greek yogurt

Generally speaking, yogurt is a healthy food standout, but Greek yogurt—opa! Now there’s a superstar and a party pleaser! Until a few years ago, you really had to search for this ingredient, but it’s been popularized on cooking shows and emphasized so much in healthy food preparation that it is widely available in grocery stores.

Regular Yogurt vs. Greek Yogurt. In Greece, yogurt is made with sheep’s milk, a style that can be found in the United States; however, in the U.S. most yogurt, including Greek-style, is made with cow’s milk. Both are prepared using the same process, but Greek-style strains even more of the whey (the watery substance that floats to the top of most yogurt) from the solids, producing a supremely creamy texture and fabulous “mouth feel.” Greek-style yogurt has the same texture as full-fat sour cream. Even eating the nonfat version makes you feel you’re splurging on something decadent! Greek yogurt has slightly more calories than regular yogurt (about 100 vs. 80 for 6 ounces) and 18 grams (g) of protein compared with 8 g in regular.

Nutrition Profile. According to the website SELF Nutrition Data, a 2/3-cup serving of Greek yogurt has about 130 calories (70 from fat); 8 g fat; 5 g saturated fat (but try the nonfat version); 20 milligrams (mg) cholesterol; 70 mg sodium; 5 g total carbohydrates—5 g sugar and 0 g dietary fiber; and 11 g protein.

Suggested Uses. Try using Greek-style yogurt in these ways:

• Substitute it for regular yogurt in any dish.
• Substitute it for sour cream on potatoes, in dips or on tacos/burritos.
• Try it as a substitute for cream cheese (experiment to find the best applications).
• Mix it with fruit and/or drizzle it with a touch of honey for a delicious dessert.

See this month’s “Recipe for Health” for an authentic and mouth-watering use of Greek yogurt.