These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (2024)

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (1)

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The dairy aisle is bursting with yogurts, which are good for improving your gut health, lowering blood pressure, and so much more. But yogurt brands can vary widely in their health benefits, and it can be tricky to make the best choice when staring down a fridge full of dairy-free yogurts, Greek yogurts, skyr, and probiotic yogurts (to name just a few options!).

We spoke to registered dietitians about their favorite buys and opened countless containers in the Prevention Test Kitchen to find the very best yogurt brands, considering every scoop’s health benefits, creamy texture, and overall taste.

How to choose a healthy yogurt brand

✔️ Pay attention to ingredients: This list should be short. “It really should be the milk, active cultures, and sometimes there’s added vitamins depending on what the brand chooses to do,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., R.D.N., author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.

✔️ Cap the sugar: The American Heart Association recommends limiting daily added sugar intake to 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men. Our picks hover around 10 grams of sugar or less.

✔️ Look at the fat: Harris-Pincus enjoys non-fat yogurt varieties and adds her own mix of satisfying toppings, such as fiber-rich fruits, as well as seeds and nuts to boost the healthy fat content. Abby Langer R.D., owner of Abby Langer Nutrition and author of Good Food, Bad Diet, opts for 2 to 4% percent milkfat yogurts, because she prefers the creaminess and satiety that a higher-fat yogurt offers. The option you choose really depends on what you’re looking for in consistency, taste, and nutrition.

✔️ Pump up the protein: For cow’s milk yogurt, Langer suggests aiming for a minimum of 5 grams of protein per serving. But both Langer and Harris-Pincus agree that choosing a strained yogurt brand, like a Greek yogurt, can boost that number significantly—which can ultimately help you stay fuller for longer.

Ready to find your new favorite yogurt brand? Ahead, we rounded up the healthiest (and tastiest!) picks, from plain Greek yogurts to sweeter varieties.

1

Best Non-Fat Yogurt

Chobani Non-Fat Greek Yogurt, Plain

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (2)

Harris-Pincus loves the simple ingredients, super-smooth texture, and versatility of this non-fat yogurt. It also packs live active cultures for a probiotic punch.

Nutrition per serving: 90 cal, 16 g pro, 6 g carb, 0 g fiber, 4 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 0 g fat (0 g sat fat), 65 mg sodium

2

Best Whole Milk Yogurt

Stonyfield Organic Greek Whole Milk Yogurt, Plain

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (3)

This full-fat pick boasts 16 grams of protein per serving and six different strains of live active cultures, with zero added sugars. It was a standout among tasters, who enjoyed its creamy yet light texture.

Nutrition per serving: 150 cal, 16 g pro, 7 g carb, 0 g fiber, 5 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 6 g fat (3.5 g sat fat), 65 mg sodium

3

Best Lactose-Free Yogurt

Fage BestSelf Lactose Free Greek Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (4)

Tummy troubles after consuming dairy? Lactose intolerance may be the culprit. This lactose-free pick (it’s still 100% dairy, it just has an added enzyme to help people with lactose intolerance digest milk sugars) is a delicious solution, offering all the benefits of dairy yogurt with none of the discomfort. Our Test Kitchen couldn’t taste a difference between this product and Fage’s regular 2% yogurt.

Nutrition per serving: 120 cal, 17 g pro, 6 g carb, 0 g fiber, 6 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 3.5 g fat (2.5 g sat fat), 55 mg sodium

4

Best Plain Skyr

Siggi’s Plain Icelandic Nonfat Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (5)

Siggi’s yogurts are a type of Icelandic skyr, meaning they are super strained, resulting in a tremendously thick, lower-carb spoonful, says Harris-Pincus. Reach for this one if you’re in the mood for something creamy.

Nutrition per serving: 120 cal, 23 g pro, 8 g carb, 0 g fiber, 6 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 0 g fat (0 g sat fat), 90 mg sodium

5

Best Value Size Yogurt

Kirkland Signature Plain Organic Greek Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (6)

If you’re constantly powering through tub after tub, Costco’s Kirkland brand yogurt is a dream come true. Harris-Pincus loves that it holds up against name brands, but comes at a more economical price for nearly 50 ounces in a tub.

Nutrition per serving: 100 cal, 18 g pro, 7 g carb, 0 g fiber, 3 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 0 g fat (0 g sat fat), 60 mg sodium

6

Best Flavored Skyr

Siggi’s 2% Coconut Icelandic Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (7)

“These are probably the least added sugar yogurt brand of those that have added sugar in it,” says Harris-Pincus. It can be a little tangy for those who are used to super-sweet yogurts, Langer adds, but it is a great pick for someone craving a flavored yogurt with less sugar.

