We’ve all heard of DHA, and we know it’s an important Omega-3 fatty acid that is critical for the optimal development and function of the brain, eyes and central nervous system during childhood. You probably also know that one of the most common sources of DHA is fish, which can be a difficult food to encourage fussy toddlers to eat.
So DHA is important for brain, eye and nervous system development, but it’s not exactly abundant in the foods toddlers love. What’s a concerned mom to do? Well, look for foods that are fortified with DHA, naturally. Fortunately the folks at Dairyland have taken one of a toddler’s most-loved foods – yogurt – and added the goodness of DHA to it. 
Dairyland Li’L Ones® is the first yogurt in Canada specifically designed for toddlers. Developed with the help of dietitians and nutritionists, it’s a great way to introduce your toddler to the goodness of dairy – with the added health benefits of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid. The makers of Li’L Ones® really had the wish-lists of conscientious moms in mind when they formulated this yogurt; in addition to being enriched with DHA, Li’L Ones® is:
- Sweetened with fruit juice
- Free of gelatin, artificial flavours and artificial colours
- Made with whole milk (3.25% M.F.)
- Made with real fruit purée
- Fortified with Vitamin D
- A source of calcium
- Vegetarian friendly because it contains DHA sourced from algae
- Free of fruit pieces to prevent choking hazards
- Smooth and creamy, with a spoon-hugging texture that makes it easy for toddlers to feed themselves
- Available in eight kid-preferred flavours, plus new My Fruit & Veggie with two new flavours: Sweet Potato & Banana Blend, and Butternut Squash & Peach Medley
We sent samples of Li’l Ones® to 100 members of the Go2Girlz product testing panel to get their take on this product and, more importantly, their children’s opinion. Because we all know this axiom of motherhood: no matter how good a food is for your toddler, if they won’t eat it, it doesn’t matter! And their verdict? Overall, our testers (and their toddlers) loved Dairyland Li’l Ones®. All the added health benefits were very appealing to moms, but – kids being kids – the little ones really only cared about the taste. And they loved it! All our testers unanimously commented that their children enjoyed Li’l Ones®, and lots of older kids, moms and husbands loved it too! When asked if they would buy it again and recommend it to a friend, the Go2Girlz were nearly unanimous in their response: yes! Absolutely! As for any drawbacks, only a few of the Go2Girlz reported on any. One concern was for organic ingredients and a few moms felt the portion size was too large for their little ones to finish, but others felt a larger tub was ideal for their kids.
But don’t rely on what we have to say; here’s some of what our testers had to say about Li’l Ones® in their own words:
Very tasty! My 2 year-old loves it for breakfast. Elena, mom of 2
It is very creamy and tastes great. My little guy ate the whole container. Sabina, mom of 2
This is a delicious healthy product. Michelle, mom of 1
A nutritious and yummy treat for my son. Brandy, mom of 1
I was very happy and surprised that it wasn’t sweetened with sugar! And there was no gelatin which was a plus, and I loved the flavors and knew my little ones would love them too! Salma, mom of 2
This yogurt is yummy and my 2 munchkins love it! Caryn, mom of 2
I really liked the idea that it is not made with added sugar and that it has natural flavours. Caroline, mom of 2
The kids loved it and ate 2 each, one after the other. Cathy, mom of 2
The bigger size is ideal, as is the wider container which makes eating on her own a little easier for my 13 month old. Heather, mom of 2
Good tasting and reasonably priced. Adrijana, mom of 1
It’s a nutritious snack that my son actually likes (he’s pretty picky)! Brandy, mom of 1
Perfect portions, appealing flavours. Sara, mom of 1
Absolutely! I have already purchased two more packs since trying it. Janet, mom of 1