The Humbled Homemaker: 5 Holiday Uses for Yogurt--A Flu-Fighting Food


Image by kril

Not sure about the flu shot? Fight back with food instead! Welcome back to 5 Flu-Fighting Foods--a 5-week series that will arm you with recipes to stay healthy this season!

I'm excited to be joining the following 5 amazing bloggers in hosting this series:

Nikki @Christian Mommy Blogger
Mindy @The Purposed Heart
Anne @Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy
Leigh Ann @Intentional by Grace
Rachel @Day2Day Joys

I can't believe today is the final installment of this series! I've had a blast creating and finding new recipes for these flu-fighting foods:

pumpkin,
breakfast,
green tea (my favorite week!), and
garlic

Today's flu-fighting food is yogurt! I absolutely LOVE yogurt. I grew up eating it all the time, but I had no idea what a super food it is until just a few years ago.

Yogurt is chock full of probiotics, which balance out the flora in your gut. For more information on probiotics, check out this post. Learning a little bit about them is a MUST for your health!

Yogurt also can:

lower bad and raise good cholesterol levels,
lower body fat,
give a calcium boost to your bones,
boost your immune system, and
much more! (source)

It is BEST to consume plain yogurt, but if you don't like the taste, you can always sweeten it with honey or fresh or frozen fruit. Homemade organic yogurt is also best, but I will admit, I buy Stonyfield Farms organic yogurt (and earn free yogurt through their points system!).

Homemade yogurt is on my list of homemade foods to tackle, but I haven't gotten there yet. (Especially since the majority of our house is dairy free right now...and the one person who isn't {hubby} doesn't like yogurt!)

In lieu of a recipe this week (OK, I had all intentions of remaking this in some fashion, but it flopped...totally flopped!), I thought it would be fun to give you a list of 5 ways to incorporate yogurt into your holiday celebrations:

1. Take a yummy probiotic pumpkin dip to a party. Serve with fresh apples or gingersnaps!

Image by Glenn Gutierre

2. Make a cheesy green bean casserole with Christmas dinner, and sub yogurt for the sour cream.

Image by salsachica

3. Make and eat a yogurt parfait on Christmas morning (or the day after, when you're feeling really full and want something light!).

Image by detstudio

4. Instead of topping your desserts with cool whip, top with plain yogurt. It will give it a tart taste that will cut the sweetness.

Image by nkzs

5. Stir some into a creamy potato soup or top the soup with it, cheese and chives. Makes for a great dinner on a seasonally cold night!

What are your favorite uses for yogurt?

Be sure to check out the great yogurt recipes and tips shared by the other amazing homemakers hosting this series!
Apple Pie Smoothie: A Probiotic Flu Fighter@The Purposed Heart
Probiotics 101 @Day2Day Joys
Yogurt: A Flu-Fighting Food @ Intentional by Grace
Yogurt Pudding: A Flu-Fighting Food@ Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy

Now it’s your turn! All 6 of us co-hosts enjoyed reading your mouth-watering garlic recipes last time! My top 3 favorites were: