• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Snacking in Sneakers
  • Home
  • About + Contact
    • About
    • Contact
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
  • Running + Triathlon
    • Free Training Plans
    • Running
    • Triathlon
    • Race Reviews
    • Fitness Tips & Workouts
  • Wellness + Travel
    • Nutrition
    • Health + Wellness Tips
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Journey to Healthy Eating: 28 Day Nutrition Challenge
    • Printable Fitness Planner
    • Triathlon Art – Set of 3 Digital Prints
    • Sports Nutrition Book for Runners and Triathletes
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Chrissy
  • Recipe Box
  • Wellness + Travel
  • Fitness, Run & Tri
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Wellness + Travel » Nutrition

    My secret trick to make plain greek yogurt taste good

    October 15, 2014 by Chrissy Carroll 13 Comments

    If you ever browse the dairy aisle at the supermarket for yogurt choices, you’ll notice that many of them have a considerable amount of added sugar.  It’s a little confusing, because yogurt naturally has sugar from the milk it’s made from.  But any flavored yogurt typically has extra sugar added, and it doesn’t always come from the “fruit” blended in there – you may see high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, cane sugar, or any other number of “sugar words” on the ingredient list.  Or, you may see artificial sweeteners like sucralose or aspartame on the labels.

    To avoid the overly sweetened types, my standard recommendation for people is to use plain greek yogurt but add your own fruit for natural sweetness.  The amount of sugar you get by adding your own fruit is typically much less than is added in many flavored varieties.

    The objection I usually hear is that people don’t like the taste of the plain yogurt even with the fruit, or that it’s too thick.  Not to worry, my friends!  Here’s my secret trick that solves both of these problems:

    First, instead of buying fresh fruit, buy frozen fruit.  Frozen fruit is actually just as nutritious as fresh, since it’s been frozen at the peak of ripeness, and is often cheaper.

    Place a cup of frozen berries (or other frozen fruit of your choice – berries are my favorite because they are a little higher in fiber) in a bowl.  Pop these in the microwave for about 30 to 60 seconds.  The fruit will defrost, and when it does, it’ll also release some of its natural juices.

    Then simply take your plain greek yogurt, and mix it together with the fruit!  The juice from the fruit will distribute evenly throughout the yogurt, leaving it a bit thinner and more like a flavored variety, and you still get chunks of yummy berries throughout the bowl.

    Greek Yogurt Infographic

    Brilliant, right?  Nothing but natural ingredients!  Greek yogurt contains less sugar and more protein compared to regular yogurt, and the plain varieties don’t have any added sugar.  By adding your own fruit, you add sweetness from the sugar naturally occurring in the fruit – along with a host of other vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

    If this seems like too much trouble for ya, compare the labels on your favorite flavored varieties and go for the one with the least amount of sugar.  Siggi’s is one of my favorite flavored brands because it tastes good and it’s very low in added sugar.  Of course, if flavored yogurt is one of the only things you eat with added sugar each day, then you’re probably fine sticking to whatever brand you love.  Just consider that now a days, there’s added sugar in tons of products, from cereals to salad dressings to pasta sauces – it always helps to cut back where you can.

    Share with me:  What is your favorite kind of yogurt?

    • Author
    • Recent Posts
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll
    Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.
    Chrissy Carroll
    Latest posts by Chrissy Carroll (see all)
    • Creamy Zoodles with Cajun-Seasoned Chicken - February 2, 2023
    • Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Bars - February 1, 2023
    • Should Runners Try Beta Alanine Supplements? - January 31, 2023

    More Food

    • Creamy Zoodles with Cajun-Seasoned Chicken
    • Healthy Pumpkin Breakfast Bars
    • How to Make a Thick and Creamy Smoothie Bowl
    • Whipped Ricotta Crostini
    377 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Let’s connect!

    Instagram
    Facebook
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    Looking for something?

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kiara

      March 10, 2015 at 10:14 am

      question

      What are the awesomest combinations for greek yogurt,please I don’t eat lumpy yogurt so any suggestions that are smooth like honey, peanut butter,ect.
      Please give me advice…….
      Thank You
      Kiara

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        March 10, 2015 at 11:09 am

        Hi Kiara — What about pureeing fruit with an immersion blender (or a regular blender) and mixing that into the yogurt? Or adding the greek yogurt to a smoothie recipe? Then it would have a smooth texture.

        You could certainly also add a little honey or maple syrup to sweeten it up, but I like the addition of fruit instead since you get more vitamins/minerals that way.

        Though I haven’t tried it, my guess is that peanut butter probably wouldn’t mix as smoothly into the yogurt on it’s own, unless you were blending it into a smoothie with other ingredients too.

        Reply
      • Katie

        May 30, 2016 at 10:01 am

        yeah! creamy peanut butter or PB2 and honey
        it’s really yummy!!! I came here looking for more ideas 😀

        Reply
        • Chrissy Carroll

          June 7, 2016 at 8:06 pm

          Hi Katie! Love your ideas. 🙂

          Reply
    2. Kyle

      January 20, 2016 at 1:01 am

      It still tastes like shit.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        January 21, 2016 at 7:28 pm

        I’m sorry you feel that way Kyle! Of course, taste is somewhat subjective. I hope you figure out a way to enjoy your plain greek yogurt. 🙂

        Reply
    3. LDA

      January 25, 2016 at 8:07 am

      Greek Yogurt is super gross, but I’ll try the microwaved fruit idea. I have a feeling that the only thing that would truly make the taste better is using canned fruit, like what’s done with Ambrosia (minus the sour cream and marshmellows). Maybe using a low sugar variety of canned fruit first, then graduate to frozen fruit. 🙂

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        January 28, 2016 at 8:19 pm

        Hahaha – I honestly am with you on the taste of plain greek yogurt. Even the smell of it bothers me. But that frozen fruit trick gives it enough flavor that it tastes good, at least to me. I think starting with some canned fruit is another great option!

        Reply
    4. Polly

      March 23, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Brilliant, I will try this! I’ve been using stevia or truvia or whatever, but I think it’s giving me headaches… This is such a good idea 🙂
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        March 25, 2016 at 7:14 pm

        Awesome Polly – I hope it’s helpful for you! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Selena

      June 27, 2016 at 6:08 pm

      just add a little of sugar and it taste like strawberry ::)

      Reply
    6. Gretchen

      September 12, 2016 at 4:37 pm

      I make 5 cup salad with plain greek yogurt instead of using sour cream. It tastes super delicious. I do leave out the marshmallows so it is a little bit healthier.

      Reply
      • Chrissy Carroll

        September 12, 2016 at 6:52 pm

        Yes, plain greek yogurt can work so well in savory dishes too! I love using it as a sour cream or mayo replacement in things like fish tacos, pasta salads, etc. 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Snacking in Sneakers! That's me, Chrissy, and I'm here to share all my favorite fitness, food, & wellness stories & tips. I'm a dietitian, personal trainer, runner, triathlon coach, foodie, not-so-extreme couponer, and all around fun lovin' gal.

    More about me →

    Latest

    • Should Runners Try Beta Alanine Supplements?
    • 15 Cozy Fall Self Care Ideas to Try this Season
    • 15 Fun and Exciting Summer Self Care Ideas
    • 40 Minute Treadmill Workout

    Let’s Connect!

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Snacking in Sneakers

    377 shares
    • 17