Vaalia Kids Probiotic Yoghurt Pouch Vanilla | Chewsday Review
Another yoghurt pouch, this time with added probiotics. It’s time to squeeze the truth out of it. Is it a good option, or are they just milking it?
- Milk, skim milk, milk solids, water, sugar, rice starch, gelatine, natural flavours, acidity regulators (330, 331), enzyme (lactase), live yoghurt cultures (from milk) (incl L. acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus GG).
- Vaalia have added extra beneficial bacteria after fermentation, which are good for the gut.
- This pouch contains gelatine so isn’t suitable for vegetarians.
- Allergens: Milk.
- At 160mg per 100g, calcium meets my target (120mg per 100g). One pouch provides 224mg of calcium, which is equal to 45% of a toddler’s and 32% of a younger primary school-aged child’s daily calcium requirement.
- Saturated fat is within my recommendations at 1.7g per 100g, as are most yoghurts.
- Sugar sits within my recommended range at 9.4g per 100g, combining both added and natural sugars. However, it’s still more than double the sugar content in Yoplait Yop No Sugar Added Vanilla Yoghurt Pouch. Since plain yoghurt typically contains around 5g of natural sugar per 100g, this pouch has roughly an extra 1.5 teaspoons of added sugar.
- While all yoghurts are made by fermenting milk with bacteria, not all brands add extra beneficial bacteria after fermentation. This one contains L. acidophilus, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus GG, all of which are considered to be health-promoting.
- At $2.50 a pouch ($17.86 per kilo), they are quite expensive compared to Woolworths No Added Sugar Yoghurt Pouches at $12.70 per kilo.
- Squeezie yoghurt pouches are convenient and less messy, but they don’t help kids develop their biting and chewing skills, they limit sensory exposure and add to plastic waste. I recommend scooping yoghurt from bigger tubs when you can.
- “Boost immunity.” This is in reference to the benefits of the added probiotics, which are good bacteria for our gut.
- “Protein for growing bodies.” True, but most kids get more than enough protein in their diets, so this isn’t something you need to specifically look out for.
- “Calcium for strong bones and teeth.” True – and a decent amount at that!
- “Vitamin B12 for sustained energy and concentration.” True, but it’s important to note that the amounts added are small (less than 15% of the recommended daily intake), and not suitable to treat a deficiency.
- Overall, these pouches contain a decent amount of calcium but do contain some added sugar.
- If you’re after a yoghurt pouch with added probiotics but without the added sugar, Yoplait Yop No Sugar Added Vanilla Yoghurt Pouch are an alternative.
- The higher calcium content is great for kids who don’t get enough calcium from other foods. If your child already has plenty of milk, cheese, and yoghurt in their diet though, the Woolworths No Added Sugar Yoghurt Pouches are a good (and cheaper) alternative.
- Looking for more on choosing yoghurt? Our Baby, Toddler, and Family Mealtimes memberships include a comprehensive product selection guide for yoghurt, as well as over 15 other categories.
The composition of food products changes regularly. The nutritional values of the products in this Chewsday Review were correct at the time of publishing.
