Residents who prefer a mild taste
If no modified texture has been prescribed, a plain recipe may be suitable. Check that the product contains no pieces, and look at its ingredients and pack size rather than relying on the word ‘mild’ alone.
Which residents is it for?
Residents receiving nutritional support
Compare the nutritional information in the context of the plan drawn up for the resident. The French National Authority for Health recommends individualised care for malnutrition in older people; an ordinary yoghurt is not a substitute for this care.
Residents with swallowing difficulties
The priority is to follow the resident’s prescribed texture and serving instructions. The French National Authority for Health stresses the importance of assessing the risk of food entering the airway and managing the textures of meals.
What should you check before choosing?
When choosing food for a care home meal, start with the resident’s individual instructions. Then compare the recipe, nutritional information and packaging of the products you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Meal texture | Confirm the resident’s texture protocol and check the product as it will be served, including any accompaniments. | If I’m serving a resident who has difficulty swallowing, I want to follow their texture instructions rather than rely on how creamy the yoghurt looks in the pot. Texture comes before other criteria for around 36% of consumers choosing food for these meals. |
| Nutritional composition | Compare protein, fat, saturated fat and sugars per 100 g, and consider the choice as part of the resident’s dietary plan. | When a resident’s diet is being monitored, I need to be able to compare specific products with the relevant team. Meeting the nutritional plan is the top priority for around 29% of the consumers concerned. |
| Taste and recipe | Read the ingredients and check whether the plain variety contains fruit, pieces or a topping. | For a mild-tasting end to a meal, I look for a plain recipe whose ingredients I can check, without assuming that ‘mild’ describes its composition. Around 21% of consumers choosing food for these meals put this criterion first. |
| Pack size and storage | Check that the packaging suits the serving arrangements, and check the use-by date and storage instructions for the product received. | If several portions need to be served, I want a pack size that works for the care home’s serving and storage arrangements. This is the top priority for around 14% of the consumers concerned. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘creamy’ means the texture is suitable
A sensory description cannot tell you whether a yoghurt is suitable for a resident with swallowing difficulties. The French National Authority for Health stresses the need to assess the risk of food entering the airway and manage food textures.
Confirm the individual protocol before buying and serving the yoghurt. Don’t add fruit, biscuits or other pieces unless their suitability has been confirmed against this protocol.
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Assuming plain yoghurt is low in fat
‘Plain’ describes the recipe, not its fat content. Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc product information lists 7 g of fat per 100 g for Danone à la Grecque Nature, 8.2 g per 100 g for Auchan Nature and 10 g per 100 g for Délisse yaourt grec nature 1 kg, respectively.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for each specific product, then check how it fits into the resident’s menu.
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Choosing based on protein content alone
A protein figure on its own does not define an individual’s needs or provide a treatment plan for malnutrition.
If a resident is at nutritional risk or follows a particular diet, have the product checked as part of their dietary plan.
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Relying solely on the product information you saw before ordering
Auchan notes that the composition of its product may vary depending on the collection point and purchase date. So check the product received before serving it.
Check the label for ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, the use-by date and storage instructions.
Brands to compare for this choice
Danone
The plain Greek-style yoghurt listed by Carrefour is worth considering if you’re looking for a recipe with no fruit shown in its ingredients list.
- Carrefour’s product information lists skimmed milk, cream and cultures among the ingredients, and 7 g of fat per 100 g.
- The description ‘smooth’ does not establish that its texture is suitable for a resident with swallowing difficulties.
Délisse / Marque Repère E.Leclerc
Two plain varieties let you compare a 450 g pack with a 1 kg pack, while keeping their different compositions in mind.
- According to E.Leclerc, the 450 g plain Greek-style yoghurt contains 3.5 g of protein and 8.5 g of fat per 100 g. The 1 kg plain Greek yoghurt contains 5.6 g and 10 g per 100 g, respectively.
- Check the nutritional information and pack size for the specific product you’re ordering, rather than assuming they apply to the whole brand.
Auchan
The plain Greek-style yoghurt in a pack of four 150 g pots can be compared with larger packs when planning how to serve it.
- Auchan’s product information lists 8.2 g of fat and 2.9 g of protein per 100 g, and says this product should be stored between 0 °C and +6 °C.
- As the composition may vary, check the labels on the pots received before serving.
Carrefour Extra
The range includes plain Greek-style yoghurts as well as honey and fruit-layer varieties, so check which recipe you’re choosing.
- These varieties let you compare a plain option with recipes containing other ingredients.
- Check the ingredients, inclusions and nutritional information for the variety you choose. A feature of one product does not necessarily apply to the whole range.
Eridanous / Lidl
Lidl presents this Greek-style yoghurt as an option to compare if its pack format suits the serving arrangements.
- Lidl describes it as ‘smooth’.
- This description does not confirm that it meets an individual texture requirement. Check the product and its label before choosing it.
Related products on Joybuy
Products related to this topic will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘mild’ Greek yoghurt suitable for all care home residents?
No. ‘Mild’ or ‘smooth’ does not describe a texture that is suitable for every resident. If someone has swallowing difficulties, the choice and serving method must follow the assessment and texture protocol set by the care home, in line with the precautions outlined by the French National Authority for Health.
When should you choose a plain recipe rather than a flavoured one?
A plain recipe is worth considering if you’re looking for a mild taste and a product without pieces. Even so, read the ingredients and nutritional information: ‘plain’ does not mean low in fat.
Can Greek yoghurt replace treatment for malnutrition?
No. The French National Authority for Health recommends individualised care for malnutrition in older people. The composition of a yoghurt may be taken into account in the dietary plan drawn up by professionals, but the product cannot replace this care.
What should you check on the label before serving the yoghurt?
Check the product received, its ingredients list, allergens, nutritional information and use-by date. If the recipe contains milk, check that this allergen is listed. The French Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control reminds consumers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on the label.
What storage instructions should you follow before serving?
Follow the temperature and use-by date shown on the product you actually bought. For example, the product information for this specific Auchan plain Greek-style yoghurt says to store it between 0 °C and +6 °C.