Superfood of the Week: Greek Yogurt

Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
Superfood! Greek Yogurt
Superfood! Greek Yogurt

Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine

Greek yogurt in all its tangy, creamy glory is super-popular these days--sales are skyrocketing, and even niche yogurt bars have opened up, like the Chobani flagship in NYC's hip SoHo 'hood. And, oh yeah, the white stuff boasts nearly double the protein and half the sugar of regular yogurt, not to mention all the calcium and healthy live bacterial cultures. But forget your typical granola-covered 3 PM snack: We've got five unique ways to incorporate Greek yogurt into your diet.

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Creamy Onion Dip: The tangy thickness of Greek yogurt makes it the perfect sour cream stand-in for this quick and easy party favorite! Simply combine two cups of low-fat Greek yogurt with one packet of low-sodium onion soup mix for a healthy appetizer in seconds. Serve with baby carrots, celery and whole grain crackers.

Speedy Salad Dressing: Whisk together a bit of Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced garlic and herbs like basil or parsley for a super-quick dressing. By replacing part of the oil with yogurt, you're saving calories and creating a cravable, creamy texture.

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Taco Topper: Skip the sour cream next time you're hosting taco night, and we promise you won't even notice the difference! Top your tacos with a dollop of Greek yogurt instead for an easy and tasty protein boost. Try mixing a bit into your guacamole for a calcium boost as well.

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Baking: If you're like the rest of us, you're probably doing lots of baking this holiday season. Leave the buttermilk on the shelf and cut calories by using low-fat Greek yogurt! Just whisk a splash of skim milk with your plain Greek yogurt and use it as a sub for buttermilk in equal proportions in any recipe to double the protein. Banana bread? Biscuits? No problem.

Tuna salad:With near 100 calories per tablespoon, mayonnaise can sabotage what could be a healthy tuna or egg salad sandwich. Say goodbye to the lunch box blues by ditching half the mayo and mixing in tangy Greek yogurt instead.


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