Going Greek: Make your own yogurt bowl


Christina Nursalim | Daily Trojan

Christina Nursalim | Daily Trojan

Recently, Greek yogurt has been all the craze as a healthier alternative to frozen yogurt. A lot of people have switched over from Pinkberry to Go Greek, a yogurt shop that sells authentic homemade Greek yogurt.

Go Greek sells classic Greek yogurt as well as frozen Greek yogurt in a variety of interesting flavors such as honey, pomegranate, chocolate and plain tart. They also boast a diverse assortment of healthy condiments like chia seeds, hemp granola, Greek biscuits, unsweetened coconut, rose jam, pine thyme honey and more. Their yogurt, however, often racks up quite a high cost with a small yogurt cup costing around $7 to $8 or more, depending on how many toppings there are.

Being healthy, however, does not have to come at such a high cost! Read on to see my very simple recipe on making your own healthy Greek yogurt bowl to eat at home or on-the-go.

What you’ll need:

  •      Chobani Plain Non-Fat Greek Yogurt
  •      Blueberries
  •      Blackberries
  •      Strawberries
  •      Granola
  •      Honey
  •      Jam
  1.     First, scoop out some Chobani Non-Fat Greek yogurt into a bowl, depending on how much yogurt you feel like eating. You could substitute this with any other brand you may prefer, for example, Fage. I’ve tried both and my favorite would have to be Chobani because it has a smoother and creamier texture.
  2.     Next, add some blueberries, blackberries and chopped strawberries into the bowl (don’t forget to wash the fruits first), again, depending on how much you want to add. I usually add 5-7 of each.
  3.     Then, using the flat end of a spoon, crush the blueberries and blackberries until reduced to a pulp and mix it into the yogurt to get a nice pop of purple color in your yogurt. It also helps blend the sweetness of the juices into the yogurt to give it more flavor (and it looks pretty too!).
  4.     You can also add some granola to give your yogurt a nice crunchy texture.
  5.     Finally, top the yogurt with a honey drizzle and a dollop of jam. You can get creative with this by trying different types of honey and jams. I usually buy the Alfalfa Honey from USC’s Farmer’s Market every Wednesday at McCarthy Quad. You can find the Alfalfa Honey from the Bee Green Honey Stall. They also have other flavors like Raspberry Honey, Orange Blossom Honey and Sage Honey.

Try some free jam samples and pick the one you like! The Farmers Market also has a vendor called Sola Jams that sells homemade jams made with real fruit. They also have really interesting flavors like Cheeky Jalapeno Kiwi. However, I usually buy the Rose Jam from Go Greek Yogurt. The Rose Jam is my ultimate favorite and although it’s a little pricey, it’s definitely worth it! The Rose Jam has a sweet, floral taste that pairs very well with Greek yogurt.

Greek yogurt is said to provide multiple health benefits such as aiding digestion, keeping a healthy metabolism, fat reduction, bone health as well as regulate muscle function. Furthermore, it is lower in sugar and carbohydrates (goodbye freshman fifteen!) and has lower lactose than regular yogurt, which makes it easier to digest for those who are lactose intolerant. So, go ahead and try your hand at making a healthy Greek yogurt bowl (no more excuses for cheap healthy eating!) and don’t be afraid to experiment!

Christina Nursalim | Daily Trojan

Christina Nursalim | Daily Trojan