The 9 Best Yogurts for Weight Loss
Packed with protein, crammed with calcium, popping with probiotics, yogurt has all the makings of a perfect health food. But tread ye carefully in the aisle of the fermented milk products; manufacturers have a knack for cramming as much sugar and artificial ingredients into yogurt pots as they do candy bars as we found out doing research for Eat This, Not That. The next time you find yourself discombobulated in the dairy section, refer to this handy guide to the Best and Worst yogurts in the supermarket.
And make room in your fridge! Set yourself up for success with our indispensable list of 13 Foods to Toss Out of Your Kitchen for Good!
If You Like Vanilla Varieties
EAT THIS: Siggi’s Icelandic Style Strained Non-Fat Yogurt, Vanilla
Per 5.3 oz container: 100 calories, 0 g fat, 9 g sugar, 14 g protein
Not just great-tasting, Siggi’s is one of the lowest sugar vanilla yogurts on the market. The Icelandic yogurt is strained like Greek varieties, which also ups the protein content. We turn to this one so often, it makes the list of The 50 Best Weight-Loss Snacks.
NOT THAT: Yoplait Thick and Creamy, Vanilla
Per 6 oz container: 180 calories, 2.5 g fat, 28 g sugar, 7 g protein
This yogurt has four times as much sugar as protein. At 28 grams per container, you’re looking at more sugar than you’ll find in seven Dunkin’ Donuts Sugar Raised donuts!
If You Prefer a Peachy Parfait
EAT THIS: Kalona Super Natural Organic 2% Peach Yogurt
Per 6 oz container: 107 calories, 2.5 g fat, 8 g sugar, 6 g protein
Made from all natural ingredients and organic, grass-fed, non-homogenized milk, Kalona is as much a treat for your tastebuds as it is for your health!
NOT THAT: Dannon Fruit on the Bottom, Peach
Per 6 oz container: 150 calories, 1.5 g fat, 27 g sugar, 6 g protein
“Fruit on the Bottom” often means “sugar on the top.” This variety has 27 grams of the sweet stuff—more sugar than you’ll find in two McDonald’s apple pies! And that’s not even the worst of the 5 “Health” Foods Worse Than a Donut.
If You’re Looking for an Indulgent Mix-In
EAT THIS: Vanilla Lowfat Yogurt with Chips Ahoy!® Cookie Pieces
Per 4 oz container: 120 calories, 3 g fat, 16 g sugar
This yogurt is impressively low cal for a cookie-strewn treat. While it does have a bit more sugar than we’d ideally like to see it’s relatively low when you compare it to the competition. Save 120 calories and 5 grams of sugar by picking YoCrunch over Chobani.
NOT THAT: Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip, Almond Coco Loco
Per 5.3 oz container: 240 calories, 10 g fat, 21 g sugar
While the majority of the extra calories and fat in this breakfast treat come from the almonds, the chunks of chocolate and coconut flavored yogurt are loaded with sugar. Matter which option you ultimately choose, these chocolate and candy filled yogurts should only be once and awhile treats— not daily dishes. Avoid granola, too—it’s one of the 11 Foods Diet Experts Won’t Touch—click here for the other 10.
If You Like Chocolate Varieties
EAT THIS: Chobani Greek Yogurt Chocolate Dust
Per 2 oz container: 60 calories, 1.5 g fat, 6 g sugar
When it comes to indulgences, it’s all about portion control. Chobani hits the nail on the head with this kid-sized chocolaty bend. You could eat more than three of these 2 ounce containers of yogurt before you’d take in the sugar-equivalent of Yoplait’s similar variety.
NOT THAT: Yoplait Whips! Chocolate Mousse Style
Per 4 oz container: 160 calories, 4 g fat, 22 g sugar
How Yoplait packs so many calories and sugar in such a small container, we may never know. A half cup of chocolate soft serve actually has less sugar than this yogurt, and wouldn’t you rather just have that? We know we would.
