It's Greek For Me!

I’ve stumbled onto a new favorite yogurt - Greek yogurt. It’s packed with more tang, a super creamy texture, and 14 grams of protein per serving. It’s a great snack, especially after a Yancified Boot Camp (yes, Yancified is officially a word).

When I first tried it and noticed how different it tasted, I wanted to know why it was different from the other yogurt in the grocery store. Here’s what I found out.

Greek yogurt is made with different active cultures. S. thermophilus (St) and L. bulgaricus (Lb) give the yogurt its tangy flavor. The way Greek yogurt is strained removes some of the lactose sugars, salt, and water, making a lower carbohydrate, creamier yogurt.

Is it healthier for you? That’s a tough call. It does have more protein and fewer carbohydrates than traditional American yogurt, but it is lower in calcium. To answer the question, you need to decide what you are looking for - more protein, less sugars or less sweet flavor, or more calcium. If it’s more protein and less sugars, it’s Greek for you too. If it’s calcium, a more traditional American yogurt might be better.

Regardless, yogurt of any style is a better snack that most packaged foods. Just watch the ingredient list for added sugars like high fructose corn syrup that just add empty calories.