Sophie Yogurt: Not So Greek To Me [OUR LOOK]

What is Greek Yogurt?

Well I’m glad you asked…Greek-style yogurt is thicker and more solid than traditional yogurt because it is strained, giving it a richer and creamier texture – the stuff is thick! Nutritionally, Greek-style yogurt is higher in protein and lower in lactose than regular low-fat plain yogurt. Great as a snack, healthy substitute for sour cream or a flavorful dip such as Tzatziki.

Health Benefits?

Time for a little nutrition lesson my friends! Yogurt promotes intestinal health, improves lactose intolerance, builds stronger bones, enhances immunity, lowers blood pressure, and may even have anticancer and weight-loss effects. In a recent study in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers found that obese adults who ate three servings of fat-free yogurt a day as part of a reduced-calorie diet lost 22% more weight and 61% more body fat than those who just cut calories.

A plus for Greek yogurt, in particular, is that it doesn’t give you the sugar overload of what you usually find in traditional grocery store varieties. (Health.com)

Are you still with me? Here is a little Greek joke to keep you interested, although I may lose some of you at this point based on what is coming next: What Greek god is so hot you could fry an egg on him? Pan!  =)

How Does Sophie Compare?

My general rule of thumb is if I don’t know recognize an ingredient on a food label as natural or close to it, I won’t buy it. Sophie passes my test with flying colors!

Personally I tend to reach for plain Greek yogurts and add my own toppings, such as honey and walnuts, because flavored selections tend to be loaded with excess sugar. My favorite plain varieties are Fage, Chobani and Trader Joe’s. Sophie’s held their own in the plain category. The thickness of Sophie is somewhere between Fage and Chobani, not too thick but not too thin, jussst right.

As far as flavored Greek yogurt goes I tend to prefer Chobani, but a cup of that contains about 20 grams of sugar per cup. That is right up there with some desserts. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Sophie yogurts only contain 5 grams per cup in their flavored varieties. And the Chocolate flavor is SO GOOD! The other flavors are Banana Cream Pie and Vanilla Bean, which are also amazing. And a little tip, Banana Cream Pie and Chocolate mixed together is quite delicious, just sayin’.

Should You Go Buy Sophie Greek-Style Yogurt?

For sure! At this point the only downside to the product is the lack of distribution; Sophie is currently only available on the East Coast, but keep an eye out for them in local health food markets because they are expanding quickly.

Thanks to Sophie Greek-Style Yogurt for letting me sample their delicious products. Check them out online at www.sophieyogurt.com.