Hands Off My Chobani: The New Breakfast of Champions

Welcome to Friday Fun, a bit of nonsense or lighthearted discussion in anticipation of the weekend.

This week: more than you ever wanted to know about what I eat for breakfast.

True story: About two years ago, I was shopping at a local grocery store, not having a great time because I had gone there with a detailed list and coupons, and I was getting increasingly irritated at not being able to find everything I needed. I had stayed up late the night before, planning the week’s menu and collecting coupons for the good deals. What I thought would be a quick hour of shopping turned into an hour and a half, and I was losing patience.

At least I had some comic relief in the dairy section. I overheard one shopper ask another, “Are you going to take all of them??” Apparently, she was referring to the latest craze in the grocery world: Greek yogurt. This particular brand had been flying off the shelves and it wasn’t the first time that I noticed customers making a beeline for the yogurt section.

What cracked me up was the woman’s cordial, yet unapologetic, response to the other woman’s question of whether she was buying up all of that particular flavor of yogurt: “Yeah. It’s my favorite.” Fortunately, before the situation got too heated, a nearby store employee stocking the shelves assured everyone that he had more in the back. Phew, crisis averted.

Fast forward two years and here I am, storming the Greek yogurt shelves with the other crazies shoppers. I tried to hold out, but since I discovered that I actually like it, I’ve been stocking up whenever it goes on sale for $1 or less (because really, $1 or more for a 6-ounce yogurt seems excessive). I’m still trying to figure out the craze and whether it’s only a fad until the next “superfood” comes along. All cynicism aside, count me in as a Greek yogurt convert. I’m all about the extra protein, although I don’t like how some yogurts have a high sugar content. You can weigh the evidence and decide for yourself.

Side note: I have to credit this year’s Girls’ Weekend with inspiring my latest (hopefully healthy) breakfast routine; it’s how we started each morning. Below are some of the countless yogurt/fruit/granola combinations I’ve tried in the last several weeks. So far it’s the only breakfast that doesn’t leave me hungry an hour later, and I’ve been a lot less cranky when out and about with my 5-year-old near lunch time.

I start with a huge bowl and try not to overload it with flavors. For instance, If the yogurt already has a lot of fruit in it, I try not to use a granola with raisins and a lot of other ingredients. And some yogurt flavors are just too sweet for my taste (like most of the fruit-on-the-bottom varieties), so I usually stick to a base of vanilla since I’m not a fan of plain or honey. I usually have an assortment of fruit on hand, but you can just go with your own preferences. Some of my favorite creations:

• Strawberry Banana Smoothie – vanilla yogurt, strawberries, bananas, and granola with dried banana chips. Fresh peaches work, too.
• Berry Bonanza – Dannon Oikos raspberry yogurt with any combination of blueberries, strawberries, even more raspberries, and low-fat granola.
• Tropical Paradise – Chobani pineapple yogurt with bananas, kiwi, and Nature’s Path Love Crunch “Aloha Blend” granola.
• Just Like Apple Pie – Chobani apple cinnamon yogurt with apples, and granola with raisins and almonds.
• Dessert – Dannon Oikos key lime yogurt, sometimes with raspberries, but it’s good enough on its own.

Oh look, those were five combinations. I didn’t neglect the Friday Five after all! I know I’ve forgotten a few, and I could go on listing different mixes, but feel free to experiment with your favorite flavors. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I’m not compensated in any way for talking about these products. They’re all my own opinions.