Local Dairy

Last week I stopped by our local produce market Tommy MC's to see if they had any local fruits coming in now that spring has sprung.  I found some mini pink grapefruit and decided that since they were 3 for $1 I could not pass them up.  Understand, I don't actually like grapefruit all that much but figured Ryan would enjoy them.  I couldn't help but try one that night and to my surprise, they were Amazing!  Very very flavorful and full of juice; also not overly bitter or sour.  Since they are small I just peel them like and orange and eat it by the section. I went back and bought 4 more today.  According to nutritiondata.com 1 cup of pink grapefruit(about the size of a mini) contains 69kcals, 3g fiber,  and a whopping 142% DV for vitamin C.

As I was poking around in the refrigerated section I noticed these little bottles on the top rack.  They ended up being 8oz containers of low-fat drinkable yogurt.  Until this point I have avoided the drinkable yogurt smoothies especially those put out by Light & Fit.  I do this for a variety of reasons ranging from artificial sweeteners and colorings, to the fact that I don't like watery yogurt anyway, why would do I want to drink it?  The product is made by Sparkman's Cream Valley a locally owned dairy in Moultrie GA.  They do not use any artificial hormones on their Jersey Cows, and do their best to be stewards of the land by buying locally for the ingredients used in their yogurts and ice-cream.  The drinkable yogurt is the only product I have tried so far, but I definitely plan on buying their half & half for my morning coffee and trying some of their ice-cream.

I purchased the peach flavored yogurt and poured a small glass for Ryan and I yesterday morning before work.  It's thick and creamy like melted ice-cream but with that definitive yogurt tang.  The peach flavor was right on, probably due to the fact that they use real Georgia peaches not artificial flavorings.  It was not too sweet, however it does contain sugar and evaporated sugar cane juice.  Next I'd like to try the strawberry as well as the mango flavors.  Our only complaint was that it was quite frustrating trying to get the last sip our two out of the glass; it's that creamy.  For $1.48 plus tax here is what you get nutritionally in your 8oz container.  186kcals, 2g fat, 1g saturated fat, 36g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 22g sugar(I'm figured that approximately 13g is from the lactose the rest if from the peaches and sugar), 6g protein.  This comes to 0.008 cents/kcal.

While picking up some other groceries over at Publix I checked out the Stoney Field but did not purchase any.  A package of 4 6oz bottles costs $3.79.  Each bottle contains 140kcals, 2g fat, 23g Cho, and 23g sugar.  So fairly similar to Sparkman's.  This comes out to 0.0067 cents/kcal.  Just a smidge less expensive.

While not quite the perfect 4:1 ratio of carb to protein, these drinks could become a new standby for post workout recovery foods.  Most likely after a hard lifting session.  An intense run usually makes me avoid dairy for a good hour or so afterwards.  When it comes to traveling, this could be a good way to get some probiotics without having to pull over and stop to use a spoon.  I would also recommend them to people who say they are too busy for breakfast.  It's just as easy as cracking open a midmorning coke, but much much healthier.