We’re guessing that not many froyo franchisers keep their fingers on the pulse of Glamour magazine’s dictated “Dos and Don’ts.” But then, Glamour doesn’t usually cover a subject of such great interest: advice on froyo portion and cost control.
So what’s the froyo “fashion”? We turn to a recent Glamour.com post entitled “Healthy Eating: The Dos and Don’ts of Frozen Yogurt,” in which the lifestyle mag relates to their vast audience of younger women some Dos and Don’ts of self-serve yogurt restraint.
DO Reverse the Order of Your Cup
Rachel Beller, nutritionist for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” recommends you “flip it” to keep calories under control. “Flip that frozen yogurt and go to the topping station first,” she tells Glamour. “Put fresh berries, whatever fruits you want, and then go to the machine and top it.”
DO Layer Your Toppings Strategically
Registered dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner expands on the “flip it” mentality:
– “First,” she says, “add bigger fruits like whole strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries; they’ll help your cup look fuller.”
– “The second layer of good toppings should be the things that have a lot of volume like cereal … or things that have a lot of puffy air in them,” she adds.
– Finally, Blatner says, “When it comes to all the other candy toppings, I would keep it simple.”
DO Ask For A Smaller Cup
Often, smaller-size cups aren’t on display. In the Glamour blog post, Carolyn Brown, M.S., R.D., at Foodtrainers, a New York City-based nutrition practice, recommends asking for a small one and limiting yourself to a serving of one-and-a-half swirls.
Regardless Of The Size Of Your Cup, DON’T Fill It To The Top
Although most cups hold much more, shoot for 4 to 5 ounces. “Have it weighed at the counter before you add any toppings,” Alyse Levine, M.S., R.D., at Nutritionbite, a nutrition practice in Los Angeles tells Glamour readers. “That helps to keep the yogurt portion in check.”
DON’T Spend More Than $4
Glamour writes, “Try balancing your waistline with your budget.” They quote Stephanie Middleberg, M.S., R.D., “I recommend clients keep to a kiddie-size serving or under $4 at a self-serve store. Think of a single scoop of ice cream, or the size of a tennis ball — that should be your frozen-yogurt portion.”
DO Treat Yourself
You’re in denial thinking you can deny yourself forever. Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D., and author of S.A.S.S! Yourself Slim, recommends that you “add a teeny bit of your favorite treat topping. Your best bets for the sweet stuff are dark chocolate chunks or shavings.”
DON’T Mix Flavors
Swirling is fun, but try to resist. “We have a limit where our taste buds start fatiguing on a certain flavor,” says Blatner. “If you pick only one topping and flavor, you actually feel way more satisfied than if you were picking multiple things.”
DO Simplify Your FroYo If You’ve Already Overindulged
Again, Brown: “If you’ve already overindulged throughout the day but still need a sweet fix, go for naked froyo. The problem with the salad bar style, you soon load it up with thousands of calories in a treat, which is not a treat. That’s beyond a treat. It’s like a treat for a week. Plain is the best way to do things.”
DON’T Think Sugar-Free Means Healthier
Glamour writes, “The absence of sugar can mean the presence of artificial sweeteners, which can actually stoke your sweet tooth, making you crave even more.” Sass adds, “There is no way you can look at a frozen yogurt and tell if it’s all natural or made with artificial ingredients, so be sure to check out the ingredient list, which is often posted on machines or available in a brochure near the register.”
DO Make Froyo Outings A Social Event
Lastly, Glamour quotes Blatner, “Often when people bring sweet treats home, they don’t feel as embarrassed eating and will order larger sizes with more decadent toppings. They feel under the veil of being by themselves and eating. Frozen yogurt is about enjoyment, so make sure that you are in a social situation actually enjoying it.”
Given the strong presence Sintel Systems has in the frozen yogurt segment of the restaurant POS marketplace, we share these musings and other findings with our customers and franchise hopefuls. We also happily share our vast experience and expertise in the frozen yogurt market sector and geographic growth trends with startup owners in order to help them make the best decisions from the very beginning.
If you are interested in learning more about Sintel’s POS systems and how our knowledge and support can impact your future success, call us for a complimentary phone consultation.
Read the full Glamour.com post here.
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