I am often asked the following question at work, “I’ve been hearing a lot about Greek yogurt; what is the benefit of it?” and “What is Greek yogurt?” Well, here are some answers that I hope will get you on the Greek yogurt bandwagon.
Greek yogurt is made with cow’s milk (not goat’s, as is often believed) that is strained extensively to remove the liquid portion (the whey) as well as much of the lactose. This contributes to the thick, creamy texture of Greek yogurt as well as the high protein content. Greek yogurt has twice the protein as conventional yogurt, which will help keep you feeling full longer.
Here are the benefits of Greek yogurt:
- Taste: has a thick, creamy texture
- Protein: contains twice as much protein as conventional yogurt, usually about 14-16 grams per 6 ounces
- Lactose: ideal for lactose-intolerant individuals, with some brands being 99% lactose-free
- Fat: most Greek yogurts are fat-free or low-fat
- Probiotics: as with any yogurt that contains live and active cultures, it helps keep your digestive tract in-check
- Weight management: due to the high protein content and low calorie content, it is a great choice for those trying to lose weight
All this being said, not all Greek yogurt is created equal. There are certain brands that have high amounts of added sugar and saturated fat. My favorite and dietitian-approved brand is Chobani, which offers both 0%- and 2%-fat varieties. Chobani has over 16 flavors of Greek yogurt as well as Chobani Champions, a Greek yogurt make especially for kids.
For a delicious breakfast parfait using Greek yogurt, place Chobani Greek yogurt at the bottom of a bowl, add Kashi Go Lean cereal and top with fresh fruit. This high-protein start to your day will keep you feeling full and energized!
Have you heard of Better Whey of Life? It is a greek yogurt that is new to the market. Lower in sugar AND contains more protein and fiber than other greek yogurts. Check it out betterwheyoflife.com.
Hmm haven’t tried that one before- I’m a bit picky about texture with Greek yogurt-with the added whey protein isolate and chickory root fiber is the texture characteristic of traditional Greek yogurt (thick and creamy, that is)? I always love hearing about new products!
The other BIG thing with most Greek yogurts is that they don’t contain gelatin – a big plus for the vegetarian crowd who still want their yogurt. In fact, my wife and I started eating Greek exclusively after making that discovery. I’m not a strict veg guy, and I’ll occasionally still eat a regular Yoplait or Dannon, but the zero-gelatin and all the facts mentioned above still rank Greek higher on my list! Oikos with the fruit already blended in is my favorite.
I like Chobani but I don’t buy it anymore because I’ve had too much of it go bad before the expiration date…I’ve heard that from other people too.
My favorite is Oikos Greek “Key Lime”. I think a lot of others in my town like it as it seems to always be in short supply at my favorite grocery store.
I have not tried the Oikos Key Lime Greek yogurt yet, but I’ll have to give it a try- sounds delicious!
I do enjoy Greek yogurt,however, you have to be careful as some are very high in fat. I’ve seen some cups of yogurt that have up to 14g of fat!
You are very correct- some brands of Greek yogurt are surprisingly high in fat. Which is why nutrition label reading is always so important!