10 Easy Greek Yogurt Recipes For Babies

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Yogurt is an excellent source of protein and probiotics. And thanks to its many benefits, it is often recommended for babies as well. Hence, we bring you some recipes of Greek yogurt for babies to let you make the best use of this dairy product.

However, before adding this calcium-rich food to your baby’s meal plan, ensure you get the green signal from your pediatrician. Read on as we tell you about the health benefits of yogurt for babies and how and when you can introduce yogurt to your baby.

When Can You Introduce Greek Yogurt To Your Baby?

Most pediatricians recommend giving Greek Yogurt to babies between the age of eight and nine months. However, generalities may or may not suit your baby and hence you should check with your pediatrician if you want to start yogurt. Also, when introducing Greek yogurt to babies, ensure they are monitored for allergic reactions.

It is recommended to give full-fat yogurt. Low-fat versions of Greek yogurt are commonly available, but pediatricians recommend giving it to your little one only after two years.

How Is Greek Yogurt Made?

Yogurt is a fermented dairy product used worldwide for its nutritional and health benefits. It can be divided into various types depending on the method of production. Out of those several types, the most widely consumed is Greek yogurt.

Greek yogurt is a semi solid food made by heavily straining yogurt to remove liquid wheyⁱThe liquid part of milk obtained after curdling and straining. and lactoseⁱNaturally occurring sugar in milk and milk products. . It leaves behind a tangy and creamy product. As it loses the lactose content, it is suitable for serving babies who have lactose intoleranceⁱA disorder in which the body cannot digest lactose (the sugar present in dairy foods) due to lack of lactase enzyme. as well (1).

Health fact

Greek yogurt contains more proteins and fewer carbohydrates than regular plain yogurt (7).

Health Benefits Of Greek Yogurt For Babies

Greek yogurt provides high-quality protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, vitamin D, B12 and active bacterial strains, all necessary for good health (2).

Greek yogurt is easier to digest as it contains lesser quantities of whey protein and lactose than regular yogurt. Apart from basic nutritional values, Greek yogurt also contains healthy bacterial strains – Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus (3). Certain brands add more strains and such yogurts are called probiotic yogurtsⁱYogurt containing specific live strains of bacteria that benefit the gut health. .

100 grams of Greek yogurt (made with whole milk and no fat removed) has the following nutritional value:

• Energy – 94 kcal
• Total fat – 4.39 g
• Carbohydrate – 4.75 g
• Sugar – 3.25 g
• Protein – 8.78 g
• Calcium – 111 mg
• Magnesium — 10.7 mg
• Phosphorus — 127 mg
• Potassium — 147 mg

Source: USDA

(4)

Quick fact

The probiotics in Greek yogurt may help increase microbiota diversity in the gut and improve digestive health (1).

Top 10 Greek Yogurt Recipes For Babies

Here are some easy and yummy Greek yogurt recipes for your baby. These healthy, easy-to-make recipes can help yogurt be a fun addition to your baby’s diet. You can customize these recipes depending on your little one’s taste preferences and dietary needs.

1. Peach With Greek Yogurt

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You will need:

• Greek yogurt
• Frozen peaches

How to:

1. Boil and drain the peaches.
2. Add the peaches to a blender and churn to make a smooth paste.
3. Mix the puree with Greek yogurt and serve.

2. Cherries With Greek Yogurt

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You will need:

• Greek yogurt
• Cherries

How to:

1. Slit the cherries to remove the seeds and skin.
2. Churn the cherries in a blender and strain the puree.
3. Mix the puree with Greek yogurt and serve immediately.

3. Strawberry With Greek Yogurt

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You will need:

• Greek yogurt
• Strawberries
• Oil

How to:

1. Wash and finely chop the strawberries.
2. Churn the strawberries in a blender to make a smooth puree.
3. Add Greek yogurt and blend again.
4. Grease a baking tray. Now, pour the mix into a piping bag to make dots in different sizes on the baking tray.
5. Place the baking tray in the freezer for an hour.
6. Take out the frozen delicacies and serve them to your baby.

4. Greek Yogurt Parmesan Chicken

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You will need:

• Boneless chicken breasts
• Plain Greek yogurt
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic paste
• Lemon zest
• Grill seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper

How to:

1. Preheat the oven to 375oF.
2. In a baking dish add the chicken after seasoning it.
3. Mix the Greek yogurt, parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon zest, and grill seasoning in a bowl. Pour this over the chicken to coat it completely.
4. Bake until the chicken turns tender.

5. Yogurt Chicken Puree

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You will need:

• 1 cup boiled boneless chicken
• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1 cup of water

How to:

1. Put the boiled boneless chicken in a blender, add water, and blend until you get the desired consistency.
2. Add the Greek yogurt and blend the contents till you get the right mix.
3. If the mix seems too thick, then add some water to thin it down. This Greek yogurt recipe is ideal for infants who are just beginning to have yogurt and predominantly have liquid foods.

