Regardless of how many kids you have at home, everyone knows that being a responsible parent means regularly feeding your little ones healthy foods. A balanced diet can help them grow and develop properly and improve their immune system. It also encourages them to learn healthy eating habits, which can help reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases.
However, finding the right foods can be challenging, especially with the many options available. It also becomes trickier if your kid is a picky eater. Luckily, one of your best bets in the market is plain yoghurt. This dairy product is best known for being healthy and versatile, making it an ideal choice for everyone at home.
If you want to help your kids maintain happy and healthy tummies, convincing them to eat yoghurt is the way to go. Here are five ways you can do so:
1. Make the yoghurt spreadable
Whether you enjoy spreading your plain yoghurt on toast or dipping your favorite veggies in it,
there's nothing more frustrating than finding thick and clumpy liquid. Luckily, you're not alone and this dairy product woe can be resolved easily.
You can make thicker and protein-rich yoghurt overnight by straining it with a cheesecloth-lined sieve or fine-mesh colander. This step will remove excess water. Once strained, add garlic powder, chopped chives, and salt to the yoghurt, or use it as is. You can spread it on crackers or toast for a protein-rich snack.
2. Buy a higher-fat yoghurt
Sometimes, the best way to make your kids love dairy products is to buy them in higher fat. Full-fat plain yoghurt has a better flavor and texture than low-fat yoghurt. It's also healthier and more satisfying because it contains essential nutrients and helps control blood sugar and heart health. Also, we recommend looking for products with at least three percent fat content.
3. Add some pure maple syrup or molasses
Maple syrup tastes fantastic on pancakes for breakfast, but what if we told you you could add it to yoghurt for a kick of sweetness? Add maple syrup or molasses to plain yoghurt and don’t stir so that your kids can see it. If you decide to use molasses, you can use it to write your child's initials on the yoghurt. That way, you can regulate the amount of sweetness in the yoghurt for your child.
4. Add some DIY fruit on the top or bottom
Other kids may dislike plain yoghurt because it doesn't have flavor, but it doesn't need to be this way. You can prepare a healthy snack by combining fresh raspberries, sugar, and vanilla in a small jar and adding yoghurt to the mix. You can also top a full-fat plain yoghurt with sliced bananas, cereal, almonds, sunflower seeds, and a touch of honey for extra sweetness.
5. Turn it into guacamole
Guacamole is a classic, delicious, healthy snack everyone enjoys, and you can improve it by adding plain yoghurt. Take equal amounts of the dairy product and ripe avocado and blend them. Next, add some salt and freshly grated lime zest or juice. Finally, serve and pair it with vegetable sticks and tortilla chips.
How to add more yoghurt to your baby and toddler’s diet
Yoghurt is a versatile food that parents can serve to babies and toddlers. You can prepare it plain or mixed with fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, muesli with yoghurt-soaked oats and fruit is an excellent option for self-feeding. On the other hand, parfaits with fruit and cereal make a simple but delicious breakfast.
Also, you can freeze this dairy product into popsicles, use it as a topping, make a dip with herbs and lemon juice, create a DIY yoghurt bar, or mix it with peanut butter for a fruit dip.
Promoting happy & healthy tummies
Your kids deserve to enjoy tasty and healthy snacks; high-fat plain yoghurt can help you achieve that. You can make snack time more memorable for everyone by being creative and buying this dairy product from only reputable companies.
If you are looking for high-quality dairy products for your kids, shop from Baladna! We strive to bring Qataris the freshest, best, and most authentic yoghurt options. Buy yours now!