Let the kids eat bugs! Lifeway Organic Probug that is – probiotics for children

Lifeway Probugs™ is a new line of organic whole milk kefir that will appeal to kids with its fun packaging and yummy flavors. Probugs have 10 live and active cultures to help kids’ tummies and immune system stay healthy. They also are high in protein and calcium, with added inulin for optimum calcium absorption. (See the Lifeway website for Probugs nutritional information.)

The drinks come in packaging that is easy to grip even by the littlest hands. Probugs don’t spill, and can be resealed for later use. They’re very portable, which makes them a great healthy on the go snack, too.

What’s all the fuss about probiotics?

Probiotics have been found to be helpful for people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) but not eczema. Studies have shown that using probiotics can help treat gastrointestinal problems, delay kids from developing allergies, and treat or prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women, according to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.

As you probably know if you stroll by the yogurt aisle once in awhile, probiotic drinks are a big trend. Dannon, Yoplait, and Lifeway all have probiotic products and even my local milk supplier, Diamond D Dairy, has produced their own called Yoforia.

Is the cost worth it?

My son Nathan reports that many of his classmates are drinking Yoforias at school. I told him it was cheaper to drink it at home by the quart – or not at all. We eat a lot of yogurt as a family, usually Horizon Organic low fat yogurt since my husband claims it’s the closest thing to European yogurts he’s tried. I’m not convinced that my family needs special probiotic drinks to be healthy. Drinking kefir yogurt can’t hurt but I’m not sure they’re worth the money. The Horizon yogurts are expensive enough (about $1 each when they’re not on sale).

I was not able to verify the price since Probugs isn’t available at my local grocery store. (They do carry other Lifeway products though.) According to the Motley Fool, the price for a carton of four drinks (20 oz. or 4 at 5 fl. oz.) is almost $5, so about $1.25 per drink. At Diamond D Diary, their Yoforia is $1.50 for an 8 oz. carton, but it’s not organic. Dannon’s Danimals Drinkables run about $5 for 24.8 oz., but the ingredients are not organic.

My conclusion is that Probugs is priced about the same as similar products, and that you’re paying a little extra because it’s organic.

Our family’s review – yummy!

Nathan and Lucie were enthusiastic about trying Lifeway Probugs. The packaging is very appealing and so are the names: Orange Creamy Crawler, Sublime Slime Lime, and Goo-Berry Pie. The drink pouches with screw off tops were fun, too. (Hint: if you want your drink to stand up while you’re sipping on it, blow air into it and reseal with the screw top.)

Lucie had her friend, India, over and all three kids and I agreed that the Probugs were delicious. I tried all three and the orange was my favorite, sort of a sour orange creamsicle. The kids’ favorite were the berry flavor, then the orange, followed by the lime. Needless to say our small supply quickly disappeared.

My only disappointment with the Probugs is that it’s a whole milk kefir and almost 40% fat. I would have preferred a lower fat version. My older kids (five and eight years) don’t need the extra fat calories in their diets.

Posted on October 21, 2008 in Health,Products and Equipment

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