Top 8 fat-free yogurts for a healthy snack option

Fat-free yogurt is delicious and far better than ultra-processed foods after school.

As a snack food, fat-free yogurt with 5-10% protein is satisfying.

In many low-fat foods, we often find high levels of added sugars to provide flavour. However, in our fat-free yogurt survey we found exceptions that made our Top 8. If you are looking for a satisfying, low-cholesterol food, consider fat-free plain or natural yogurt made from skimmed milk.

In times of stress and during or after illness, our gut biome can go off kilter, so yogurt is good for correcting this imbalance. Not everyone loves the slightly tangy finish in many of the yogurts we tried. But with the benefits—protein, calcium (even more in low-fat options), and gut-friendly bacteria—they’re worth taking a little time to get used to. 

Sugars that occur naturally in seasonal fruit can make it more appealing. We can also add nuts ( see our last survey here) to add crunch and flavour, or pesto or a tomato sauce for a savoury version.

As a snack food, fat-free yogurt with 5 -10% protein is satisfying. Added to cereal and over fresh fruit – seasonal stewed apple sprinkled with toasted nuts and seeds, or a drizzle of honey, it’s delicious and far better than ultra-processed foods after school.

Aldi Duneen 0% fat Irish yoghurt natural 500g 65c

Aldi Duneen. Picture: Chani Anderson

Good value here with a couple of yogurt cultures and no other additions. One taster uses this for an evening snack with granola and honey as the creamy, though not too heavy, texture appeals to him. A good one to use to cool down spicy dishes – add a blob before serving or on the side. Good for smoothies. Often, those who cannot digest milk can consume yogurt, so this is a good one to try.

Score: 10

Glenilen Gut Health vanilla kefir 350g €2

Glenilen Farm Gut Health Kefir Vanilla. Picture: Chani Anderson

Kefir differs from regular yogurt in the fermentation process, using kefir grains instead of a starter bacterial culture. It can provide a greater number of probiotics than some yogurts, but also a stronger taste. Here, the acidity from 14 kefir cultures is offset by the natural tasting vanilla flavour, but also 3.5% added sugar. A smooth, not too thin, texture, the favourite of the kefirs tasted. Try instead of, or with cream on Pavlova with lemon curd.

Score: 8.5

Tesco 0% fat Greek style yogurt 1kg €1.85

Tesco 0% Fat Greek Style Yoghurt. Picture: Chani Anderson

With a good, smooth, texture, and medium weight, there’s no acidic aftertaste here.

Serve with curries, add to cooked and puréed butternut squash sweetened with honey or date syrup as a dip or side dish. Drizzle on cupcakes or sponges, and top with fruit or grated milk chocolate instead of icing. Good on porridge or muesli with a drizzle of honey or pomegranate molasses, if sweetness is needed. Good value.

Score: 9

Glenisk high-protein blueberry lactose-free 400g €2.99

Glenisk High Protein Blueberry Lactose Free Yoghurt. Picture: Chani Anderson

Lactose-free, these have a medium-thick texture. Blueberries generally produce low flavour but here it’s a good, natural one. But sugar is third on the list, so natural sugars from the milk and fruit bring sugars to a high 10%. The goat yogurt (250g €2.49) is good to see available for those who need an alternative to cow’s milk.

Score: 8

M&S Super Fruity black cherry low fat 450g €2.75

M&S Food Super Fruity Black Cherry Low Fat Live Yoghurt. Picture: Chani Anderson

Low fat here means 1%. However, even allowing for natural sugars in the fruit and from the milk, 11.3% sugars is high, as added sugar is third on the list of ingredients. Bifidobacterium is the bacterium. However, it was the tasters’ favourite for flavour.

Score: 8

Liberté Greek recipe vanilla fat-free strained yogurt 450g €2.99

Liberté Greek Recipe Vanilla Yoghurt. Picture: Chani Anderson

This vanilla-flavoured yogurt has 7.1% sugar added, providing a total of a high 10% sugars, while the vanilla flavour comes from natural vanilla flavouring. Carrot and lemon juices from concentrate also added. Tasters approved.

Score: 8

Dunnes 0% fat blueberry yogurt 500g €1.25

Dunnes Stores 0% Fat Blueberry Yoghurt. Picture: Chani Anderson

While there’s plenty of good fruit here, the added sucralose (600 times sweeter than sugar) overpowers the flavour, so we taste sweetness rather than fruit. The texture is smooth, and just thick enough.

Score: 7

Irish Yogurts 0% fat Greek style peach and raspberry live yogurt 450g €1.99

Irish Yogurts Clonakilty 0% Fat Greek Style Live Yoghurt with Peach and Raspberry. Picture: Chani Anderson

A decent 4.4% peaches and 2.4% raspberries is overpowered by Sucralose sweetener. Sugar substitutes are not counted as sugars in nutritional information, and experience in this column has led us to prefer sugar to their substitutes for flavour. The texture was not as creamy as Greek-style yogurts usually are, but most tasters liked it enough for it to make our Top 8.

Score: 7