Healthy eating requires people to stay away from additives, extra sugars, and saturated fat.
As a result, most people have stopped using regular yogurt, ice cream, and milk when making smoothies. That is why Greek yogurt smoothie recipes have become more than just a hot new trend.
What is Greek yogurt, and why is it the best yogurt for smoothies?
Greek yogurt comes from regular yogurt. It is made when liquid whey and lactose are removed from regular yogurt through excessive straining.
Greek yogurt is creamier and has a thicker texture than regular yogurt. However, the major difference between the two types of yogurt lies in their nutritional contents.
Differences between regular yogurt and Greek yogurt
Protein:
Greek yogurt contains almost twice as much protein as regular yogurt.
Fat:
Compared to regular yogurt, Greek yogurt has three times the amount of saturated fat. That’s why low fat or non-fat Greek yogurt are recommended when making healthy smoothies.
Carbs:
Regular yogurt has twice the amount of carbs found in Greek yogurt. Yogurt with less sugar has less carbs. You will be adding to your carb count if you add sugar to either of the two.
Sodium:
The sodium content in Greek yogurt is half that of regular yogurt.
As you can see, there are several reasons why Greek yogurt is a healthier substitute. Some culinary experts are also using it in place of mayonnaise, sour crème, and crème Fraiche.
What do you gain from adding Greek yogurt to your diet?
Aside from being the ideal smoothie thickener, Greek yogurt has several health benefits.
- It is excellent for gut health since it is a good source of probiotics.
- Greek yogurt is rich in dietary protein, so consuming it will make you feel full for long periods.
- Low-calorie Greek yogurt smoothie recipes will help boost your metabolism.
- The yogurt will help you build muscle mass.
- Greek yogurt fruit smoothies are great for workout recovery.
- It’s an excellent vegetarian-friendly source of vitamin B-12.
- You can use it to lower your blood pressure.
- The probiotics in the yogurt are also good for mental and bone health.
Some people make use of healthy smoothie recipes with yogurt, to help them meet their daily recommended protein intake.
Fruit and yogurt smoothies are a great way to get the protein you need, especially if you don’t eat meat products. You’ll also find Greek yogurt smoothies convenient if you are on a high protein diet.
Here are a few Greek yogurt smoothie recipes that you can easily incorporate into your diet
Greek Yogurt Berry Smoothie
Combining Greek yogurt and berries will give you an antioxidant-packed protein smoothie. The smoothie also has oats making it an excellent cholesterol-lowering alternative. The majority of the ingredients are high in fiber, so the smoothie will keep you feeling fuller for longer.
The smoothie also has agave which will decrease your appetite by increasing the drink's satiety. Agave also has antimicrobial properties, making it useful in preventing certain infections.
You will need:
- 1 cup of Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp. of oats
- ½ cup of bananas (ripe)
- ½ cup of strawberries
- ½ cup of blueberries
- 1 to 2 tbsp. of agave
- 1 cup of ice (optional)
To prepare the smoothie:
- Wash the produce.
- Peel and cut the banana.
- Slice the strawberries.
- Put the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
Cinnamon Breakfast Smoothie
Much like the first recipe, you’ll get a good amount of fiber from drinking this smoothie. It's highly nutritious and an excellent fit for people looking to balance their protein and healthy fat intake.
The almond milk also provides the smoothie with a considerable amount of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Combined with cinnamon, the two ingredients give the smoothie a ton of medicinal properties.
You will need:
- ¼ tsp. of ground cinnamon
- 3 oz of Greek yogurt (plain)
- ½ frozen banana (ripe)
- ¼ cup of oats
- ½ cup of almond milk
- ½ cup of cold water
- ¼ tsp. of vanilla extract
- 3 to 4 ice cubes
To prepare the smoothies:
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
Fruity Greek Yogurt Smoothie
This is a healthy family breakfast beverage that will leave everyone asking for more. The frozen fruits give it a good texture, and the toppings will add some color to the smoothie. The honey is optional, for people who feel as if the drink already has too much natural sugar.
You will need:
- Assorted berries for smoothie toppings (optional)
- 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt (non-fat)
- 1 cup of frozen mango (chunks)
- 1 tbsp. of honey (optional)
- 1 cup of frozen pineapples (diced)
- 1 cup of freshly made orange juice
- 1 frozen banana
To prepare the smoothie:
- Set the berries aside.
- Put all the other ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and top the smoothie with the berries.
Sunshine Lemon Smoothie
This is the perfect recovery boosting smoothie since it’s packed with vitamin C. You can have it whenever you’re feeling under the weather to help keep you going. It’s also delicious on hot days for when you want a cold refreshing drink.
You will need:
- 1 tsp. of lemon zest (grated)
- 1 cup of Greek yogurt (vanilla)
- 3 tbsp. of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ cup of orange juice
- ¾ cup of ice cubes
- 1 tsp. of ground ginger
- 2 tbsp. of raw honey
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put all the ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve cold and enjoy.
Green Greek Yogurt Smoothie
If you prefer green smoothies, using some Greek yogurt will be a great way to add some protein to your drink. The pineapples make the drink a great post-workout smoothie for recovery. This smoothie is also good for your skin and hair.
You will need:
- 2 tsp. of honey
- 1 cup of kale (roughly chopped)
- ½ cup of Greek yogurt (plain)
- 1 cup of spinach (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup of frozen pineapples (diced)
- ½ banana
- ¼ cup of water
To prepare the smoothie:
- Put all the ingredients in a blender, starting with the water.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
Wrap Up
Breaking down its nutritional value, makes it evident that Greek yogurt is not overrated. Even though it's slightly expensive than regular yogurt, you should consider it a worthwhile investment because of all the health benefits it has to offer.