A New Greek Lover

Posted: September 2, 2011 at 8:00 am

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls on behalf of Dannon. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program but my opinions are my own. 

For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.oikosyogurt.com or www.Facebook.com/oikos. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

***

This morning when I went to make my breakfast, I wanted only one thing. And surprisingly it wasn’t more of the Mocha Oats (although amazing) from yesterday’s breakfast.

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The infatuation with my yogurt bowls has returned! Since it’s a rest day and I wasn’t having a quick pre-gym snack, I need breakfast stat after waking up. That meant no cooking. That meant tossing things willy nilly into a bowl – a sliced banana, some mixed nuts, peach flavored Greek yogurt, and some Fiber One 80 Honey Squares cereal.

If you have read my blog for a few months, then you know my adoration of a few things -

1) Greek yogurt
2) cereal
3) bananas
4) perfection of all together in one filling bowl for breakfast or snack

You also know that I have an affinity for a particular brand of Greek yogurt that shall remain nameless. Although, as Katy puts it, it made me a “CHO HO”. You’ve seen the pictures. Despite all that, I’m no “food snob” and will take someone up on their offer to show me there is more than one way to fill a yogurt bowl.

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Through the Clever Girl Collective network I had the chance to try Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt with it’s high claims of the following:

  • Dannon® Oikos® 0% Fat Berry Flavors beat Chobani 2-1 in a taste test!

I would be the judge of that! I tried any I could get my hands on. I hemmed. I hawed. I apparently turned 87 years old doing things like “hemming” and “hawing”.

I cooked with the yogurts….

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Fresh Peach Muffins

I used them as sour cream substitutes…

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I ate them straight up or with a basic handful of my favorite granola…

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I made a “yoatgurt” (yogurt mixed with my oatmeal…the closest thing to overnight oats you will see me eat)…

chocolate raisin oats

…and as the yogurt bowl breakfast I shared at the start of this post.

And after all of that, I finally came to a few conclusions. A penny for my thoughts? Here’s the breakdown:

Pros

  • not-runny! (the thick consistency makes for a filling, satisfying yogurt)
  • a variety of flavors (even Black Cherry!)
  • Dannon® Oikos® 0% varieties contain active yogurt cultures and range from 80 calories (Plain) to 130 calories (Fruit on the Bottom) per 5.3 oz. cup.
  • comparable nutrition stats – 12 g protein, 20 g carbohydrates (mostly from natural milk/fruit sugars), 0-3 g fat (depending on variety)
  • the honey and berry flavors really are VERY good tasting

Cons

  • slightly smaller size – 5.3 oz instead of a full 6 oz comparatively
  • some flavors too sweet – the non-berry fruit flavors (like peach) are sweeter than I think necessary

So, all this boils down to you will probably find some varieties of Dannon Oikos in my fridge (the honey flavor!) alongside some of my other favorite Greek yogurts (pineapple, hello?!). Or whatever is on sale. Or whatever I have coupons for.

  • What do you look for in a Greek yogurt? What is your favorite flavor?
  • Are you a “food snob” or a “brand snob” for any particular products? What?

Disclaimer: While I have partnered with Dannon in the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt Series and been compensated for my time commitment to the program, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. You know my honesty!

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28 Comments to “A New Greek Lover”
  1. Kelly says:

    My favorite Greek yogurt is Fage. I am a Fage girl through and through.

  2. brandee says:

    I have to agree with Kelly! Fage is the best greek yogurt!

  3. Holly says:

    Greek yogurt MUST be thick and not too sweet!!! If it tastes too sweet it’s almost ruined. :/

    I’m only a brand snob when it comes to Chobani. Otherwise, I like to try new things.

  4. Khushboo says:

    Thanks for an honest review- I LOVE Greek yogurt but due to it not being sold in MUmbai, I make it myself with a cheesecloth- does the trick! I hate when yogurts are overly sweet- I rather have to sweeten them myself! Oddly enough I’m a food snob with ketchup and baked beans–> only Heinz will do!

