One thing I love is well-made yogurt. Of course, not just any yogurt will suffice. I demand full-fat yogurt made with whole, unskimmed milk. My stance on skimmed milk is unyielding: skim milk is theft. Skim milk is almost always sold at the same price as whole milk but with 45% less calories and 99% less flavor. Some might applaud the reduced calories, but I say this is simply paying more for less.

What's most unfortunate is that an entire generation has been conditioned into instinctively avoiding fat and calories. While I can't debate that Americans on average eat more calories than they should, this does not negate the fact that we need fat to survive, and good fats are vital to heart and brain function. These "good fats" have an ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, and examples include flaxseed oil, fish oil, hempseed oil, and milkfat from grassfed cows. My point is that fat in yogurt is not something to be avoided, it should instead be embraced!

Unfortunately, far too many people associate the labels of "low-fat" and "no fat" with healthy food. Often these low-fat foods have simply re-engineered their recipes using emulsifiers and thickening agents to provide a similar texture to the full fat versions. This consumer misconception has created our current situation, where low and non fat yogurt comprise the vast majority of product offerings in the typical grocer. As such, it becomes more likely that the first yogurt a person tries will be a low/non fat variety. To add further insult these watery emulsions are often amended with milk protein (whey) to help achieve a thickness and body that would be present in a full fat yogurt. Even more tragic is when these amalgams are treated with aspartame or sucralose to provide artificial sweetness, eliminating the need for added sugar and leading to a further reduction of calories.

But what has been accomplished? Food producers can make a 6oz serving of nonfat yogurt contain only 80 calories and 0 grams of fat, but it requires a sizable list of thickeners, emulsifiers, protein extracts, and artificial additives to make it palatable. A full fat yogurt can contain 200-250 calories per 6 ounce, but the flavor is naturally-derived, the milk is kept whole, and the yogurt creates a fulfilling sensation. Try it, and you will see - full fat is the way yogurt is meant to be.

Yogurt has a long history. It's a simple product, and making yogurt is a simple process. It's not meant to be complicated, it's not supposed to have a long list of ingredients.

Now that I've shared my thoughts of yogurt, I'd like to make an effort to highlight some yogurt producers who are doing things the right way. I may add to this list as time goes on, but I figured I'd start with some of my favorites.

Traderspoint Creamery Raspberry Yogurt There's a lot to love about Traderspoint line of drinkable yogurts. Their whole milk is certified organic and sourced from grassfed Brown Swiss cattle. They package their yogurt in glass bottles. Based in Zionsville, Indiana they sell their products at Whole Foods and other high quality grocery stores. My favorites are the raspberry and wildberry, and they also produce banana mango and low fat vanilla flavors. At $5.99 per bottle it's a bit more expensive than the other yogurts listed here, but the Tradepoint line of yogurts are unparalleled in quality.
Greek Gods Honey & Strawberry Yogurt The Greek Gods yogurt is welcome and recent addition to my yogurt rotation. The use of unskimmed milk in their yogurt is succinctly described in their website's FAQ. As they point out, unskimmed milk is typically 9-10% milkfat and the "whole milk" sold in stores is typically 3.5%. While they wouldn't use the term "full fat", it's that extra fat that gives the yogurt a smooth and creamy texture. Lightly sweet, this is a great yogurt. It's widely available at a number of groceries, including Kroger, Whole Foods, Amazon, and my local ValuMarket. It's priced between $3.50 and $4.50 per 24oz container, making it a great product at a competitive price.
Liberté Méditerranée Yogourt Strawberry The Liberté Méditerranée line of yogurts was my first exposure to full fat yogurt, and still remains my favorite. Liberté is based in St-Hubert, Quebec and produces a full line of nonfat and full fat yogurts. The Méditerranée line features whole milk, and is available in a number of flavors including: strawberry, blackberry, plum & walnut, peach & passion fruit, and coconut. Their yogurt is packaged in 6oz containers with the fruit mixture on the bottom. It is available at Whole Foods and other quality grocers, and typically sells for $0.99 per 6oz container.