TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: YQ By Yoplait, Low-Sugar Yogurt
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In its second entry into the premium yogurt business (the first was Oui By Yoplait, last year), Yoplait has just launched YQ by Yoplait. It’s the “Smarter, Not Sweeter” Yogurt. The flavored yogurt has just 9 grams of sugar per 5.3-ounce cup. Compare that to the up to 32 grams of sugar per 6 ounces in other flavored yogurts! The sweetener is cane sugar: no HFCS. There are no artificial ingredients. The line is also gluten-free and 99% lactose free. The plain yogurt has 1 gram of sugar, compared to regular (non-Greek) yogurt with 15-16 grams of natural milk sugar (lactose*) per 8 ounces. The flavored yogurts are available in Blueberry, Coconut, Lime, Mango, Peach, Strawberry and Vanilla. Of course, this is not magic. The yogurts are, understandably, not anywhere as sweet. This will be welcome to those who want a less-sweet flavored yogurt. If you find yourself wanting more sweetness, there’s an easy work-around: Add a non-caloric sweetener. You can also try a teaspoon of agave, honey or maple syrup†. Yoplait has created a protein-packed yogurt with a thick, extra-creamy texture, unique in our experience: almost as thick as Greek yogurt, but much creamier (and without the tang). |
YQ By Yoplait has 7 flavors plus plain (photos courtesy Yoplait). |
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It uses ultra-filtered milk, which is milk that has been filtered to concentrate the amount of protein while removing much of the milk’s sugar (lactose). The result is 17 grams of protein per serving for the plain variety; 15 grams of protein for the flavors. Low in sugar, packed with protein: the recipe for a great snack. The ultra-filtered milk is then combined with active cultures and goes through a proprietary churning technique. YQ will be in stores nationwide by the end of the month. The suggested retail price for all 5.3 oz. cups is $1.49, while the 26 oz. tubs are $4.99. ________________ *Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar that adds virtually no sweetness. If you’ve ever wondered why the milk carton shows 12g of sugar per 8-ounce glass of milk, that’s why. †Agave nectar has a glycemic index (GI) of 32, half that of sugar. Honey has a GI of 58, due to its higher ratio of glucose to fructose; agave is about 90% fructose (note that some honeys are lower glycemic than others). Table sugar has a GI value of 60-65. Pure maple syrup has a GI of 54. A teaspoon of agave is 20 calories, a teaspoon of table sugar is 16 calories (honey has 22 calories). But since agave is 1.4 to 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, you don’t need as much. |
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