An Ode to Fage

In January of 2008, when I first started diving into nutrition I focused on a 40/30/30 (protein/fat/carbs) macro nutrient ratio. I sought out the most affordable and convenient options for foods that met these requirements. I hadn't quite found my knack for cooking yet, so I relied on ready to eat and easy to make foods at first. I kept hearing about Greek yogurt on some message boards and figured I better check it out. I found quite a few options at my local TJ's (Trader Joe's) including Fage and TJ's own brand. I first tried TJ's fat free brand because of cost. Fage was a little more expensive. TJ's was great and fit perfectly into my diet plan. Greek yogurt is known for having less carbs and more protein then regular yogurt.

Next time I went, I decided to try Fage. A love affair was born. This stuff is amazing. I know a lot of people (read my husband) can't justify spending the extra money on it. Well, for something that is healthy, filling, tasty, and super nutritious I was able to reason that it is very worth it. Locally, a 2 cup (500g) container costs me $4.39 at Trader Joe's. Whole Foods just bumped their price up to $4.99 for the same container. And then the most rediculous...Byerly's was charging $6.15 last time I was there. Now that is insane considering a mere half mile away I can get it for almost $2 cheaper at Trader Joes. Not that $4.39 is cheap - I get that.

To be fair, I have tried other varieties of Greek yogurt and my personal preference is still Fage. Stonyfield Farms makes their line of Greek under the Oikos brand. It is probably a close second after Fage for me. I have also tried Chobani and Greek Gods. Both are okay, but my taste buds tell me they don't compare to my beloved Fage.

So how do I eat it? Well mostly just plain. Seems like every other time I am at TJ's, the cashier asks me how I eat it (buying 6 at a time will pique a persons interest I guess) and they are usually surprised when I tell them "just plain!" Lately I have been working hard on upping my peanut butter intake (ha ha) and have found the mixing it with my Greek yogurt is very tasty.

I always buy the 0% because the fat in the other types can add extra calories and I get plenty of fat fro mother foods in my day! Here is a link to the Fage websites nutrition facts:

http://www.fageusa.com/products.aspx?prevSect=nutrition#/products/zero

Lastly, here are some recommendations for how to enjoy your Greek yogurt:

-mix in granola, oats, or your favorite cereal
-mix in peanut butter. My new favorite is Naturally More which I found at Lund's. (if using a natural pb that comes from the fridge, heating it up a little in the microwave will help the stir-in factor
-mix in your favorite protein powder for a crazy protein packed snack
-use as a replacement for sour cream for nachos, baked potatoes, burrito toppers, and pasta salads etc.
-mix in sugar free pudding mixes or top with chocolate syrup for a sweet treat
-or....do like I do and eat it plain!