[M a g g i e]

Okay so I'm always reading about greek yogurt and how it's so good for you and a lot of people here eat it but I'm a little confused. I've never had it in the States because it's more expensive but now I'm in Spain so they have a huge aisle for yogurt and it's cheaper but i don't know what to look for. The little containers I got this week have 200 calories each which doesn't seem very good. It's also sweetened. Does that matter? Is unsweetened good or do you add something to it? Do other kinds of greek yogurt have less calories? Another girl was eating Dannon greek yogurt. Has anyone tried that kind or know if it's lower in calories? Also, what are the nutritional benefits of it that make it so talked about? Sorry, I don't know much about this! Thanks guys!

[murphmitch]

I don't know how Greek yogurt is made but it does have a higher protein content and the texture is better, less watery, than regular yogurt. It can be sweetened and flavored or plain (unsweetened & unflavored). It can also be nonfat, lowfat or regular (4% milkfat). I buy the plain nonfat and add vanilla or othe non-caloric flavorings and add Splenda. You could also sweeten it with honey, agave or stevia. It is more expensive, but it's worth it to me.

[L144S]

Well I will give you it is a little higher in cals then the light yogurts but, it is not full of fake sugar and it is much thicker and much more satisfying. I am NOT a yogurt fan, I find it sour and well not my fave. I always add honey to mine. but next time you are at the store, pick up a greek and a regular, grams should be hevier on the greek to account for the cals.

[jessisaokay]

Its also a good substitute for sour cream.

[Thighs Be Gone]

Ooh..great idea for subbing it for sour cream. I think I would stick to plain yogurt that is unsweetened. I eat Greek Gods and it's 60 calories for four ounces. I put in 6 oz of blueberries or diced apple w/raw almonds sometimes. Honestly, I don't know the nutritional benefits of it as compared to regular yogurt but our Farmer's Market carries it and everyone here told me how great it is so I am hooked. I pay $4 for a big tub of it--I think 24 oz.

[RangerChic]

I've never tried it, but then again I'm also not a fan of yogurt overall and tend to have stomach problems eating it as well.
I hear it is the best to eat though for your health.

[Lyria]

I love greek yoghurt.

I use it in a variety of ways including:

* on my muesli in the morning
* over fruit salad
* as a base for dips and salad dressings
* in baking - as a sub for cream or sour cream or even milk in general
* I mix it with honey to sweeten it
* I use it to make bircher muesli (muesli soaked overnight in yoghurt and apple juice - kind of a pudding texture)
* mixed with cocoa powder and a little honey/sugar for a tasty pudding like dessert
* as a sub for cream to make "cheats mousse" - yoghurt with melted chocolate, mix together, whack in the fridge a few hours to chill has the perfect mousse consistency
* in smoothies


My favourite snack at the moment is 100gm low-fat greek yoghurt mixed with whey protein powder (a chocolate flavoured one) - good protein hit for little caloric value - works out about 150 cal with 17gms protein

Love it

[JulieJ08]

I use the 2% version. I didn't like the nonfat so much, plus I try to reduce the processing in my foods. And I always get unsweetened. I find the fruit I add gives enough sweetness, and if I add any cereal or granola, it's even too much sweetness.

Sometimes I have it with just pumpkin butter - I have to use very little pumpkin butter because it's too sweet for me, and then the yogurt's sourness still comes through a bit - it's just a fantastic combination.

[RN BSN 2009]

I like the trader joes brand!!

[Schumeany]

I like to use it as a sour cream substitute as well. It is great in burritos, etc. I also mix it up with cucumbers, dill, lime juice, garlic and olive oil as a great salad or as a mediterranean inspired spread for sandwiches (Dice the cumcumbers finer for this...), It is also great with fruit and cereal. I don't use the nonfat kind. I prefer smaller quanitities of the good stuff...2% is what I use. I generally buy it plain, and sweeten it with fruit/cereal if I want it sweet, or I add a little honey and vanilla for a dessert -- this is awsome over rasberries, blueberries or peaches.

[ohmanda]

I just tried some....I'm not sure how I feel about it, though.

[jademarlene]

I have been making my own and I love it. I get a quart of plain fat free yogurt and strain it thru cheesecloth overnight in the fridge to get it to the consitency of cream cheese. I take it for breakfast to smear on some whole grain bread. For some reason it tastes better when it is thick and creamy instead of the watery plain yogurt.

[ohmanda]

I've decided I do like Greek yogurt. It's pretty expensive, the kind I got was $1.50, and I like to have a couple a day. If you take regular yogurt and strain it through cheesecloth, is that the same thing as Greek yogurt? How does that increase the protein?

[RN BSN 2009]

So this weekend I tried lebanese leban. It looks like greek yogurt, tastes like greek yogurt.

I'm wondering if there are any differences? Cause the only one I see so far is the PRICE!

greek yogurt - 6 oz individual container - $2.29

leban - 32 oz container - $2.99

if anyone has some insight let me know!

[SandiCO]

I eat Fage 2% - a huge vat - 200 grams seems huge to me - for just 130 calories. I typically add honey but can also eat it plain.

I do have a question. I use Calorie Count to journal my daily eats ... and they give Fage 2% a C+ because of high saturated fat and sugar. IMO a C+ is something that should be avoided. Is Calorie Count off their rocker? or is Greek Yogurt just a small step above ice cream.

http://caloriecount.about.com/calori...otal-2-i108279