Five years ago almost no one was eating Greek yogurt. Now it accounts for 35% of all yogurt consumed in the U.S and comes in just about every flavor you can imagine!

So is this Greek yogurt trend a healthy one or just another fad?  Here’s everything you need to know.

What exactly is Greek yogurt?

Greek yogurt is regular plain yogurt that’s been strained to remove much of the liquid. It’s much thicker, creamier, and a bit tangier than regular yogurt – a lot like sour cream.

Greek Yogurt vs. Regular Yogurt

One is not healthier than the other, they just have slightly different nutritional profiles.

Nutrition Facts (per cup)	Plain Nonfat Yogurt	Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Calories	120	130
Protein	13 grams	22 grams
Calcium	30-40% Daily Value	15-25% Daily Value
Lactose (milk sugar)	10 grams	6 grams
Sodium	160 mg	90 mg

The Best Greek Yogurts

When shopping for Greek yogurt, look for simple & easy-to-undersatnd ingredients. The shorter the ingredient list, the better. Beware of additives for thickening and texture, since these are unnecessary and not present in real yogurt.

If you can, buy plain Greek and add your own fruit or sweetener, to minimize unnecessary sugar or additives. These are a few of my favorite Greek yogurt brands.

• Stonyfield Greek. Why I like it: organic, milk comes from Organic Valley Cooperative farmers, flavored versions are lower in sugar than other leading brands.My favorite Greek yogurt brands
• Wallaby Greek. Why I like it: organic, comes in 2% milk-fat and is deliciously creamy
• Straus Family Creamery Greek. Why I like it: organic, comes from grass-fed cows, the full-fat version is to-die-for!

Watch out for FAKE Greek yogurt products

With the popularity of Greek yogurt, processed foods that claim to include Greek yogurt are popping up all over the place. This cereal is a great example of fake Greek yogurt pretending to be healthy. Remember – if it sounds/taste too good to be true, it is!

Fun Greek Yogurt Facts

• In 2007 Greek yogurt accounted for just 1% of all yogurt sales in the U.S. Now it’s 35% and still growing.
• The history of Greek yogurt is unclear, but it dates at least back to the 11th century!

Greek yogurt facts source: Packaged Facts Report & Wikipedia

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