For a cake or pancakes where you want to choose the flavours yourself, go for plain Greek or Greek-style yoghurt and check whether it contains milk before cooking with children. A large tub is suitable if the recipe calls for a lot of yoghurt and you can use the rest within the stated time after opening; individual pots make it easier to measure out smaller quantities. Don’t rely on the word ‘mature’ or ‘matured’ as a deciding factor unless you know exactly what it means for that product.
If your recipe calls for a large amount of yoghurt, a big tub can make measuring easier. Just plan what you’ll do with the rest: Auchan’s product information for its 1 kg plain Greek yoghurt says to use it within four days of opening.
Plain yoghurt lets you add the ingredients specified in the recipe separately, rather than starting with yoghurt that’s already flavoured. Carrefour’s range, for example, distinguishes plain products from flavoured varieties.
The Auchan, Carrefour Extra and Danone products mentioned here all contain milk. If a child needs to avoid it, don’t use them. Follow the child’s individual plan for the activity before choosing another recipe base.
Before comparing pack sizes or nutritional values, check that the ingredients are suitable for all the children taking part and that the flavour works with your recipe.
| What to check | Look for | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour of the recipe | Look for the word ‘plain’, then read the ingredients list if you’re replacing the yoghurt specified in the recipe. | I want to choose the cake’s flavours myself, rather than starting with yoghurt that’s already flavoured. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this plain option. |
| Fat content | Compare the fat content per 100 g and the ingredients of the exact product, rather than judging its texture by the word ‘Greek’ alone. | If my recipe specifies a particular yoghurt, I want to compare the differences in ingredients before replacing it. Fat content would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Work out how much you need and check the instructions for after opening. For the 1 kg Auchan tub mentioned here, the product information says to store it at +2 to +6 °C and use it within four days of opening. | I’m making several portions, but I don’t want to open a large tub without knowing how to use the extra. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise pack size and managing leftovers. |
| Milk content | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the tub you buy. If a child needs to avoid milk, follow their individual plan rather than substituting another dairy product at random. | A child taking part needs to avoid milk, so I need to choose a suitable recipe base before getting started. Around 20% of consumers would make this their priority. |
The product information for the options mentioned here lists different pack sizes, ingredients and fat contents. So the category name alone isn’t enough to help you choose a substitute for a particular recipe.
Compare the tub you plan to use with the ingredients and quantity in the recipe, then check its nutritional information per 100 g.
The Auchan, Carrefour Extra and Danone products featured here all list milk as an ingredient. Mixing it into a batter doesn’t remove it.
Check the label on the product you’ve bought before the activity. If a milk allergy has been declared, choose another recipe or a base that follows the child’s individual plan.
For its 1 kg plain Greek yoghurt, Auchan says to use it within four days of opening.
Work out how much the recipe needs and plan how to use the rest before choosing this size. Check the instructions on the tub you actually buy.
Carrefour’s range lists plain and flavoured products separately. A flavour that’s already been added will change the ingredients in your mixture.
If you want to choose the flavours yourself with the children, look for a product labelled ‘plain’ and check its label.
Auchan’s product information lists a 1 kg tub of plain Greek yoghurt, a size worth considering for a recipe that calls for a large amount of yoghurt.
Carrefour Extra’s plain Greek-style yoghurt comes in a pack of four 150 g pots, which may be worth considering if individual portions make measuring easier.
The Danone plain Greek-style yoghurt featured by Carrefour comes in a pack of four 110 g pots, a format worth considering for a recipe that needs smaller quantities.
Lidl says that Eridanous Greek-style yoghurt can be used in recipes.
Not the dairy products from Auchan, Carrefour Extra and Danone mentioned here: they all contain milk. Check the label on the product you actually buy and follow the child’s individual plan when choosing a recipe for the activity.
For its 1 kg plain Greek yoghurt, Auchan says to store it at +2 to +6 °C and use it within four days of opening. Check the instructions on the tub you buy.
Check the ingredients, allergen information, net quantity, date and storage instructions for the product you choose. For relevant prepacked foods covered by EU labelling rules, any allergens present must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
No: don’t use a product past its use-by date. The DGCCRF advises that this date must be observed for highly perishable foods. Choose yoghurt that is still within its use-by period for your recipe.