In Which I Throw a Tantrum Like a Three Year Old

This is a rant. 

Which I try not to do here too often.

'Cause nobody wants to read negativity in a highly negative world. 

Here we go.

Today I'm talking about yogurt.

I am trying very hard to find foods that are not filled with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). If you haven't heard all the fuss about HFCS than you probably, 1. Don't care. Or 2. Don't spend nearly enough time on the internet.

If you don't want to do an HFCS internet search, then I will just tell you where my problem lies with HFCS. Your body can only do one of two things with HFCS: it can burn it as energy, or store it as fat. 

Now, my kids are very active. They play sports, and hike, and play outside and are more active than the average kid. Because of their great activity I don't set huge parameters on their snacking schedule. Although, to be honest, we have always been fairly consistent about limiting the "treat foods" (which is what we call chips, cookies, candy etc.)

However, HFCS's are found in EVERYTHING, from ketchup to corn flakes! The amount of HFCS they are ingesting will eventually be  greater than their ability to burn what they consume. Especially as they get a bit older.

I was amazed to find I was buying "natural' granola bars, Power Bars, cheese crackers, even the heart healthy Whole Wheat bread, all of which contained HFCS.  It isn't good for their little bodies. And it will lend to a powerful sweet tooth that will be harder to tame as an adult. 

With that said, HFCS is in nearly everything that my children love to eat. Although I don't fool myself to think that we can completely cut this from our diet (because life is meant to be lived, not enslaved) I can make choices on things we eat in great quantities, like yogurt.

Here's my beef with yogurt:

It was only recently that I realized our 'natural' yogurt was cram-packed full of that sweet corny sugar. I decided that this delectable dairy product needed to be changed.  Surely this would be one easy way to cut the junk from our diet.

Well, it isn't that easy, my friends. It isn't easy at all. All the organic, HFCS free stuff, sold at the two stores nearby, are packaged in two ways: in 30 oz. containers, or in 4-6 oz cups.  

I happen to be married to a man with the metabolism of a hummingbird.  The Mister is one of "those people" who fight to keep much wanted poundage. 

(This is where we all roll our eyes in unison.)

The Mister is the least demanding person I know. He doesn't fuss over much of anything I do, but if I come home with 6 oz containers of yogurt, instead of 8 oz. containers, there is gonna be a fight. Because, you see,  2 oz of yogurt makes all the difference in the world when you have to "manage" to get in a certain amount of calories a day for maintenance.  

I will admit that I am also irritated by the 2-4 oz discrepancy, only because I really despise paying twice as much for less product.

Which leads to the #1 reason food companies use HFCS: It's cheap.

So, if any of you bloggers out there know of a good brand of yogurt (we really loved Mountain High yogurt, which they sold at Costco, but then discontinued), in 8 oz containers (that I won't have to sell my first born for) let me know!

And, as always, thanks for letting me rant. It is certainly cheaper than therapy. 

La Vida Dulce!