We asked 30 children ages 6 through 16 to taste six lower-sugar lowfat yogurts: two flavors each of Dannon Danimals 25% Less Sugar, Yoplait Kids 25% Less Sugar, and Stonyfield Farm Organic Yokids 25% Less Sugar. Kids' yogurts with 25 percent less sugar are also low in fat and excellent sources of calcium, which makes them smart nutritional choices. Our kid testers rated the yogurts' flavor and texture from excellent to horrible and noted if they would eat the yogurt again. We also evaluated nutritional content and price.

Overall, the kids said they preferred the flavor and texture of Dannon Danimals 25% Less Sugar Lowfat Strawberry Explosion and Dannon Danimals 25% Less Sugar Lowfat Totally Vanilla a little more than either the Yoplait Kids 25% Less Sugar Lowfat or Stonyfield Farm Organic Yokids 25% Less Sugar Lowfat in both flavor categories ("banilla"/vanilla and strawberry). The kids' favorite was the Dannon Danimals Totally Vanilla; they liked the two Stonyfield yogurts least.

A large number of our kid testers noted that the Dannon Danimals strawberry and Yoplait Kids vanilla flavors were not particularly sweet, yet about half the panelists said they would still eat them again.

Nutritionally, all three brands are similar. Each container has 90 to 100 calories, 1 to 2 grams of fat, 13 grams of sugar, and 20 to 30 percent of the daily value (DV) for calcium. All three also claim to contain 25 percent less sugar than the other leading kids' yogurts. There is no Food and Drug Administration nutritional standard for sugar, but 13 grams might be considered a bit high since one teaspoon (about 4 grams) is considered low sugar in other countries' nutritional programs. Besides lower sugar, some yogurts contain "functional ingredients" such as inulin (a source of fiber associated with improved calcium absorption) and omega-3 DHA (believed to support brain growth and development). These claims are based on some small studies; larger clinical trials are needed to confirm their validity.

Additionally, some yogurt manufacturers are adding other cultures (besides the required strains of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus), which allow them to make various health claims, such as promotes "digestive and immune health." (See our health blog, Probiotics: Good for Your Kids?) The three yogurt brands are very close in cost per serving (see table below for serving sizes). Dannon Danimals costs about 49 cents per serving and Yoplait Kids 50 cents per serving. Consumers will pay a bit more for Stonyfield Farm (58 cents), presumably because of the organic label and additional cultures.