Which Is The Best Yoghurt To Eat? Greek Yoghurt vs. Coconut Yoghurt | Dietitian Review

Let’s talk about yoghurt man! 

In today’s blog post, I compare the two biggest players in the yoghurt game - the Greek Yogurt & The Coconut Yoghurt. So if you have ever wondered which one you should be buying or if you should be avoiding dairy and going nuts for coconuts’ version of yoghurt, then keep reading because this piece is for you.

Yoghurt is a staple food for many and a very popular product to have as part of a main meal or as a delicious and nutritious snack. Athletes and active badasses all around the world have flocked to the humble yoghurt more and more in recent years so it’s important to know which yoghurt is the better option. 

The reality is that not all yoghurts are created equal (like with pretty much any food product in existence), so we want to put them in a versus match to see who comes out on top. 

WHAT’S YOUR YOGHURT OF CHOICE? Choose your character!

Today we have a versus match between two players in the yoghurt game.

In the left corner, we have Greek “The Protein” Yoghurt.

The Greek Freak hails from the mountains of Chobani - where you can also find their cousins Siggi’s and YoPro The Similar. 

In the right corner, we have Coconut “The Trend” Yoghurt.

Forged from the depths of trends and misinformation, this new-age yoghurt has been rising the ranks through it’s clever use of marketing and preying on the recent hate on the Dairy folk. 

Today they go head to head in a battle of nutrition superiority!

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

Nutritional Differences 101

Now let's break up the difference in terms of the nutritional profile of the two different versions of yoghurt. For the purposes of todays comparison, we will be using Chobani Greek yoghurt and Cocobella coconut yoghurt. 

Greek Yoghurt Breakdown (per 100g):
Calories - 57 calories
Protein: 9.7g
Carbs: 4.2g
Fats: 0.2g
Calcium: 120mg

Coconut Yoghurt Nutrition Breakdown (per 100g):
Calories - 129 calories
Protein: 0.9g
Carbs - 6.5g
Fats - 9.7g
Calcium: N/A

Outcome?

And the winner by KNOCKOUT is The Greek Yoghurt!

The coconut yoghurt was no match for Greek yoghurts' onslaught of protein and bone strengthening calcium. Plus having less calories for more nutrition buck…it was simply able to dominate in the ring by being lighter and quicker (without compromising on the benefits).

The fact of the matter is that we consume yoghurt primarily for protein, calcium, and flavour. Greek yoghurt is far better across the board (although taste is subjective though). Greek yoghurt can contribute to optimized protein levels and better bone health outcomes. Coconut yogurt can contribute to a lighter wallet and no discernable nutrition gains. 

Please note: coconut yoghurt for vegans or those who wish to avoid dairy for their personal reasons, makes sense (however there are better yoghurts out there for those who need to eat dairy-free).

Oh and if you like coconut yoghurt then don't come at me! Eat what you want to eat at the end of the day - I'm just talking nutritional edge here. 

In conclusion

So what is my recommendation as a yoghurt lovin’ Sports Dietitian?

With all clients I always tailor my recommendations to their individual circumstances and inform them to choose the one that works best for them. However, for both myself and my clients I will ALWAYS recommend greek yoghurt. 

The simple reason for this is that it is superior in every way. For vegan or dairy free clients, I will always first try and find a higher protein plant based version such as a soy based yoghurt. Coconut yoghurt is not a yoghurt to me - it’s a trendy money grab shrouded in false science and misinformation. 

Greek yoghurt gives you WAY more protein, WAY more calcium, and is less calories in general too. You literally can’t justify not going for it over the coconut yoghurt fraud. 

There you go. Now you know the main differences which will hopefully help you make an informed decision around your yoghurt of choice.

Want to level up your nutrition?

So if you are ready to take your nutrition to the next level and elevate your performance in a way that doesn’t make you want to punch your dietitian, then let’s chat. I’ll help you decipher through all the yoghurt choices out there and much more!

I have developed both a 90 day and 180 day Nutrition Sherpa coaching package that is a 1:1 nutrition coaching experience to help start bridging the gap between where you are now and where you want to be as an athlete. In this program, I'll personally coach you using my flexible nutrition system to help you harness the power of calories and macro strategy to regain your competitive edge. 

Interested in learning more? Then simply email me at: [email protected] 

To apply, simply CLICK HERE and start the process for reaching your peak potential. 

Aleksa the Dietitian and Nutritionist​

Brisbane Dietitian and Nutritionist