Yogurt is a source of protein, calcium and healthy bacteria. Eating yogurt regularly can improve digestion and provide a sweet low-calorie snack or breakfast when eaten with fruit or granola. Greek yogurt is available in the United States at health food stores and some grocery stores. It is much thicker and tangier than American yogurt.
Ingredients
American yogurt is made from cow's milk and the whole milk variety contains about 3.5 percent milkfat, according to the Ochef website. American yogurts may contain added fruit, sugar or corn starch. In contrast, Greek yogurt is traditionally made with sheep's milk. It contains about 5 percent milkfat. Greek yogurt made from cow's milk contains about 9 percent milkfat. Although some commercial Greek yogurts are flavored with vanilla, fruit or honey, traditional Greek yogurt is unsweetened.
Consistency
Greek yogurt is much thicker and creamier than American yogurt because it is strained to remove the liquid whey. Greek yogurt is about as thick as sour cream or cream cheese and it contains more protein and fewer carbohydrates per serving than American yogurt. Greek yogurt is generally made with whole milk and it contains more fat and calories than American yogurt.
Taste
Traditional Greek yogurt tastes much tangier than American yogurt. Compared to Greek yogurt, American yogurt is very mild. American yogurt is also much sweeter than Greek yogurt. The taste of Greek yogurt can take some getting used to, so try adding fruit, honey or granola to your Greek yogurt.
Do It Yourself
Plain Greek yogurt is available at health food stores and in some mainstream grocery stores. If you want to make it yourself, put one to two cups of regular yogurt into a square of cheesecloth, tie the corners together and place in a colander over a large bowl. Leave the yogurt this way for an hour or two or until the yogurt has thickened as much as you want.
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