Heathly Teacher tip #2: Greek Yogurt is our New Best Friend

Tip #2: Greek Yogurt is your best friend.

I've grown to love Greek yogurt and put it in anything I possibly can. It's an easy way to add a fat-free protein boost to many of our day-to-day foods. So, here are a few ways to shove it in where you might not expect.

1. My kids love the original Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (yes . . . in the blue box). Although I've tried making the heatlhy kinds with cauliflower or squash, they just don't buy into it. So, the other day, instead of adding the milk and butter it calls for, I just put in about two tablespoons (I didn't measure . . just put in a healthy glob) of plain Greek yogurt. No one knew any different, and everyone was happy. Not an award winning meal, but I'll take the small victory.

2. Similar to above, but the grown up version, Try using in to make a creamy pasta sauce. No added fat, but still creamy and yummy.

3. It's in my morning smoothie. I start every morning with my green smoothie. Sounds awful, but actually quite tasty. In my "magic bullet" (which totally rocks, I have to add) I put:

five or six ice cubes
about 1/4 cup fat free milk
big handful of fresh spinach (my friend said you could even freeze it and it works great)
tablespoon vanilla protein powder
1/2 tablespoon powdered chocolate milk mix
small spoon of PB2 (sometimes)
1/4 cup of fat free plain greek yogurt
1/2 banana

Give her a whirl, stick a straw in it, and breakfast is served. You can also put blueberries, etc. in there instead of chocolate.

4. In place of sour cream --- in anything. Hmmm.. I might even try it in one of those sour cream pound cake recipes. Yumm!

5. In pancake batter (you can even put protein powder in there too). There are recipes on the web for Greek yogurt pancakes. I just like to play with it myself like a mad scientist.

Do you have any other ways that you like to use it?