The next time you’re faced with the wall of choices in your dairy aisle, follow our three easy steps for making the best choice.
Q. How Can I Choose the Best Greek Yogurt?
By Mary Parsons, MS, RD
The Greek yogurt trend is at its peak, with grocery shelves fully loaded and restaurants adding it wherever they can. Taking this Greek yogurt trend home can get a little tricky. With such a huge selection, trying to separate the best from the rest can get a little overwhelming. The next time you’re faced with the wall of choices in your dairy aisle, follow our three easy steps for making the best choice:
#1: Make sure it’s the real deal. What makes Greek yogurt so great? It’s all about the straining process. Greek yogurt is born when the liquid is removed from regular yogurt, concentrating all the nutrition into a thick and creamy package. Some yogurts call themselves “Greek style” because of their thick texture, but they may just be standard yogurt thickened with gelatin, pectin, or other starches or gum-based thickeners. Yogurts with these ingredients are not unhealthy, but they don’t provide the concentrated source of nutrition you’re looking for in a Greek yogurt!
#2: Check the protein. This is another trick for weeding out imposters. Real strained Greek yogurts should have at least 10 g of protein in a 6 oz. serving, without any need for fortified ingredients like “protein isolates.”
#3: Strive for less sugar. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to find a flavored Greek yogurt without an overload of added sugar. (Consumers, this is something we should be demanding!) To avoid excess sugar, buy plain yogurt and add your own toppings. Try jazzing up your snack with fresh fruit and nuts for natural sweetness and crunch!
How do you whip up a tasty Greek yogurt dish at home? Which restaurants serve your favorite Greek yogurt menu choices?