If You Want Something Savory
EAT THIS: Blue Hill All Natural Yogurt, Butternut Squash
Per 6 oz container: 100 calories, 2.5 g fat, 6 g sugar
Most flavored yogurts turn to fruits and desserts for inspiration but savory yogurts are starting to shake up the food scene. Blue Hill gets in on the trend while keeping sugar and calories in check. And squash is one of our Best Produce For Weight Loss.
NOT THAT: Chobani Greek Yogurt, Pumpkin Spice
Per 5.3 oz container: 130 calories, 3 g fat 12 g sugar
While Chobani’s savory yogurt isn’t too awful, it does have twice the amount of the sugar of Blue Hill’s which is why we place it on the “Not That” side of our list.
If You Want a Touch of Honey
EAT THIS: Stonyfield Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt Honey
Per 5.3 oz container: 120 calories 0 g fat, 17 g sugars
Kudos to Oikos for using honey to turn this into a lightly sweetened treat without making it a sugar-packed breakfast blunder. Plus, it’s bursting with 13 grams of hunger-busting protein, and we totally love that! And, depressed? A touch of honey is a good thing; it’s one of the 11 Foods That End Bad Moods.
NOT THAT: Fage Total 0% with Honey
Per 5.3 oz container: 170 calories 0 g fat, 29 g sugars
Bite for bite Fage’s, honey sweetened yogurt has more calories and sugar than Stonyfield’s. Plus, it’s the sugar equivalent of 11 hershey Kisses, making it a definate “Not That!”
If You Need a Lactose-Free Yogurt
EAT THIS: Lifeway Lowfat Cherry Kefir
Per 8 oz container: 140 calories 2 g fat, 20 g sugars
Kefer is 99 percent lactose free, making it a great yogurt alternative for most intolerant individuals. Plus, this it’s easy to eat on the go, loaded with 11 grams of protein and has more probiotic bacteria than traditional yogurts. We overlook the slightly high sugar count because the drink is low in calories and serves up so many additional health benefits. Double down on health benefits by grabbing a kefir with one of the Best Fruits for Fat Loss.
NOT THAT: Yoplait Lactose Free Cherry
Per 6 oz container: 170 calories, 1.5 g fat 26 g sugar
While this yogurt lacks the lactate that upsets your stomach, it doesn’t bring any other nutritional benefits to the table. Packed with more sugar and less than half the protein in Lifeway’s smoothie, this container is better left on supermarket shelves.
If You Prefer Things Plain Jane
EAT THIS: FAGE Total 2%
Per 7 oz container: 150 calories, 4 g fat, 8 g sugar, 20 g protein
Not just creamier and more delicious than the nonfat variety, the little bit of milkfat in 2% Fage allows your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the yogurt. Plus, you can’t get a much purer ingredient list than this: milk, cream, and cultures (oh my!).
That’s only one of the reasons this is one of 6 Foods Doctors Swear By.
NOT THAT: Greek Gods, Nonfat Plain
Per 6 oz: 100 calories, 0 g fat, 14 g sugar, 9 g protein
A plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt with more sugar than protein? No thank you.
If You’re Cutting Back on Fat
EAT THIS: Chobani Simply 100, Blueberry
Per 5.3 oz container: 100 calories, 0 g fat, 8 g sugar, 12 g protein
It’s rare to find a fruit-flavored yogurt with more protein than sugar. This one’s also gluten-free, kosher, and free of artificial ingredients. Add it to your shopping cart, along with this cottage cheese, milk and peanut butter—Our Weight Loss Essentials.
NOT THAT: Dannon Light & Fit, Strawberry Cheesecake
Per 6 oz container: 80 calories, 0 g fat, 9 g sugar
This fat-free, low-sugar yogurt features fructose on the ingredient list twice, along with Sucralose, aspartame and artificial coloring. If you have to search for any mention of actual fruit on the label of a fruit yogurt, leave it on the shelf!
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