Thank you all for your support and enthusiasm from last week! I know you’ve been waiting with great anticipation to know what week 1 of the “Try It” Challenge would bring you and here you go………
First off, greek yogurt is different than usual yogurt in the fact that in greek yogurt, they strain more of the whey (the watery stuff that is on top of yogurt) from the solid. This produces the very creamy texture. It does have a few more calories than normal yogurt, but it’s also packed with protein! (Protein builds and repairs tissues–a main building block for our body!) Also, greek yogurt has a higher level of probiotics than normal yogurt. Probiotics are a healthy bacteria that helps boost immunity and aids in healthy digestion. I also read that it may be easier to digest for those who are lactose intolerant!
In general, yogurt gives a new face to dips, makes fresh fruit sooo good and is EXCELLENT for your body!! I’ll be honest, at first I didn’t like it. I had to try a few brands but I’m finding that I do really like it!
So this week some of you will be trying it for the first time. Let me jog your mind with ways you can eat it!
♦ Add it in with your breakfast.
♦ Make it your afternoon snack.
♦ Replace your current yogurt with Greek yogurt
♦ Replace sour cream with it.
Others of you have been eating it so try a new recipe! (I’m not going to re-invent the wheel. There are so many great recipes out there with Greek Yogurt so have fun exploring!!)
♦ For a dip for veggies or pita bread.
♦ The sweet treat I showed in the Vlog.(LOVE Chobani!!)
♦ A smoothie for breakfast or post-workout.
♦ You wanna make your own Greek yogurt??
Remember that the challenge is to introduce this in your diet at least once a day for 4 out of the 7 days this week!
**One of my readers told me there were some coupons for greek yogurt at www.moneysavingmom.com. Wahoo!!
Before I close, I don’t want to forget the “Try It” challenge for your spiritual life. (Remember, this is a bonus challenge. If you aren’t comfortable with this, then by all means, move along.) This week, I’d like to ask you to pray for your pastors and leaders in your church. Some of you are already doing this and if so, you get an A+! Others of you (such as myself) are more hit and miss on it. The Pastors and leaders of our church need wisdom. They have a rough job–a tiring job. They have families just like us and they are human just like us. Be praying for them this week and while you are at it, let them know about it!
Here is a great reference for you to give you some ideas on how exactly to pray for them! Go halfway down the page and you’ll find the pdf for ” Praying for your Pastor.”
Good luck with your challenge this week! I can’t wait to hear back from you with your thoughts on Greek Yogurt and praying for your Pastors!. Be sure to check back in next Monday for week 2 of our “Try It” Challenge! (If you need to know the challenge item ahead of time due to grocery shopping, budget, or car availability, send me an email and I’ll let you know!)Press on everyone!
Woohoo! Great! Love Greek yogurt but definitely coud do with more of it! So I am in and will right away start to translate and take it for my Tuesday post – and off to the shop I am :-). Thanks! Katja
Clare,
As I was out walking with my neighbor this morning, I remembered this is the first week of the Try-It challenge. It looks like a really busy week for our family–I will be working 4 days and my husband (off work this week) will be out every day with other responsibilities. And I thought, “Dear God, how can I add in one more thing?!?” I was thrilled to find here these two challenges that really aren’t challenges (for me) b/c while I don’t love greek yogurt, I have learned to eat it (with sliced almonds and fresh fruit-yum) and I have recently committed to praying for my pastors and church leadership daily! (When I have time I will check out your link to praying for our pastors.)
Thank you, Clare! 🙂
~Kim A.
Hi Kim! Have you tried Chobani Greek yogurt flavors? Peach, blueberry and MANGO are my favorite. Also if you like it a touch sweeter try adding some honey. :o)
Does greek yogurt taste like regular yogurt? I really want to try this but I absolutely cannot stand yogurt.
Hey Bobbey! I sent you a private email about it, but in most cases, it probably does. Just a bit thicker and creamier
What brand(s) do you prefer? I’ve tried a couple and just haven’t been able to find one I like.
I like Chobani. Try the fruit flavors. If you want plain or vanilla it is good with honey and cinnamon in it! 🙂
I agree with Jinka! Chobani is my fav lately, but I tried Fage this week and it was really tasty!
Totally LOVE Greek yogurt! LOVE it. AND I even made my own this past weekend. Now my challenge is using it all before it goes bad and making a fresh batch. I’m so excited. What I love most about Greek Yogurt is having it with a sprinkle of stevia and even cinnamon, in a bowl of berries. It’s like having berries and creme fraiche….which is all cream and fat. This is all protein and yum! 🙂 Thanks for a great challenge. I’m excited to find neat ways to incorporate it into our menu this week. 🙂
YUMMMM Samantha!!!
How do you make Greek Yogurt? I have a yogurt maker and make regular yogurt but really like Greek Yogurt better. I’d love to be able to make it.
Oh hope I can make the challenge with you!! I grab your button and add it on my blog.
This is a great challenge!!!
Thank you very much
God bless you
I never used to like yogurt either. Now, though, I find that it is great as a dip for my apples in the afternoon. It is filling enough that it helps tide me over until supper time. I also love yogurt with strawberries stirred in. Kashi makes a cereal called “Toasted Berry Crumble” that is excellent for a little crunch. I just sprinkle some on top.
