Need ideas for yogurt

[Aelith]

I send a 4 oz YoBaby or YoToddler yogurt to day care with DD every day. Even with a doubled coupon, it’s getting kind of expensive. Plus, she eats them on the weekends too, so we’re talking 3 – 4 of the 4-packs at $2.49 a pack.

I am thinking about buying or making plain yogurt and mixing in a puree instead. I need help with the puree. I thought about buying Earth’s Best baby food, but that quickly made it just as expensive as buying the YoBaby. So, I obviously will need to make my own, something that will keep for a week at a time in the fridge.

Any ideas? What about applesauce (mixing that in with the yogurt)? She doesn’t seem to like bananas, but like other fruits and veggies. If I made a peach/squash puree would that keep in the fridge for a week to spoon into her yogurt every morning? Or will I have to do this more frequently?

[Aelith]

Oh! I forgot I have frozen pear purees I made in the autumn in my deep freezer. Do you think they’re still good?

[AbbeysMom]

I buy whole milk greek yogurt in the big tubs and mix in organic fruit preserves or jam (you can get them without sugar too).

Would that work?

[Aelith]

That's kind of what I was thinking of doing. Does your tub last a whole week (meaning, does the yogurt keep or spoil before the end of the week)?

[AbbeysMom]

It lasts the whole week and then some, but we keep our fridge at 34 degrees, so that might help.

[Aelith]

Cool, thanks.

[MommyShannon]

My kids are older, but I've been trying combos with plain Greek yogurt too. They like applesauce or a little pure maple syrup in it plus fresh berries. I use small mason jars with plastic lids to make them easy for my older two to grab as a snack. I just make a few at a time so I don't know how long they would last once mixed.

[music maker]

I thought I would share this with you. This is what we do and it has saved us lots of $$ if you have the time it might work for you too.

1Tb vanilla
1 Gallon whole milk (we use organic)
1 Cup vanilla yogurt (organic)
2 Tb pectin
1 1/2 cup sugar

Whisk in pectin to cold milk. Heat milk to 175 degrees over medium heat 30-25 min. Do not stir up bottom of pot. Cool to 113 degrees (45 min to 1 hour), remove film on top. Add sugar & vanilla and whisk. Add yogurt and whisk well. Pour into quart jars (5 of them) with lids.

Incubate for 3 hours in a cooler, filling it with 120 degree water halfway up jar. Cover cooler. DO NOT move while incubating.

The yogurt usually lasts about 3 weeks, however we usually eat it before then. We add homemade jam, or fresh fruit to it right before serving.

[sookie4415]

my favorite brand of yogurt is that Stoneyfield...why not just but the large container versus those 4 packs? You get more bang for your buck. I never bought into that special yogurt for babies...just went straight for the regular stuff. I always bought a container of plain and a container of strawberry and mixed the two so she got less sugar...