Nutrition per serving: 130 cal, 14 g pro, 10 g carb, 0 g fiber, 8 g sugars (6 g added sugars), 4 g fat (3 g sat fat), 30 mg sodium

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7

Best Fruit-On-The-Bottom Alternative Yogurt

FAGE Total 2% Cherry Split Cup Greek Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (8)

Instead of settling for high-sugar, fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts, Langer loves the Fage Total Split Cup Greek Yogurt for a fruity treat that keeps the sugar in check. We love the cherry flavor, but you can choose one you love, from strawberry to peach.

Nutrition per serving: 120 cal, 12 g pro, 13 g carb, 0 g fiber, 11 g sugars (6 g added sugars), 2.5 g fat (1.5 g sat fat), 40 mg sodium

8

Best Yogurt Sweetened with Stevia

Two Good Strawberry Low Sugar, Low Fat Greek Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (9)

Each serving contains just 2 grams of naturally occurring sugar with stevia for added sweetness. “This is quite a good product if you’re looking to keep your carbs and added sugars low, because it has sweetness, but it’s not syrupy sweet like a lot of yogurts are,” says Harris-Pincus.

Nutrition per serving: 80 cal, 12 g pro, 3 g carb, 0 g fiber, 2 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 2 g fat (1 g sat fat), 35 mg sodium

9

Best Creamy Skyr

Icelandic Provisions Extra Creamy Skyr Yogurt, Honey Apricot

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (10)

This ultra-creamy Icelandic-style yogurt is technically a strained cheese that boasts a protein-rich nutrition profile. We love this honey and apricot option, which has just the right amount of sweetness (read: not too much!).

Nutrition per serving: 160 cal, 11 g protein, 13 g carb, 0 g fiber, 9 g sugars (6 g added sugars), 7 g fat (5 g sat fat), 40 mg sodium

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10

Best Dessert Yogurt

Noosa Coffee Blended Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (11)

For a more luxurious bite to your morning (or a delicious dessert!), this pick offers real coffee extract in every spoonful, so you get the gut benefits of yogurt and the pick-me-up perks of your cup of Joe. Just note that this option is higher in sugar.

Nutrition per serving: 150 cal, 7 g pro, 17 g carb, 0 g fiber, 15 g sugars, 7 g fat (5 g sat fat), 75 mg sodium

11

Best Low Sugar Greek Yogurt

Chobani Less Sugar Low-Fat Greek Yogurt, Madagascar Vanilla Cinnamon

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (12)

Langer backs this pick because it’s low in sugar, high in protein, and doesn’t taste artificial—“just delicious.” Rich in probiotics, go for the vanilla for a slightly sweet pick that’s perfect for parfaits.

Nutrition per serving: 130 cal, 14 g pro, 11 g carb, <1 g fiber, 10 g sugars (5 g added sugars), 3 g fat (2 g sat fat), 65 mg sodium

12

Best Dairy-Free Yogurt

The Collaborative Mango & Passionfruit Coconut Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (13)

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Plant-based yogurts use non-dairy sources (like almonds, soy, coconuts, and cashews) to bring you all the deliciousness of your favorite snack, without the use of cow’s milk. Plus, this pick still packs probiotics and a mango flavor that’s hard to beat.

Nutrition per serving: 160 cal, 1 g protein, 14 g carb, 2 g fiber, 5 g sugars (3 g added sugars), 11 g fat (11 g sat fat), 55 mg sodium

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13

Best Creamy Greek Yogurt

Wallaby Organic Whole Milk Plain Greek Yogurt

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (14)

This whole milk yogurt delivers with a satisfying texture that’s more creamy and less thick than other Greek yogurt brands. It has a nice tartness, making it the ideal base for smoothies, parfaits, and even dressings—plus you’ll get 15 grams of protein per serving.

Nutrition per serving: 160 cal, 15 g pro, 8 g carb, 0 g fiber, 5 g sugars (0 g added sugars), 8 g fat (5 g sat fat), 60 mg sodium

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (15)

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (16)

Arielle Weg

Arielle Weg is the associate editor at Prevention and loves to share her favorite wellness and nutrition obsessions. She previously managed content at The Vitamin Shoppe, and her work has also appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Cooking Light, MyRecipes, and more. You can usually find her taking an online workout class or making a mess in the kitchen, creating something delicious she found in her cookbook collection or saved on Instagram.

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (17)

Samantha MacAvoy

Assistant Editor

Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.

These Dietitian-Approved Yogurts Are Rich in Protein and Great for Your Gut (2024)

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