That sounds awesome Andrea! Great idea to share with everyone
Yay! I’m so excited! I’ve already blogged about my excitement, been to the grocery store, made my first recipe with some and ate a bowl of yumminess. I’ve been praying for my elders, too! Thanks Clare!
I LOVE Greek yogurt! I also tried a couple brands before deciding Chobani is my FAVORITE. Have you tried the lemon? I just found that one – it rocks! Thanks for the “sweet treat” link, too – I just bought Popsicle molds at Ikea and now I have a great use for them! !
is the chobani yogurt sweetened?
Yes it is, but they also have plain
Great Jess! Let me know how you like the popsicles!
Ok Clare, I do not like yogurt, but I’m going to try this challenge. Thank you for the spiritual “try it” challenge. My husband is a pastor. Our pastors and church leaders need all of our prayers.
Lisa, let me know if you change your mind! Maybe incorporate it as part of other foods instead of using it as your main food item.
Blessings to you! Pastor’s wives needs prayer just as much as the Pastors!
I am taking part in this week’s challenge and look foward to weeks to come! I love Greek yogurt usually just plain with added fruit but I think I may try the dip or smoothie recipes. I will get my 4 times in this week! Also thanks for the spiritual “try-it”, I am becoming a new member at a church with my family and I’ve met with the Pastor a few times thus far and this is just a great way to connect. Thank you- like this a lot!!!
Great April!!
Thanks Clare for this great challenge! I just posted a recipe for homemade granola on my site today that I eat every morning with greek yogurt throughout the summer months! I made some yesterday and it was delicious!
Oh yum! I need to check that out!!
….I also wanted to add I love the spiritual component to your challenge. So often we neglect this when we’re trying to take ‘care’ of ourselves and we need to care for the whole.
Thanks again for hosting and I look forward to the weeks to come! 🙂
Ok…I’m on it.
Do you, Claire, use both greek and regular yogurt, or have you switched to just greek? I’ll try the greek exclusively this week. I don’t normally eat yogurt plain. I just buy it plain to make whey and yogurt cheese. I’ve recently started exercising(whoo hoo), because my heart has not been doing well, and I am interested in food to eat before and after a workout. Greek yogurt is on my list now for this week! thanks!
WE use both in our house Mariah. My kids are used to vanilla yogurt, but I’m buying Greek yogurt for myself more often.
Kudos on the working out!! Hope the blog will help you out a bit with some ideas!!!
I use Greek yogurt to make my favorite breakfast dish – bircher muesli. Here is my favorite recipe for it…http://awhiskandaspoon.com/2009/08/29/bircher-muesli/
The grated apple is a must and then I just change it up based on what is in season and in my pantry. Thanks for the challenge.
Also, I just found a new vanilla Greek yogurt by Cabot that is quite good.
OK. That looks SOOOOOOOOOO good Jennifer!! I think that might be the next thing I try out!! haha
I don’t know that I’ve had Cabot before….Thanks for letting us know!
Jennifer – I love muesli but have never made it before. I like to “soak” it in the yogurt overnight. I’ve never tried it soaked in juice. So excited to have a recipe and not have to rely on store bought.
YUM! just started trying greek yogurt recently and i like it so far! definitely going to try the popsicles and some other recipes listed! thanks!
Yay for greek yogurt. I forget where I heard about it, but I remember (and my husband reminds me) a few years ago traveling an hour to the nearest Whole Foods to try greek yogurt. I’m so excited that it’s not so hard to find these days. We love to use the plain as a switch for sour cream so we’ll use it one time that way this week. I also picked up Chobani vanilla that I will try in my smoothie this week (it’s finally getting warm enough for smoothies – I have a temperature “thing” tee hee), I also picked up two Fage with fruit (one blueberry, one strawberry). Let me tell you, if you don’t normally eat any sugar, those things are like pure desert!
As for the pastor’s prayer – love it. One of our ministers just bore testimony yesterday, for about 6 months we have been fasting and praying on the first Monday of the month and a group of prayer warriors pray for them while they are in their monthly meeting (same day). He said everything has gone much smoother since they have been covered in prayer. Imagine what would happen if we covered them every day! Don’t forget their wives and families!
I linked up here:
http://survivingonashoestring.blogspot.com/2011/04/try-it-challenge-1-greek-yogurt-and.html
I also included in my post all the coupons out right now (both printable and Sunday Paper) that are for Greek Yogurt! Hope it helps!
Thanks again clare for the challenge, I’m going to be hungry this week as I started my 10k training!
Holy
‘YAY!!! AWesome HOlly!
Hey Claire!
I looked into it a bit and found that to make homemade greek yogurt instead of regular, you need some cheese cloth. My first (ever) batch of greek yogurt is straining in my fridge as we speak. Once all the whey is strained out, it’s supposed to be rich, creamy, and greek! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration!
Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
It’s interesting that this is the first challenge because I JUST made yogurt! Awesome!
I just got linked up – better late than never right! Okay – Greek Yogurt – I’ve never had it? Where have I been? lol!!! I’m on it! Thanks chick!!!
Love ya,
Courtney
I’m off to buy Greek yogurt! And am excited to have found your website
I’ve been hearing a lot about Greek yogurt lately. I bought some yesterday and had one for breakfast this morning — way yummy! Love this challenge!
LOVING my Greek yogurt this week! what a filling snack! YUMMO!
Awesome blog! I really enjoy reading articles like this. Thanks for sharing your experiences!