Plain Yogurt vs. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has become very popular lately.  But what is it?  Just plain yogurt, which is strained to remove most of the liquid (whey), making it very thick like sour cream.  It’s tart, creamy, rich-tasting, and has 7 grams more protein per serving, but only 1/3 of the calcium (because the calcium is in the liquid part).  Both unsweetened Greek and plain yogurt — if you choose fat-free or low-fat — are great choices.

Greek Nonfat Yogurt (8 oz)                    Regular Nonfat Yogurt (8 oz)

120 calories                                                                            127 calories

20 grams protein                                                                  13 grams protein

151 mg calcium                                                                      450 mg calcium

83 mg sodium                                                                        175 mg sodium

Drizzle 1 tsp honey, maple syrup, fruit preserves on plain yogurt if it’s too tart for you, or add some chopped fresh fruit.  For more yogurt info and brand recommendations, see my Yogurt post.