Yogurt has many health benefits including protein and probiotics , but mainstream pre-packaged varieties contain added refined sugar (some with more sugar than a Twinkie) and added food dyes. Believe it or not some yogurt companies even use carmine – a dye extracted from the dried, pulverized bodies of cochineal insects – to give several varieties of fruit-flavored yogurt their pink color. BUGS! No, thanks.
An alternative to mainstream yogurt is flavoring full-fat plain yogurt yourself. Our favorite way to flavor it is with a drizzle of pure maple syrup (medium amber) and a dash of cinnamon. Here are some other ways you can flavor plain yogurt:
- Chopped fresh strawberries or peaches
- Homemade berry sauce
- Homemade chocolate sauce
- A few drops of pure vanilla extract
- A spoonful of pure pumpkin puree and a dash of nutmeg
Enjoy!
