Dairy products can be junk food in disguise, Consumer Reports says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The dairy case bulges with new products that seem like tasty ways to get more protein, calcium and other nutrients, but Consumer Reports ShopSmart magazine said many are just junk food.

Amy Keating, nutritionist and senior project leader at Consumer Reports, said certain dairy products can contain a lot of sugar and sodium.

For instance, many people consider cheese sticks to be a calcium boost, but the average stick contains almost 200 milligrams of sodium, which is more than a one-ounce bag of potato chips.

"A glass of skim milk will have as much or more calcium and vitamin D with about half the sodium," Keating said.

YoCrunch yogurt with granola may seem like a good protein boost, but it contains 25 grams of sugar in each six-ounce serving.

The much smaller Stonyfield Organid YoKids Squeezers and Yoplait Go-Gurt still pack nine grams of sugar per serving. As a better option, try Siggi's Icelandic-Style Yogurt Tubes, which have only six grams of sugar.

And while dips made with Greek yogurt might be a better choice than the fat-filled sour cream variety, they aren't completely healthy either.

Seasonings such as the Heluva Good French Onion Greek Yogurt Dip drive the sodium content of a two-tablespoon serving beyond what would be in a small bag of McDonald's fries.

Smarter choices include two Greek yogurt dips from Sabra: Mediterranean Herb and Tzatziki.

"The most important thing you can do is read the labels and be sure you know what you're getting," Keating said.