A visit to the yogurt aisle can be pretty overwhelming. So many varieties, flavors and brands – it can be really hard to choose!
I tend to stick to Stonyfield for the majority of my yogurt purchases (we eat a TON!), because it’s certified organic and I know they care about the health of the planet too. A lot of the other brands are full of thickening agents, artificial colors and flavors and yucky preservatives. Best to steer clear of those.
Not to add to the confusion, but there is yet another type of yogurt to look for next time you head to the store: 100% Grassfed Yogurt. Here’s why I recommend trying it:
Why it Matters
Grassfed dairy is better for a few key reasons:
- It’s better for the cows! Cows are ruminants, meaning they have a 4-part digestive system that was designed to eat grass. After WWII, there was a shift toward synthetic fertilizers, and farmers began feeding grain to cows to maximize production. Problem is – grain makes the cow’s gut more acidic, leading to health problems and a shorter lifespan.
- It’s better for us! Grass fed cows have better gut bacteria and as a result, the milk has a healthier balance of Omega-3 fatty acids – as you can see from the chart above.
- It’s better for the land! Grazing is a regenerative process – when cows eat the grass, they actually improve the quality of the land and future crops that grow on it.
Grassfed Certification
There are currently no federal standards for what companies can call “grassfed” dairy. Some cows may graze on grass during the majority of the year but are fed grain during the winter months. To address this issue, Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) developed the PCO 100% GrassFed certification. Keep an eye out for this label when you see the term grassfed on dairy or meat products. And in case you were wondering how cows can eat grass all winter long – they are fed baleage, which is essentially fermented hay when fresh grass is not available. Apparently they love it!
Stonyfield 100% Grassfed
Stonyfield just introduced its brand new line of 100% Grassfed yogurt. They partnered with Maple Hill Creamery to get the 100% grassfed whole milk. Everyone at my house gave it two thumbs up after sampling it and I was happy to see the large tubs available at my local Whole Foods.
- Certified USDA organic
- PCO certified 100% grassfed
- Made with whole milk
- No artificial growth hormones (rBGH)
- Available in plain, vanilla, blueberry, strawberry
- 6-oz and 24-oz containers
Have you tried grassfed yogurt?
(Note: as a Stonyfield Yogetter, I am compensated for my posts – but I assure you I love this brand and their products!)
Image credits: Omega 3 image from Maple Hill Creamery, Stonyfield 100% grassfed product lineup via Stonyfield.com
Kidton says
Love the Stonyfield products, using them for my kids past 2yrs.
Micaela says
Good to know! It’s nice when kids like healthy foods, right?
Sean Wells says
My wife tries everything in her power to make our kids eat more healthy. I’m supportive of her and try to eat healthy, but our children mostly refuse to eat healthier. Well – they do when that’s the only thing we buy. Since they like yogurt so much I’ll be sure to show this post to my wife – I’m certain she’ll be very happy to see a good, recommended product which is healthy. As a rubbish removal company manager i find it that more people are going green and mostly – eating healthy since that’s one of the key company values we strive to achieve. Thank you for the great content – I wish all the best to you and your family!
Cheers!
Judith says
Are the cows “free range” or kept in stalls that prevent them from moving freely?
Micaela says
It’s my understanding that the cows graze on grass freely!