  5. Alexandra says:

    I tried that recently too because of the chobani claim– I too am a cho-ho haha 😉 I totally agree with your review, it was good but I don’t think it can surpass the glory of chobani. I mean who else makes pomegranate Greek yogurt?!? 😀

  6. I love honey flavoured greek yogurt, I don’t really have a brand loyalty though 🙂

  7. Funny timing- I just tried these out this week for myself because they were on sale!

    I liked the vanilla, but the fruit on the bottom flavors tasted artificially sweet to me. I wasn’t a fan.

  8. Heather says:

    I don’t know what it is – but I really have a hard time with fruity flavors. I like vanilla. I like honey. and I like some Lemon-cho… and then that’s really it. I will eat other flavors if they are the only one’s available, but I would never pick them up at the store myself. [at least not on purpose. the number of times I’ve grabbed pineapple thinking it was lemon is ridiculous.]

  9. I don’t think I’m a brand snob — most of the stuff I buy is at Costco and there is only one choice so I have to go with it. Example: I prefer Almond Breeze almond milk but Costco only has Silk Almond. The price is too good so I get the Silk.

  10. Carissa says:

    Hey Tina, I wanted to let you know, I just popped over to the Oikos FB page and it looks like their offer for a free yogurt has actually ended already…

  11. I’ve really only tried Chobani greek yogurt – I had it once and was hooked. I’d be willing to try other kinds though, especially if they’re on sale! I usually just get plain and mix honey and granola in.

  12. I love all of the ways you can use Greek yogurt too…it really is so versatile. My husband always makes fun of me by asking me if I’m going to top any and all of my foods with Greek yogurt because I use it so much. I look for 1) price (because it can be expensive!), 2) taste (too sweet or just right?), 3) consistency (thick & creamy like it should be?).

  13. jobo says:

    I am TOTALLY a ‘cho ho’ too!! I have tried this kind though and some of them are pretty good, though I don’t prefer them over Chobani. I would say Fage falls a close second for me for Chobani (their plain is better than Chobani, I think, fluffier? lighter? but the fruity flavors from Chobani can’t be beat!).

  14. Runblondie26 says:

    I used to work in the sales and maraketing department at Dannon North America. I wish I hadn’t left because it was such a great place (the commute really killed me though) . The employees are just as health conscious as the customers they market to.

    I was a fan of their products before working there, and even more so now after seeing what their coporate culture is like.

  15. Jess @ Jess Go Bananas says:

    When it comes to greek yogurt I am a fage plain jane!

  16. I have been a cho ho too :). I love that stuff! Although I may want to branch out and try this too. I prefer it to be a little thicker but also creamy. and my favorite chobani flavors are the strawberry-banana and raspberry!

  17. Fage is my favorite but hardly ever in my fridge b/c of it’s price. I’m a CHO-HO too 🙂 Can’t beat the price, how often it goes on sale and all the flavors!

  18. I am definitely a little bit of a snob for Chobani. I think it’s just better than all the others!

  19. I don’t think I’m a food snob at all. I like to give everything a chance 🙂

  20. Leanne says:

    I thought I’d try it…since you said they were offering a free one on their facebook page. Unfortunately, that promotion ended on Aug. 27th…you may want to update your post. However, I am intrigued…and I might just try it if I can find a sale.

    • Tina says:

      I was told it was good through Monday but apparently not. Just saw this so I’m updateing right away. Sorry about that! 🙁

  21. Lisa says:

    I made the switch to Greek yogurt a few years ago and never looked back. There’s NO way I could ever eat a Yoplait type of yogurt again. Too much sugar. I prefer plain greek yogurt with fresh fruit.

  22. I look for loads of protein, and no sugar! I like to add stevia and blueberries to mine, so I like it plain and protein packed 🙂

  23. Laura says:

    I’m a fate and chobani girl. My favorite flavor is lemon from chobani it has the perfect combo of sweet tart. I started to use Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream and I’m hooked. Thanks for the pimps review.

  24. Sara says:

    This yogurt is one of my favorites. I tried it because I had a coupon at BJs and liked it a lot. (I also got a coupon from a friend–enter another big box–and then it’s on sale again at BJs w/ a coupon! Woot!) I don’t like Cho. I don’t know why. I can eat Cho Champions but that’s all.

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