Monday, June 20, 2011

They Had Me At Granola: Alpina Restart Yogurts


I love yogurt. It is a fact that I once dripped yogurt onto my cell phone and, without thinking, licked it off, even though said phone had been dropped on the grimy New York City streets more times than I would like to recall. I love sweet yogurt and savory yogurt. I love it in a cup and I love it in a portable tube. I love frozen yogurt and would probably love hot yogurt if that became a thing (get on it, science!) I especially love yogurt now that I’m pregnant, since it’s a great source of both protein and calcium, two things my growing parasite baby needs in spades. So when given the chance to taste-test Alpina’s new Restart line of yogurts and get paid for it, without resorting to putting my tongue on electronic equipment, I was on board faster than you can say “OMG, there’s granola in the top part? I love that kind of yogurt the most!” (Which not only takes awhile to say but also happens to be true.)

A few days later, a package arrived at my office bearing a perishable cold-packed box of the four Alpina Restart flavors--strawberry, vanilla, blueberry, and peach--complete with the aforementioned granola packets, which rustled in the clear plastic container tops like delicious little maracas. I was going to take them home, set them all out, and do a proper, controlled tasting, but of course I ate the strawberry and vanilla ones immediately, because I have no scientific method... or willpower.

Restart is fat-free and 170 calories per container (in the interest of full disclosure, the granola brings it up to 230 calories and 2 grams of fat, one saturated) and provides 8 grams of protein, 21% of the average woman’s daily calcium needs, and 3 grams of fiber. The verdict? It tastes good, and the granola (can you tell I’m obsessed with the granola?) adds a nice texture that makes a container of Alpina a more satisfying snack than your average yogurt. The fruit flavors have small flecks of fruit in them but no giant chunks (a plus if you ask me), and the yogurt is perfectly sweetened--not cloying but also not tart. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the blueberry:

Oh, yeah, that's the stuff.
Yogurt takes granola into its tender embrace.
I am so virtuous, and calcium-filled.
It's impossible to look sexy while eating yogurt, OK? 
Another great thing about Alpina is that it’s committed to supporting women (in my hometown, no less). If you share a wish for women on Alpina's Facebook page, they will make a donation to Women in Need, an organization that provides housing, job training, childcare, and guidance to New York City women and their families who are homeless, fleeing from domestic abuse, or otherwise disadvantaged.

And now, for the chance to win a $200 Visa gift card... What’s your favorite way to eat yogurt? Give me your most inspired mix-ins, your bizarre secret rituals, or the way you sneak it into batters and baked goods to make them healthier. (And, obviously, if you eat your yogurt hot, for the love of God, tell me how!)

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61 comments:

  1. I always have a tub of Greek yogurt in my fridge. It's good with honey in it, but I also use it anywhere I used to use sour cream. Tacos...baked potatoes...dips...now, all with pro-biotics! :)

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  2. Frozen yogurt with hot fudge and peanut butter or vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries, yum!

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  3. I, too, love yogurt in all its current forms. Not sure if I'm up for a hot version, but I'd probably try it.

    I like to mix Grape Nuts into my yogurt. It's the only way one can possibly eat them, and they give the yogurt a nice texture if you let them sit for a minute or two so you don't break your teeth on them!

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  4. I love to mix yogurt with cool whip and then freeze it in a pie crust. It has this weird icy texture that nobody likes except me--and a few other people whose moms made this dessert way back when.

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  5. i mix it with granola and fruit. a friend recently made some strawberry compote and it's fantastic mixed into greek yogurt!

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  6. tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/rpaigemast

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  7. I hate the consistency of yogurt, so I need something solid in there. granola, watermelon, raisins, gimme something to chew on.

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  8. I love plain yogurt with frozen berries mixed in! By the time I get to work the berries and juices are all thawed... now I'm hungry.

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  9. With strawberry shortcake, in place of the whipped cream. Yum!

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  10. I like to make chocolate chip scones with plain yogurt. Other than that, I'm all about a yogurt and a granola bar for breakfast. I never thought about combining the two!

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  11. I love making smoothie popsicles! This is a new discovery and I am obsessed. Mix yogurt, fruit, and milk and then put into popsicle molds. So far I've done strawberries and a banana with strawberry banana yogurt and blueberries with vanilla yogurt. So yummy!

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  12. Power Breakfast- Strawberries, blueberries and almonds mixed in plain yogurt. Topped with flax seed and a drizzle of honey.

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  13. I like vanilla yogurt with yogurt, blueberries and walnuts. Plain is good when flavored with fruit spread too.

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  14. Room temp yogurt- I love greek yogurt with something sweet to offset the tanginess

    Frozen yogurt- any flavor, any time, as long as Capt'n Crunch is a topping (my 6-year-old-brain's version of granola??)

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  15. When I'm on the verge of starving and need something full of substance, I reach for a banana and peanut butter to put in my vanilla yogurt. It's almost like an ice cream sundae, but with all the redeeming qualities of yogurt.

    I am also a big fruit mix-in fan, as well as granola!

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  16. My favorite way to eat yogurt is as an ingredient in a special single-serving, microwavable, low-fat brownie mix! Yum yum yum.

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  17. I like it straight up. Plain - just me, my yogurt, and my spoon. Yum.

