If you or your kids are regular consumers of Dannon’s Danimals Smoothies, you’ve been taking in about 25 percent less sugar with each serving. Since February they’ve cut back the sugar in their kid-focused yogurt. They purposefully didn’t make a big deal about it as to avoid scaring off consumers.

It’s not the first time a brand has made a change to its formula only to reap the repercussions of consumers who prefer the status quo. McDonald’s faced backlash when switching from an animal fat frying oil to canola over concerns those world-famous fries would taste different. (Today their website boasts the use of a canola oil blend and that all fried foods on its menu are free of trans fats.)

And of course everyone knows the tale of New Coke, when the soft drink company reformulated its soda and became one of the most infamous marketing flops around. So changing something that wasn’t necessarily broken had to be done so in an exacting way by Dannon. It’s no surprise that the brand treaded these sugary waters carefully.

“One thing I have learned is that the main driver of yogurt sales above all is taste,” said Sergio Fuster, senior vice president for marketing at Dannon, to NYTimes.com. “You do not want to send any signal to the consumer that might lead her to believe the taste has changed because she will simply pick up another yogurt — and it may not be ours.”
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Spring sports are a great way for kids to enjoy the warmer weather and get active. What is not so great are some of the snacks that are provided after practice or a game is done.

Kids do need to refuel after practice, but healthier choices can be made than the snack cakes and soda that are usually made available. Registered dietitian Mary Hartley, our resident nutrition expert, recommends fruit, yogurt, hummus with pita and vegetables, or healthy homemade muffins as wholesome foods that make good after-practice snacks. She warns against soda, candy, chips and other processed foods that contain a lot of sugar and fat. Though eating something after practice is an important step in refueling the body, it shouldn’t take priority over hydration.

After a long practice, it is most important for kids to rehydrate. “Water is fine, but if heavy sweating is an issue, have a sports drink,” said Hartley. She also recommends chocolate milk as a good drink for refueling muscles because of its ratio of carbohydrates to protein. Chocolate milk can also be a good substitute for sugary snacks by providing kids the nutrition they need and satisfying a craving for something sweet.
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I don’t know about you but I’m getting pretty excited about the big NFL bowl game this Sunday as it holds a special place in my heart. Ironically enough, though my husband and I aren’t the biggest big sports fans we met at a bowl party several years ago where we became friends. Not more than one year later we were married, so every time the big game rolls around in February I think back on that special day.

Being the foodie that I am, the immediate second place my mind goes to when thinking about football is food. Lucky for me there will be no short supply of good eats come February 3, and we have you covered with some healthier options for your game day spread. Instead of filling your guests with queso and bacon-wrapped meat, serve up these eight healthier dips that any football fan would love.

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While this week has already been frightful enough for our friends in New York and along the East Coast, and we’re grateful for their safety, we can’t help but hope that everyone everywhere gets a chance to partake in the fun side of scary with Halloween tomorrow. It’s got to be one of the silliest holidays of the year with as much opportunity for indulgence as any other, but also plenty of opportunity for healthifying the heck out of it!

At the very least we knew we had 31 reasons to love this spooky holiday, because, you know, it falls on October 31. First on our list is a Halloween full moon. The official full moon for October was last night, but there is sure to still be plenty of eery glow to light your trick or treat path. Second is all the walking the entire family gets by trekking from house to house.

Why else do we like Halloween? Let us count the other 29 ways…

Pumpkin Workouts

Homemade Caramel Apples

Vegan Pumpkin Spiced Latte

Fitness-Inspired Halloween Costumes

The Trick or Treat Goodies
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Price Break! Now Get Baker’s Dozen for only 99 Cents!

If it’s not entirely apparent yet, we really love food! We love food that’s fresh, homemade, wholesome, and pretty. We love food that tastes really, really good.

So we put all of that in our little mixing bowl and whipped up our first e-cookbook, a collection of our 13 best breakfast and brunch recipes. The book’s called Baker’s Dozen and will tempt you with each turn of the page. You’ll have no excuse not to get in the kitchen and prepare a healthier morning meal!

Download Baker’s Dozen Here for just 99 Cents! You’ll receive a PDF file to use on your iPad, iPhone, laptop, or other digital devices, which makes it easier than ever to have your favorite recipes right in front of you in the kitchen.

Some of the Baker’s Dozen recipes are personal favorites, like Sweet Potato Hashbrowns and Blood Orange Mimosas. Some forced us to step outside our own comfort zones to create something truly unique and delicious, like the Fig and Honey Breakfast Quinoa or the Savory Asparagus Prosciutto Crepes. Of course, we had to include exciting new takes on classic breakfast fare with our Sunny Side Up Breakfast Sandwich, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pancakes, and Mason Jar Omelets.

Beautifully appetizing photography adorns every page with approachable ingredient lists, clear and easy-to-follow instructions, and nutrition facts for each recipe, provided by CalorieCount.com. Plus, we tell the story behind each recipe so it feels like we’re enjoying a casual Saturday breakfast together as friends!

Get a taste of what’s inside Baker’s Dozen with a preview of our Apple Cinnamon Streusel Doughnuts.
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