Yogurt-covered pretzels are a popular snack, but they are not as healthy as fresh yogurt. They contain high amounts of calories, fat, and sugar, and lack the live cultures found in yogurt. They should be enjoyed in moderation and read labels to check for ingredients. Homemade versions are healthier.
Yogurt covered pretzels are a popular and simple snack made with crunchy pretzels covered in a yogurt coating. These are one version of an almost endless list of yogurt-based foods generally considered a healthy alternative to traditional snacks, like candy and chocolate. Manufacturers make versions ranging from vanilla to strawberry or peanut butter.
While yogurt alone offers significant nutritional benefits, snack foods like yogurt-covered pretzels rarely offer much in the way of nutrients or health benefits. Like other yogurt snacks, including coated peanuts or raisins, yogurt-coated pretzels are a delicious dessert rather than a health food. They should be enjoyed like other types of snacks and eaten in moderation to avoid weight gain or ill health issues.
A single cup of yogurt-covered pretzels contains about 400 calories, or significantly more than the average candy bar in the United States. A serving consisting of ten of these coated pretzels contains about 300 calories. Perhaps more important is the fat content, which is around 12 grams for every ten pretzels. Yogurt-covered pretzels also contain a surprisingly high amount of saturated fat. A single cup of nonfat yogurt, on the other hand, contains 120 calories and no fat or saturated fat.
Plain pretzels contain little to no fat, and the same goes for nonfat yogurt. The high fat content of yogurt-coated pretzels comes from the other ingredients used to make this snack. Many prepackaged versions contain sugar and unhealthy oils to give the look and taste of yogurt, but contain little or no real yogurt. This means that snackers who turn to yogurt-covered pretzels instead of yogurt will be missing out on the proteins, vitamins and minerals found in most fresh yogurts.
Yogurt also contains live, active cultures, which can help regulate the digestive system and help the body absorb calcium and other nutrients. Yogurt-covered pretzels, on the other hand, contain relatively little yogurt and virtually no live culture. This means that eating these pretzels won’t provide the same health benefits as eating a cup of yogurt and a serving of pretzels on the side.
Of course, that doesn’t mean people should give up on yogurt-covered pretzels entirely. Instead, they should be viewed as an occasional snack and treated just like other desserts. Shoppers should read labels to inquire about the ingredients in these pretzels and how many calories are in each serving. Some yogurt makers even offer recipes on their websites, which allow pretzel lovers to make this snack at home with less fat and sugar than typically found in packaged varieties.
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