Yogurt Product Reviews

Posted on 21 July 2010

Yougurt or Yogurt however you spell it I love it! Everyday I have at least two servings of yogurt usually with some fresh fruit. It is a great source of calcium and depending on what type of yogurt and what brand you are eating it can also be a good source of protein. I usually have yogurt with my lunch and after my dinner meal.

I use to buy the fruit flavored, artificially sweetened yogurts because on Weight Watchers they only count as 1 point. I was really into stretching my points and getting as much food as possible for as little points as possible!

When I decided to clean up my diet and improve my over all nutrition I gave up artificial sweeteners. That created a mini crisis for me where my yogurt was concerned. The hunt for new natural yogurt was on!

There are so many brands of yogurt on the market and it took a while to find my favorites but I now have several that I buy on a regular basis. I use to detest plain yogurt but once I got off artificial sweeteners and reduced the volume of sugar in my diet that all changed. Now all I need is a little sweet fruit to go with plain yogurt and I love it. If the fruit isn’t sweet enough for you then try a small amount of Agave Nectar or a little bit of Stevia until your taste for sweetness changes.

This European yogurt from Trader Joe’s is the one I eat most often. It is creamy, smooth, pour-able and organic. I like it over fresh fruit with cinnamon. Use it in smoothies or my quick and easy soft serve. It contains 14 g of protein per 1 cup. You might have to enlarge the photos to see the nutritional information. I had photo issues today!

What is Greek yogurt? It is yogurt that has been strained to remove the excess whey creating a thicker, creamier product. When the whey is strained the yogurt contains less lactose. Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk products. Greek yogurt contains less sugar (carbohydrates) and more protein than regular yogurt. This results in less of an impact on blood sugar. Ever notice that if you eat a sugary container of yogurt you are hungry again a little bit later? Me too!

The Greek style yogurt is very popular these days and a couple of years ago Fage brand (pronounced “fa-yeh”) was one of only a few brands to be found her in the U.S. Now many yogurt companies have jumped on the band wagon and started selling their version of Greek yogurt. Fage total 0% is fat free, thick and creamy, it is not tart and it boasts 20 g of protein per cup! This yogurt is thick but smooth and creamy. It is pricey but Costco and Trader Joe’s sell it for a better price than most stores. It remains my favorite brand of Greek yogurt. I like to top it with whole grain cereal and fresh or frozen fruit with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Delicious! It does not break down at high heat also making it perfect for cooking. It is a great sub for sour cream in recipes.

Once in a while hubby Tom and I like to have a ready made fruit flavored yogurt for a snack or to take with us in the cooler. After trying many brands I found a winner! Cascade Fresh fat free yogurts are flavored with fruit juice and they are cultured right in the cup. They contain no artificial sweeteners or preservatives and they taste real, fruity but not overly sweet. They have 7 g of protein per 6 oz container and the calories clock in at a very reasonable 110. They come in lots of different flavors. I find them at Whole Foods or the Nugget market. Great for a once in a while treat. I have also tried the Okios by Stoneyfield  Farm and Chobani. I didn’t have any on hand to photograph but they are also very good but more expensive where I live than the other brands.

While on vacation I ran out of the Fage and European yogurt I had in my cooler so I had to strike out in the Midwest and see what was available in the local grocery store. Not being able to locate my favorite brands I bought the only two non fat Greek yogurts they had. Mainstream brands Dannon and Yoplait have both come out with their versions of Greek Yogurt. I bought a couple of each. I liked the Dannon better than the Yoplait. The Dannon was thick and creamy but the flavor was not as good as Fage. I wouldn’t buy it again unless I couldn’t get my favorite brands.

The Yoplait Greek yogurt has a strange texture, it contains gelatin so that might be why the texture is off a bit. Real Greek yogurt should not need gelatin to make it thick! It was not thick and creamy, it was more jiggly and watery, not what you expect for a Greek style yogurt. It didn’t taste bad, I just didn’t like the mouth feel of it. I wouldn’t buy it again because I can get brands that I like better.

Let me share a fun light refreshing dessert idea that is perfect for summer. Have a make your own fresh fruit sundae bar instead of ice cream! Make a huge bowl of fresh fruit salad, with oranges, apples, pineapple, kiwi, berries, mango, grapes and a firm melon like cantaloupe.

In smaller dishes have toppings such as fat free Greek yogurt plain, vanilla or honey, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, toasted wheat germ, Cacao Nibs, dried cranberries or cherries and dark chocolate chips. Let everyone make their own fruit sundae. I have done this several times and it is a big hit with all ages!

Do you eat yogurt? Is so what is your favorite brand and how do you like to enjoy it?

I had a terrible time with Word press today and I couldn’t get my photos to line up properly! I finally gave up on perfection and decide to publish it just as it is. The content is more important than being perfect anyway right?

Tami