Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Plain Yogurt

You can get a variety of yogurt at Aldi, from individual cups to large tubs to Flip-style yogurt. I eat yogurt several times a week for breakfast because it’s full of beneficial probiotics that contribute to immune and gut health. A common challenge with yogurt is that many varieties are loaded with added sugar, making them more like dessert than a health food. Enter Aldi’s plain yogurt tubs.

Aldi sells a few options when it comes to plain yogurt, but my favorite is the Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Plain Yogurt. It is $2.69 for a 32-ounce container at the time of publication. It has no added sugar, and I get the benefits that come with whole milk, including omega-3 fatty acids and better weight control. Aldi also sells a Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Yogurt, but it has a good amount of added sugar, so I stick with the plain variety.

But plain yogurt may not be appetizing to a lot of people, so how do we make it more appealing? It took me a while to get away from traditional sugar-laden yogurts and get accustomed to eating healthier no-sugar-added yogurt. I mix this plain yogurt with fruit (either fresh or thawed frozen fruit, which Aldi sells by the bag), a drizzle of honey, and some granola cereal or chopped almonds. It turns out to be more like a yogurt parfait.

It has about five 3/4-cup servings per container, but mine lasts a long time because I use less yogurt when I mix it with other ingredients and toppings. (Also, on the subject of multi-serving yogurt tubs, these are better for the environment because they use less plastic packaging than the individual cups.)

This yogurt is non-GMO, and one serving has 120 calories, 7 grams of total fat (9% DV), 4.5 grams of saturated fat (23% DV), 85 mg of sodium (4% DV), 9 grams of total carbohydrates (3% DV), 0 grams of dietary fiber, 7 grams of total sugars, 0 grams of added sugars, and 6 grams of protein.

Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Plain Yogurt nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)

Ingredients are cultured pasteurized organic milk, pectin, Vitamin D3, and cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Paracasei, and L. Rhamnosus.

This yogurt keeps in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks. After it’s been open for a day or so, you’ll see some watery liquid. This is just whey, and it’s beneficial to eat and contains good bacteria as well, so don’t mistakenly assume your yogurt has spoiled. Seeing whey does not mean the manufacturer has “watered down” the product. You don’t have to dump the whey in the sink either. Just stir it back into the yogurt, and enjoy. (And maybe recall that old nursery rhyme about Little Miss Muffet eating her curds and whey, which is actually cottage cheese.)

The Verdict:

Simply Nature Organic Whole Milk Plain Yogurt has no added sugar and makes a great base for a yogurt parfait with fruit, nuts and/or granola. With a range of probiotic health benefits, it’s a breakfast staple for me.