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  18. I love yogurt with granola and fruit in it. not very creative - but the way I like it.

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  19. One word: Gyros. My family would probably eat them everyday if they could LOL Thus I always have yougurt in the fridge

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  20. I like to take any flavor of yogurt and half freeze it. It almost like having icecream only healthy. helenkeeler@comcast.net

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  21. I love to eat yogurt with Grapenuts and Dried cranberries. I also make a dish with peas, rice, and ground beef that has a cucumber and yogurt dressing. The yogurt dressing is cool, but the dish is hot.
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

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  22. http://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/85128840053133313
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

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  23. I'm a simple gal. The most I've done is mix plain yogurt with strawberries and banana's. Not sure if I would like hot yogurt. I like mine nice and chilled.
    tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  24. i love adding granola, and sometimes peanuts mm
    lyndsey dot hauck at gmail dot com

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  25. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/disneyfan40/status/85138726212218882
    tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/themamahood/status/85308760087736320

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  27. granola in yogurt works for us

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  28. I always must lick the yogurt off the aluminum cover!

    Thanks,

    selinda_mccumbers at yahoo.com

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  29. I eat cold yogurt straight from the carton.
    traymona[at]aol.com

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  30. I love to freeze yogurt and then when eating it, pat myself on the back for being the smartest person alive for coming up with the idea of "frozen yogurt." Yes, I realize I didn't invent frozen yogurt but in that moment, it seems like I did...

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  31. I'm loving Greek yogurt lately, but when I was little, I used to eat the "fruit on the bottom" yogurts. I hate plain yogurt, but I'd refuse to stir and force the yogurt down so I could get to the undiluted good stuff at the bottom. Looking back, I find this surprising, because I'm *so* not a delayed gratification kind of girl. (Now, for example, I just ignore cake and eat the frosting.)

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  32. Also, tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/musestarved

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  33. I put yogurt in smoothies, mixed with bananas, strawberries, peaches, mangos, whatever fruit sounds good that day.

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  34. Frozen Go-gurt. I feel like I'm seven again. Love it.

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  35. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/laurleelou/favorites

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  36. My kids love yogurt. Especially like freezing it to eat like ice cream.
    huntandride@hotmail.com

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  37. tweeted.https://twitter.com/jen_r_horn/status/86456683961921537
    huntandride@hotmail.com

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  38. my fav way to eat yogurt is to mix in cookies or m&ms
    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

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  39. http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/88063211550674944
    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

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  40. I like my yogurt straight up.

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  41. I love adding chocolate chips to banana yogurt.

    darkmysticnight@hotmail.com

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  42. I love plain yogurt on hash browns, vanilla yogurt on pie, and fruity yogurts (especially raspberry) on waffles. A pasta or chicken topping made with plain yogurt, peanut butter, and garlic. As fruit dip mixed with a little peanut butter and caramel.

    Oh, I HAVE HAD HOT YOGURT - got to borrow a friend's yogurt maker, added fresh raspberries, chopped pears, and honey. I just couldn't wait for it to chill to eat, so I simply ate it when it was cool enough not to burn!

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  43. I love eating yogurt with granola and dried fruit! sethandshannon1 at yahoo dot com

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  44. tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/sethandshannon1/status/92748487782961152 sethandshannon1 at yahoo dot com

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  45. I like strawberry yogurt with granola mixed in.

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  46. i like vanilla yogurt with blueberries mixed in
    nannypanpan at gmail.com

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  47. I like Greek yogurt with honey and rose flower water. you can get it at gourmet supermarkets (no calories and it really comes from roses)
    make sure the yogurt is made from whole milk
    this is really the bomb ( i have never in my life used this phrase)

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  48. i like to put it in the freezer for a little while til it gets a little hard and then eat it. It tastes so much better cold and the texture is nicer.

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  49. awwwwwwh . I love taking plain greek yogurt & mixing it with honey !! It is my guilty pleasure midnight snack . mmmm


    xyoulovekarlene@gmail.com

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  50. I am totally addicted to coconut milk yogurt. I love how creamy and coconutty (is that a word?) it is. I like it plain, but I have been known to sprinkle in granola or chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds usually) for a little texture.

    the imagine tree at aol dot com

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  51. i like plain yogurt with honey. rita3ko (at) gmail (dot) com

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  52. sometimes I like to have it mixed with ice cream, cookies & cream for example. it tastes really good

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  53. I eat yogurt with honey and fresh fruit (blueberries, pineapple, bananas, whatever I have on hand).

    mybeachylife at gmail dot com

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  54. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/computerfan/status/97522937078358016

    cranky30[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  55. i miss old school apple yogurt, which most companies do not carry anymore. Occasionally I'll find an "apple and cinnamon" yogurt within the variety that they order for the fridge at work, but I long for just the straight up apple flavor. Cinnamon is not needed here! mmm... now I want yogurt...

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  56. I love greek yogurt. Never tried this one, but will have to. Also never tried granola in my yogurt, but there's a first time for everything =)

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  57. I love yogurt straight up but I also like adding sliced fruit, granola or even dipping animal crackers in it.

    judyman715(at)aim(dot)com

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  58. Tweeted...

    https://twitter.com/#!/judes715/status/97819968170770432

    judyman715(at)aim(dot)com

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