Being Cultured

Why not go out on a limb?  Isn't that where the fruit is?  ~Frank Scully

Weekly Weigh In = +.2 lbs (total = -14.2 lbs)

My friend Trish, who has finally re-emerged from the evil world of auditors and work, suggested awhile back that I try new food and "review" it. I've been thinking about it over the last 2-3 weeks-- what would I try? I've tried almost every fruit and vegetable Horrocks has to offer. I've tried tofu. I've tried soy. We're trying dark chocolate-bacon-jalapeno candy bars this weekend (yeah... that's another story). There doesn't seem like there is a lot left *to* try.

Here's what I came up with to try: different fish (I've had tilapia and salmon, but I know there is more out there), kale (I have a recipe for kale chips), baby bok choy- or just bok choy in general, rhubarb that is not put inside a chicken schwarma sandwich... and that's all I've got so far. 

Today, I'm trying Greek yogurt for the first time. Now, I know I shouldn't be having too much dairy, but I figured in this small amount, I would be ok. Especially since I've really limited the amount of dairy I've had over the last few weeks. I know Greek yogurt isn't a new food for most people (I can hear you laughing!), but I've always steered clear of it. I've heard its thicker than regular yogurt, that it's fat free and "flavor free," and... good lord, it's expensive! What do they put in there, flecks of gold!?

Here I sit, with my little container of Yoplait Greek- Honey Vanilla yogurt, and a little side container of fruit. I Google the ingrediants and nutritional information since Yoplait doesn't put the nutrition information on each individual container... and WHAT? This isn't real "Greek" yogurt?! Oh come on.

Greek yogurt is strained to remove much of the watery whey.  This concentrates the milk solids and results in a thick yogurt that is packed with protein.Traditional Greek yogurt is made with whole (fat) milk, so it usually has a higher fat content, however, companies such as Fage have been able to make a Greek yogurt with low and no fat milk while allegedly keeping true to the Greek yogurt method.

Yoplait has as their ingredients: Cultured Pasteurized Grade A Nonfat Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate. Contains less than 1% of: kosher gelatin, Vitamin A acetate, Vitamin D3. As one blogger puts it, it's just "plain old Yoplait yogurt with added protein powder and thickener."

Real Greek yogurt (Fage) has as its ingredients: Grade A Pasteurized Skimmed Milk, Live Active Yogurt Cultures (L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus). That's IT. 2 ingredients.

Hestia, Greek Goddess of the hearth and home

First attempt at trying a new food-- semi-fail. I'm still new to this kind of Yoplait, but now I know it's not real Greek yogurt. So...what is it? It's not worth the $1.09 I spent on it (it was $2.09, but I had a $1 off coupon). I bought the Honey Vanilla flavor, thinking it would taste like... honey and vanilla. It tastes like "expiration date" vanilla yogurt, and a substitute sweetener after taste. And the thickness that everyone talks about- I didn't mind it too much. I added some fruit and it was tolerable, but it's nothing I will eat by itself again. I can see how it would be great to add to a smoothie (extra protein!), but just to eat it plain...? Nope. Never again. And, for the entire container, it's 3 points. I guess that's ok, assuming it actually keeps me full, but only time will tell...

I made one of my law clerks, Nicole, try it with me. This morning, she bought a 0% fat Chibani Greek yogurt from our cafe. She loves the stuff. Granted, it's $2 a container (for 7 oz), but she buys it most mornings. I wanted her to try the Yoplait stuff to compare the "fake" Greek yogurt to the "real" stuff. She took one taste of the Yoplait and said, "yup, get the stuff downstairs."

A disappointing breakfast and a pimple to boot. Here's to trying new things...!