Like many of you, we eat a lot of yoghurt in our house! All three of my kids have loved it since they began their solids journeys and as a family, we now enjoy it in a variety of different ways. I love it that they are huge fans of the double-cream yoghurt and choose it over the flavoured yoghurts any day. That’s not to say that they don’t enjoy the little tubs of fruity yoghurt in their lunchboxes or better yet, frozen in our Zoku popsicle moulds to enjoy a delicious icy treat in the summer months! If your child only eats the flavoured yoghurts, no need to worry. You’ll be happy to know that the added sugar is minimal, especially in comparison to the many cereals, sweets and cool drinks on the shelves these days.
As a mom who is well aware of the many health benefits of including yoghurt in their diets, I love how it can be incorporated so easily into so many snacks and meals. Whether it be in smoothies, mixed with fruit and toppings in a smoothie bowl, in creamy soups, curries, dips and even in wraps, the sky is the limit when it comes to getting creative with this creamy goodness.
I think it especially comforting to parents of fussy eaters to know that yoghurt is rich in high quality protein and vital nutrients such as potassium and calcium. Because let’s face it, I’m yet to meet a single kid who doesn’t enjoy it, even through fussy stages or when fighting colds and going off their food for certain reasons.
“Yoghurt plays a positive role in a healthy diet and research has shown that children from 8 to 18 years who eat yoghurt at least once a week, tend to have healthier diets overall. Studies show that children who enjoy yoghurt consume 10% more milk, 23% more fruit and 30% more wholegrains, demonstrating that it is gateway to healthy eating choices”,
says Registered Dietitian at Rediscover Dairy, Maretha Vermaak.
Why yoghurt is good for healthy growth
Because children have growing bodies and developing minds their nutritional needs are different. Childhood is also a high energy time, and children’s diets must cater to their daily activity levels. The unique nutritional profile of yoghurt meets a range of child nutrition needs, including:
- High quality protein for a developing body and sustainable energy
- Calcium for strong bones and teeth
- Probiotics for gut health and immune system support
- Potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and Vitamins A and B12 for overall health and growth
In South Africa we are blesses to have a wide choice of yoghurt products to choose from and if weight management is a concern, there are plenty of low- and no-fat options too. As yoghurt helps a child feel fuller for longer, it is a useful component of a weight maintenance eating regime that can help to avoid unhealthy snacking.
See our post on Instagram post here and how we used yoghurt to create some fun popsicles that the kids absolutely LOVE! Be sure to remember the many fun ways yoghurt can be used in fresh, summer inspired treats as the weather gets warmer this time of year.
Feel free to share your recipes below and I’ll be sure to tag you in my stories when sharing!
This post was written in collaboration with Rediscover Dairy.
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