When is Greek Yogurt Really NOT Greek Yogurt?

What�s not to love about nonfat Greek yogurt? It is deliciously creamy and a six-ounce container has a whopping 18 grams of protein, over 50 percent more than regular yogurt. Since protein helps increase satiety, or that feeling of fullness, a carton with a balanced breakfast could help you avoid the mid-morning hungry horrors, or as an afternoon snack, to help you bypass a vending machine raid at the office. The friendly bacteria in the yogurt not only can provide some health benefits in your gastrointestinal tract, but since it is a good source of calcium, it is also good for your bones. To keep up with consumer demand, the dairy aisle is overflowing with a wide variety of Greek yogurts.

To capitalize on its popularity, same manufacturers are adding Greek yogurt to products such as cereals, frozen yogurt, and even covering pretzels with it. Unfortunately, the amount of Greek yogurt actually in the product is minuscule but the extra added sugar and fat in the product isn�t.

I was recently interviewed as part of a WBZ TV segment on these Greek yogurt-infused products. Click HERE to view the segment and to find out how to tell if a product that is advertised as containing Greek Yogurt is actually providing the real thing.

If you really want the creamy, health benefits of Greek yogurt, eat it right out of the container or use it as a lower fat alternative to sour cream in dips, mayonnaise in salads, and light cream in sauces and salad dressings. In this way, you will gain all the benefits that it has to offer as well as reduce many calories in your favorite dishes. Substituting a half cup of nonfat Greek yogurt for an equal amount of sour cream, mayonnaise, or light cream will save you anywhere from over 150 calories to 675 calories per recipe.

Here are some quick and easy recipes courtesy of Chobani Greek yogurt: