Just Cook It!: Greek yogurt
The Super Bowl is a big event for us Americans as well as people all over the world. It’s amazing how one sporting event can bring so many people together for food and celebration and captivate their attention for one evening. Last Sunday’s game was no exception.
Not everyone watches the big game for the love of sport. In fact, of the 108 million people to watch last year’s Super Bowl, studies show that 50 percent of those viewers watched just to be entertained by the ever popular Super Sunday commercials.
One such commercial, really an extended ad campaign, caught my attention this year. A Greek yogurt company orchestrated a reunion with the cast of the popular ’90’s sitcom Full House.
Danny Tanner, Uncle Jesse, Joey Gladstone, and, at times, some of the other characters could be seen on different television shows making appearances. Considering that the final episode of Full House aired on May 23, 1995, the buzz this reunion created is quite remarkable.
Greek yogurt is coincidentally one of my favorite foods.
So what is Greek Yogurt and what’s with all the fuss? Greek yogurt is yogurt that has essentially been strained. The yogurt is strained in a cloth or paper bag or filter to remove the whey. This yields a consistency that is somewhere between a traditional yogurt and a cheese while preserving the yogurt’s distinctive sour taste.
Greek yogurt contains more protein than traditional yogurt and is often seen as being healthier than traditional yogurt for this reason. While this can be the case, as with all things, it’s not always true. It’s important to reserve judgment until you read the label. Some flavored Greek yogurts contain a lot of sugar and fat, so make sure you do your homework before making generalizations.
On the whole, though, Greek yogurt does tend to have less sugar than traditional yogurt due to the whey and lactose being removed during the straining process. Greek yogurt usually contains twice the protein that traditional yogurt does and also less sodium. Greek yogurt is essentially 100 percent casein protein since the whey is strained off.
Casein protein is another debate among health experts. Body builders have long eaten foods high in casein, such as cottage cheese, before going to bed. Since casein is absorbed by the body much slower than whey, body builders eat it before retiring for the night so that this slow absorption will drip feed protein to their large muscles as they sleep. Some studies suggest, however, that casein may not be the best protein choice for us to consume in large amounts on a regular basis.
Humans have been enjoying yogurt since at least the 11th century. Whether the fermented milk and bacteria combination that creates yogurt was stumbled upon by accident, or by a genius somewhere, doesn’t change the fact that it is delicious, versatile, and for the most part, a healthy food.
If you are solely into eating yogurt for its health purposes. then plain is the way to go. Plain Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in sugar and sodium than traditional yogurt. It makes a great snack but its sour taste may be a bit off putting.
I suggest combining plain yogurt and fresh organic fruit that you wash and clean yourself. The flavored yogurts from the supermarket are generally made with different jams and fruit concentrates that are extremely high in sugar and, in some cases, artificial ingredients.
Plain organic yogurt mixed with organic honey, organic fresh fruit and some raw organic almonds is a healthy treat that I believe anyone will enjoy.
Yogurt can also be used to make healthier versions of creamy salad dressings (think ranch or blue cheese), to add richness, different sauces or soups, and, of course, to make delicious thick smoothies. Yogurt is commonly used for making traditional dips and even in some baked goods.
In my opinion, Greek yogurt is a very delicious and underrated food. I personally enjoy Greek yogurt as a snack regularly and urge you to do the same. Get curious and creative and see what you can do with it. You’ll probably wonder why you haven’t been enjoying it sooner.
There’s no time like the present to stock up on Greek yogurt and — Just Cook It!
Mario J. Porreca of Belle Vernon is a food personality, author, and the host of Just Cook It on WMBS Radio 590 AM. His website is www.JustCookIt.net. Twitter: @MarioPorreca