SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Americans are eating more yogurt than ever before, and
Dairy Council of California advises that consumers can benefit from even more
culture.
Yogurt was named the food trend of the decade by Harry Balzer, Vice President
with the market research firm NPD Group.
“It’s very convenient. It’s very individualized ” said Balzer of yogurt in a
Jan. 1 interview with National Public Radio. “This is just for you. It’s your
own flavor. It has a health halo certainly surrounding it. It really does define
what I think America wants from its food supply.”
Plain or flavored, served in a cup, a tube or a tub, yogurt provides calcium,
potassium and high-quality protein. Some yogurts are fortified with vitamin D,
which promotes calcium absorption and bone health. Yogurt is also a good option
for people who have trouble drinking fluid milk. The “live active cultures” in
yogurt feed on lactose, milk’s natural sugar, making yogurt an excellent choice
if you’re lactose intolerant.
According to consumption research conducted by Dairy Council of California,
families with children and adults in their 30s eat the most yogurt, with adults
eating less in their older years. There’s plenty room for growth within the
yogurt category, according to registered dietitian Andrea Garen.
“Americans have certainly embraced single-serving flavored and frozen yogurts,
but plain, unflavored yogurt is still fairly foreign,” said Garen, Project
Manager with Dairy Council of California. “Yogurt is a versatile food ingredient
used around the world, particularly in Greek and Indian cuisine.”
Garen recommends traditional recipes like Chicken Souvlaki, Cucumber Yogurt
Soup, Tandoori Chicken or Raita for introducing plain yogurt in your diet. Its
tangy flavor also works well in salad dressings, dips and other recipes. Kids
enjoy adding their favorite fruits like strawberries, mangos or bananas to plain
yogurt sweetened with honey, maple syrup or vanilla.
For more recipes and information on the benefits of flavored and plain yogurt,
visit the Meals Matter website at
http://www.MealsMatter.org
Through a variety of nutrition education programs, Dairy Council of California
promotes healthy choices from all the food groups and regular physical activity
as the foundation for optimal health. Healthy Eating Made Easier.
On the Net:
NPR Interview http://bit.ly/5ZeDel
Chicken Souvlaki http://bit.ly/8Nve5Y
Cucumber Yogurt Soup http://bit.ly/5u97Tk
Tandoori Chicken http://bit.ly/469a0n
Raita http://bit.ly/7LkWpP
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Andrea Garen, M.A., R.D.
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=55338
Source:
Dairy Council of California