I have to admit that growing up there was no way in the world I would even consider eating yogurt. Gross! Of course when I was little yogurt was nothing more then plain yogurt, or if you were lucky, the fruit on the bottom. Neither of which appealed to me.
When I was in my early 20’s I tried yogurt for the first time as a way to lose weight and get more calcium in my diet. By then yogurt had evolved a bit and looked a lot more appetizing then it did when I was a child. I quickly learned to love yogurt and I ate it often.
When both of my children were little I started to serve them yogurt as soon as the Pediatrician said it was OK. I figured the extra calcium would be great and the live active cultures would aid in their digestion. Because of this both my kids love yogurt too and eat one at least daily.
When I purchase yogurt for the kids I tend to go for “kid-friendly” versions. As for myself, I’m flexible. I can eat just about any kind of yogurt. I do prefer the creamy kind over the yogurt with the fruit at the bottom. I’m not keen on on huge chunks in my yogurt.
For a long time now I have heard people rave about Greek yogurt. I heard that is far superior then other yogurts on the market.
I finally had a chance to try out Voskos Greek Yogurt. Oh Wow! I can see why people rave about Greek yogurt. It is AMAZING!
Voskos sent me and my family a variety of samples from their product line. I could not wait to try them.
At first glance the Voskos yogurt does appear to be a bit thicker. I like to mix my yogurt up before I eat it. The liquid that sometimes forms on top of yogurt is gross so I rather mix it in before eating it.
The Voskos Greek yogurt is so rich, thick and creamy. The consistency is nothing like any other yogurt I’ve had. There is clearly a huge difference. My daughter likens the Voskos Greek yogurt to soft ice cream. I tend to agree with her on that observation. It is thick and creamy, just like soft serve ice cream.
One of my favorites was the Honey Vanilla Bean. I was very surprised to see Vanilla Bean specks in the yogurt. After I mixed it up you would have thought I had a cup of Non-Fat Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Frankly the yogurt was so good that you could easily have this in place of ice cream. It’s THAT good.
Best of all the yogurt had no fat and 12 grams of protien, not to mention all the good-for-you live active yogurt cultures and 15% of your recommended daily Calcium.
I tend to be lactose intolerant. I can eat things like yogurt, cheese and some milk. I know my limits. The Voskos yogurt didn’t bother my stomach at all, which is great. Some yogurts do and other do not.
We also tried the Non-Fat Blueberry and Non-Fat Strawberry. We currently have Greek Honey in the fridge. I plan on having that one later.
An unusual flavor we received was Exotic Fig. My kids refused to give it a try. They kept thinking about Fig Newton cookies, which they don’t like. Neither of them was willing to give it a try. I was the one who eventually tried out the fig.
At first I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know if it was going to taste too “figgy” or not. I was surprised that it was a perfect balance of flavor between the Non-Fat yogurt and the fig. It was sweet, maybe even a wee bit tart. It was unlike anything I have tasted before. I actually really liked it. The first few spoonfuls I wasn’t sure about it abut after a while I really started to like it. I would certainly purchase the Exotic Fig again. Best of all I know my kids won’t eat it on me. There is nothing worst then going for a yogurt only to find out the kids at it all on you.
Voskos also offers a Non-Fat organic line of yogurts. I loved the organic Greek Honey flavored yogurt. It was very sweet. You could taste the honey. It wasn’t over powering but it was very strong and sweet. This yogurt tastes more like a dessert. My kids LOVED it. Even they said it didn’t taste like yogurt.
The only ones I haven’t tried yet are the Voskos yogurts that contain fat. Although they are still healthy for you I need to watch my fat intakes. I also haven’t tried the plain yet. Usually I use plain yogurt in recipes and I haven’t had the opportunity to make anything lately. I’m anxious to try the “Cream Cheese” Frosting, Pumpkin Ginger Pancakes and Greek Lemon Chicken recipes from the Voskos website. They have some really tasty sounding recipes on their site as well as more valuable information about the health benefits of Greek yogurts.
Voskos yogurt not only makes a great snack it also can double as a healthy dessert option. Voskos yogurt would also be a welcome addition to your child’s lunch box. Your child will think of it as a dessert or snack more so then a healthy treat.
Did you know that lunch accounts for 25-35% of daily intake for children. Its important that your child’s lunch be healthy and not packed with products that contain high sodium or added sugars.
US Research from Preventing Chronic Disease found that adolescents who typically brought their lunch from home five days per week ate fast food on fewer occasions; consumed fewer servings of soda, fried potatoes, and high-sugar foods; and ate more fruit and vegetables compared with adolescents who never brought their lunch to school.
My kids bring pretty much every day. I cannot fathom letting my kids have nachos soaked in faux cheese or mozzarella sticks as their main lunch entree. My arteries harden just thinking about it!
“Getting your kids involved with packing lunch will assist in making healthier eating decisions”, says Lara Field, MS, RD, CSP, LDN. “It is vital to make time in advance, perhaps the night before, and pack a sensible lunch to get your kids on a healthy track,” adds Field.
Lunch preparation can be a fun activity for the whole family. Having children get hands-on with lunch preparation can help them feel in control and proud; avoiding snack trafficking with peers is ideal.
Ms. Field suggests lunch boxes should include the following:
1) Calcium-rich dairy product, such as Voskos Greek Yogurt. “I love Greek yogurt due to its creamy texture, and high protein content”, remarks Field. “Protein will keep your kids feeling fuller for longer, and crave less empty calories later in the day.”
2) Fresh fruit; avoid canned or processed fruit which contain excess sugar.
3) Lean meat or protein alternative; try low-fat turkey breast or soup filled with beans, which has added fiber to keep your kids feeling satisfied.
4) Sliced vegetables; vary the colors, try jicama, bell peppers, cucumbers, sugar snap peas – the possibilities are endless – and veggies pack a satisfying crunch, taking the place of chips.
5) Whole grains; choose products with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving.
Children who eat healthy foods will be more likely to make better food and nutrition choices as adults. The opposite is also true: overweight children tend to become overweight adults.
Teaching and feeding children a healthy diet will have a bigger impact if you set the example. Parents should eat right, get adequate exercise, and make living a healthy style a family affair.
With the aid of an ice pack you could easily pack a Voskos Greek yogurt for yoru child to take to school with them. They can eat it with lunch or use it as a snack. Keeping several flavors on hand in your fridge is also a healthy option, especially if you have kids like mine who are famished by the time they get home from school.
I am now a big time fan of Voskos Greek yogurt. I know from now on I’ll be reaching for the Voskos yogurt (the non-fat kind) instead of the other yogurts on the store shelves. Its rich, creamy texture and dessert quality flavors make this my new favorite brand of yogurt. Once you’ve had Greek yogurt other yogurts are lame by comparison.
To learn more about Voskos Greek yogurts you can visit their official website at http://Voskos.com. You can also follow Voskos on Twitter, http://Twitter.com/GoVoskos and on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/Voskos.Greek.Yogurt?v=info.
Kimberly
*I received some free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.
