See the cute yogurt cups. Drool over the yummy flavors. Cringe at the unit price. Moan over the unrecycled plastic. Know that "bifidus regularis" is a marketing, not a medical term.

Yogurt doesn't need artificial colors and flavors with a bitter aftertaste to make it resemble cinnamon buns or key lime pie or pina colada. Discover plain yogurt in two-pound tubs. Flavor it yourself, naturally.

Yogurt has become a dietary staple. What started as Dannon prune in the 1950s has morphed into bubble-gum pink squirting out of tiny tubes -- a good thing, overdone.

Store-brand plain nonfat or reduced fat yogurt in tubs can cost half what you buy in individual serving containers. We're spoiled to the convenience, the portability. Except for Breyers' Yo Crunch, manufacturers have thwarted efforts to refill containers by replacing lids with peel-back foil. Do not capitulate. Save containers that come filled with other things. Buy a four-pack of small plastic containers (try dollar stores) with secure lids for lunchboxes. Give kids a nickel for each one they bring home.

Sweeten lightly with confectioners' sugar or artificial sweetener if necessary. Then, flavor creatively:

- Vanilla: A teaspoon of pure vanilla extract goes a long way.

- Raisin-nut: Plump raisins in boiling water. Toast sliced almonds in oven. Stir into yogurt with a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. Outstanding.

- Strawberry: Thawed frozen strawberries and syrup.

- Pineapple delight: Crushed pineapple, chopped maraschino cherries, handful coconut.

- Lemon: Undiluted lemonade concentrate, to taste.

- Orange: Ditto, with orange juice.

- Grape: Ditto, with grape juice. Kids adore this purple one.

- Chocolate: Swirl in chocolate syrup and mini chocolate chips or a grated chocolate bar.

- Coffee: Dissolve a tablespoon of instant coffee in a little hot milk. Stir into yogurt.

- Mocha: Add cocoa to coffee.

- Blackberry, raspberry, peach, apricot: Swirl jam into yogurt. Or, puree canned fruit in blender, stir into yogurt.

- Oreo: Crumble the cookies yourself. It isn't that difficult.

- Fresh fruit, especially melon and berries, is best but let down the taste buds gradually.

Less money, less landfill, better flavors, no after-tase. Mission accomplished.

Contact Deborah Salomon at debsalomon@hotmail.com.