Spoon by spoon

Publicist Shaina Zalma offered me the following pitch: "How about a feature offering your readers tips and foods for helping kids transition to a healthier diet while they are home from school this summer season? For example, give a couple choices for snack time -- both of them healthy, since kids like choices, so let them choose between two healthy options."

The new product she's spreading the word about is called YoCrunch, which she describes as "an ideal gateway food to better eating," or at least, that's according to her "stamp of approval" from dairy industry veteran Kevin O'Rell.

So here's the scoop.

It has all the health benefits of Breyers yogurt with kid-friendly crunchy mix-ins placed conveniently atop the package.

But trust me, it's not just for kids. Adults love these combinations just as much.

The idea for this brand began with the Yofarm Yogurt Co., which was started in 1985 with the mission "to create the smoothest yogurt recipes of Europe using the best dairy products of New England."

The test recipe representatives also began experimenting with a bunch of toppings like cereals, nuts and candies to find "the perfect complement" to their already smooth yogurt . The best answer for what tastes best when mixed in was 100 percent natural granola.

Then, in 1991, the recipe and idea was fine-tuned, and YoCrunch brand was born.

Letting imaginations run wild, the company then partnered with other famed snack companies to combine and create new topping flavors to include with their new line of yogurts.

Some of the most popular varieties now available include yogurts with garnishes to sprinkle on top like M&Ms, Nestle's Crunch, Reeses, crushed OREOs cookies, Butterfinger bars and Back-to-Nature granola bits, among other variations.

In 2007, the company became part of Breyers Yogurt Co., known for quality dairy products.

The brand name for the line is now Breyers YoCrunch, and each 6-ounce container sells for around 99 cents.

Visit www.yocrunch.com for more details and a complete list of flavors.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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