Have you bought yogurt lately?
The choices seem endless - from international varieties like Greek, French and Icelandic to more traditional kinds but made with almond, or even oat milk. If you're overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Consumer Reports cuts through the clutter to reveal which ones pack the most nutrition while still being tasty!
The wall of yogurts in the supermarket can be daunting - how to pick a healthy one that's yummy? Marjorie Pradel-Tobar is a mom with a simple strategy.
"I like yogurts that have a little bit of fruit in it, the girls just like plain vanilla. So what I typically look for when I'm, you know, trying to choose a yogurt or pick a yogurt for the family is mostly low sugar content," Pradel-Tobar said.
Consumer Reports tested 37 vanilla yogurts, dairy and non-dairy versions -- and rated them for nutrition and taste.
"We were happy to see that some of the yogurts that scored tops for taste were among the lowest in added sugars," Amy Keating, Consumer Reports Nutritionist said.
CR's top spots went to Greek or Icelandic yogurts. These yogurts are often strained, which not only thickens the yogurt, but removes some of the carbohydrates, and concentrates the protein.
The best of the bunch?
Icelandic Provisions 1.5-percent Milk Fat Traditional SkyrYogurt Vanilla is thick and creamy, with real vanilla flavor, according to CR testers.
Siggi's Whole Milk Icelandic SkyrYogurt Vanilla is rich and thick, and less sweet than most.
Finally, Fage'sTruBlend Low Fat Greek Yogurt Vanilla is thick, like whole milk yogurt. It also scored high. It's a bit sour, with a hint of sweetness and vanilla.
What about non-dairy alternatives made from almond, coconut, soy or oat milk?
They might sound healthier, but are they?
"While plant-based yogurts have live and active cultures, in many cases manufacturers have to add nutrients like calcium to make them comparable to dairy yogurts," Keating said.
Of the 15 non-dairy yogurts CR tested, the better tasting ones were coconut-based.
These included Oui by Yoplait Coconut Dairy Alternative Vanilla, and Trader Joe's Cultured Coconut Milk Yogurt Vanilla.
Consumer Reports also says that even yogurts with labels that claim they have live and active cultures may have billions when they're manufactured but far less after they sit on a supermarket shelf or in your refrigerator.
