Love Your Body, Know What You're Eating

Let’s dive into a food that many of us eat daily, feed to our kids, and often consider when making healthy snack choices: yogurt!

Yogurt is known for its numerous benefits—it’s rich in calcium, contains live active probiotics that are great for our gut health, and is incredibly convenient for a quick, on-the-go snack. However, not all yogurts are created equal, and surprisingly, some dairy-free options are among the worst offenders. There are hidden ingredients that can make your seemingly healthy snack not-so-great for you.

One of my new favorites is La Fermière yogurt, particularly their vanilla bean and lemon varieties. I love their sustainable, charming packaging, but what truly sets them apart is their commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients. They avoid stabilizers and artificial flavors and ensure that no hormones are used in the production of their dairy. That said, they do appear as a moderate option on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) list for a few reasons. Their milk and cream are sourced locally from New York and California, but they don’t explicitly state that the cows are grass-fed or antibiotic-free. They’re not certified organic, and a couple of their flavors use the term “natural flavor,” which can be misleading, as it could be derived from chemicals.

Personally, I adore the brand and the yogurt but stick to their vanilla bean and lemon flavors because those don’t contain the term “natural flavor.” I hope that as their popularity grows, they’ll make adjustments to their sourcing practices. Still, I highly recommend giving them a try and would love to hear your thoughts!

In the meantime, here’s a list of ingredients to watch out for in your yogurt:

1. Sugar – Be cautious with sugar content, as some yogurts have high amounts. Sugar can sometimes be disguised as “evaporated cane juice.”

2. Artificial Sweeteners – Many yogurts contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose (aka Splenda), which can cause severe intestinal distress and raise blood sugar. Despite being hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, they can contribute to weight gain.

3. Fructose and High Fructose Corn Syrup – These sweeteners are processed by the liver and converted into fat in the body. Plus, many corn-based products in the U.S. are genetically modified.

4. Artificial and “Natural” Flavors – These terms can mask a variety of hidden ingredients. Even if they come from a natural source, chemicals are often used to extract the flavor, and “natural” is not a regulated term.

5. Food Dyes – Colors like Red #40 and Blue #1 are added to yogurt. These dyes can especially affect children, causing reactions at high levels.

6. Chemicals, Additives, and Fillers – Some yogurts contain ingredients meant to speed up production or replace natural processes, and they can cause digestive issues, bloating, and inflammation. These include:

• Modified corn starch

• Gelatin

• Locust bean gum

• Malic acid

• Potassium sorbate

• Sodium citrate

This is why it’s so important to check your labels and know what’s really in your food. Make informed choices and always strive for the healthiest option possible.