Fruit yoghurts as snack

OFTEN when you are at a loss for what to have as a quick snack, chances are you would raid the refrigerator in search of something light and healthy.

Yoghurt, carrot or cucumber? Well, yoghurt would probably be the most appealing if you are watching your waistline.

Yes, fruit yoghurts are gaining popularity where chocolates and ice cream used to be snacking buddies, especially in households where good health is paramount.

It may not strike many as a great snack but those who read up medical journals or quick takes in the newspapers, magazines and even online articles would know the efficacy of yoghurt and how it helps maintain healthy flora in the gut with its friendly probiotics.

Fruit yoghurt is actually a very healthy snack and can be had for breakfast right up to supper, and in various flavours too.

The range of brands available in Malaysia is wide with a variety of foreign and local tags to choose from, and there is also a good number of flavours to select.

Natural yoghurt is available and in many forms as well, with the Swiss-style and Greek-style yoghurts being the most famous.

What is the difference between Swiss-style yoghurt and Greek-style yoghurt and how do we make the distinction?

Well, for one the original inventors of yoghurt were the Greeks, and theirs is a silky and velvety version eaten with fruit. In other words, this yoghurt is supple and not stiffened to hold its form.

On the other hand, the custard-style yoghurt that is more substantial and usually known as French or Swiss-style – or in manufacturing terms, laboratory products – is what most of us love as it is like custard with fruits suspended in it.

Deliciously sweet and creamy, this custard-like yoghurt can be had for dessert in place of cakes and flavoured further with the addition of fresh fruits in season or even berries.

One of the best selling, we feel, is peach melba – taken as an alternative to ice cream or as a yoghurt snack – it is refreshing and tasty. Delicious with a raspberry or straw-berry flavour and with bits of peach, this is actually one of the fool-proof flavours that would endear yoghurt to children and adults alike.

Other tasty flavours are strawberry, mango and kiwi fruit.

There are also variations in the way the yoghurts are presented. Some come with fruit puree, which is stirred into the yoghurt just before eating. Some use fruits which are already mixed in with the yoghurt.

For those who are on a sugar watch, the best way to enjoy good fruit yoghurt is to use natural yoghurt mixed with diabetic conserves and jam, and with added fresh fruits for flavour.

So, do try to add yoghurt to your daily meal for a healthier diet. If you do not like natural yoghurts, try the various types of fruit yoghurts available and then pick out your favourite.