, or allow to drip through, use the "curds" as is or season to taste, and use as a spread in place of butter for anything [your choice]. Use the whey as delicious drink or as liquid in recipies.
Best of all is to make your own in a blender - sweeten with stevia, put in your own fruit and add nut or seed butter to thicken. Frozen bananas are sweet if you let them ripen before putting in freezer, eliminating any need for additional sweetners.
I doubt my mesage will be posted as it appears this is a commercial site.
Just be aware to look at the portion size on these yogurts. Just because they are "healthy" they can still pack away a lot of carbs--40 to 45 carbs per one container is almost 3 servings of carbs!
I think it's healthier to buy non-fat plain yogurt (no sugar or sugar substitutes added) and add your own fruit and maybe some flax seed (for fiber).
You'll know exactly what's going into it and it's very easy to do!
One other thought... the kids drinkable yogurt although smaller sizes they can be packed with sugar!
Dannon also makes a yogurt shake
(when the heck did they stop being "shakes"?) that is VERY good.
They are "Light'nFit Carb & Sugar
Control"....unfortunately, not available in a lot of stores. Sweetened with Splenda, 7 oz.,60 cal., 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 2g sugar
6g protein....has active cultures too. The best one is Berries 'n Cream. I like to swish a little water & fat-free half & half in the empty bottle & pour that into the shake in the glass, to get all the good stuff out of the bottle!
Us Boomers need more low-fat & low or no-sugar products, but the food industry is a bit slow to respond.
Anyway, I love the Dannon shakes!
I make my own smoothies. 6 - 8 oz. any flavor yogurt, 6 - 8 oz. any flavor juice, and 6 - 8 any flavor fruit (frozen or fresh). Put all in the blender until smooth. If I want it really cold, I use frozen fruit, or add ice cubes when I blend.
I, too, really enjoy drinking the Stonyfield Farm Light Smoothies. I have tried other smoothies as well, but this brand has a nice smooth texture and a refreshing fruity taste. It doesn't have a bad aftertaste at all.
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