6. Greek Yogurt Smoothie

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You will need:

• 1 cup chopped banana
• 2 cups whipped Greek yogurt
• 1 cup of water (optional)

How to:

1. Pour the whipped Greek yogurt, add the bananas, and blend them all.
2. If the smoothie seems to be thick, then add some more whipped Greek yogurt.
3. You can also add some water to thin the consistency of the smoothie. You may serve this smoothie as a dessert for older infants and toddlers.

7. Greek Yogurt Pancake

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You will need:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1tbsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup yogurt plain
• 1/8 cup vegetable oil
• 1tbsp vegetable oil to grease pan

How to:

1. Stir the flour and sugar in a bowl. Whisk egg, yogurt and vegetable oil in another bowl.
2. Combine the contents of the two bowls and mix them such that they stay lumpy.
3. Grease a heated pan with vegetable oil and pour about three teaspoons of the batter.
4. Cook till the batter becomes puffy. Turn over the other side. You can cook it until it turns crispy.
5. Once done, serve it hot. This Greek yogurt pancake makes a delicious breakfast recipe for older toddlers.

8. Yogurt And Rice Puff Snack

Image: Shutterstock

You will need:

• 1-2 cups of plain rice puffs
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup mango puree

How to:

1. Blend the Greek yogurt and mango puree so that they mix evenly.
2. Add rice puffs and mix. Use plain rice puffs with no added sugar or salt.
3. Once the ingredients have mixed well, serve it to your little one. This recipe makes a delicious dessert for a year old babies.

A mother and dietician shares her views about giving yogurt to her baby alongside other foods, “As a dietitian, I felt that it was my duty to expose my baby to all the healthiest food this planet has to offer. I devised a plan to start with all the vegetables I could think of, then add yogurt (for probiotics and fat), then seafood, legumes, poultry, fruit, and whole grains (i).”

9. Apricot, Banana, And Greek Yogurt Puree

You will need:

• 4 dried apricots (chopped)
• 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
• 1 ripe banana (sliced)

How to:

1. Place apricot pieces in a pan, add 3 tbsp of cold water and simmer for about two to three minutes.
2. Add cooked apricots, yogurt, and banana slices to a blender and blend till smooth.
3. Serve it as a delicious snack for your baby.

10. Banana And Greek Yogurt Pudding

You will need:

• 3 cups ripe banana (sliced)
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup vanilla pudding mix (can be replaced with a mixture of ¼ cup ground freeze-dried banana, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp maple syrup)

How to:

1. Blend the bananas in a blender until smooth. If using freeze-dried bananas, blend them too.
2. Mix Greek yogurt and pudding mix in a bowl.
3. Combine blended bananas with the above mixture.
4. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes and serve.

While you can try all the safe recipes with Greek yogurt, you need to be careful about certain things.

Precautions To Be Taken While Giving Greek Yogurt To Babies

• Greek yogurt is healthy, but that wouldn’t be enough for your baby. Ensure you are serving various other foods like a range of fruits, vegetables, and grains to promote balanced nutrition.

• Often people add honey to sweeten the yogurt, but it is not advisable for babies younger than one year. Honey contains bacteria which may result in botulismⁱA rare food poisoning caused due to a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. . Therefore, you must only give honey to your baby once they cross one year.

• Don’t serve flavored yogurt as well since they contain sweeteners which may not be suitable for babies. Children tend to accept high sugar food quickly and may eat a lot of it, which is not good for health, especially oral health.

• If there is a history of milk allergies and lactose intolerance in your family, check with a doctor before you serve them Greek yogurt.

• Treat yogurt as new food when introduced and follow a 3-5 day wait rule for any possible allergic reactions. In that way, you can see how your baby’s body is reacting to the yogurt and whether the product has any adverse effects or not.

• If your child develops a rash after eating yogurt, consult a pediatrician as your baby may be allergic to milk protein or to some additive in it.

• If you are serving yogurt along with fruit, make sure your baby is tolerant of that fruit.

Infographic: Points To Consider While Feeding Greek Yogurt To Babies

Introducing Greek yogurt to babies can be a nutritious and tasty way to add protein and calcium to their diet. Rich in probiotics, it is a strained form of regular yogurt, thicker and creamier with high protein content. The infographic below provides tips for giving Greek yogurt to babies. Keep reading!

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Easy Greek Yogurt Recipes For Babies

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

Delve into the world of homemade yogurt, whether with or without a starter and learn the simple steps to create creamy and delicious yogurt from scratch.

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Huda ShaikhM.Sc

Huda Shaikh did her graduation in Microbiology and post-graduation in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics from SNDT University. Through her private practice, NutriBond, she has been advocating healthy diets for weight loss for the last seven years.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

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Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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Ghazia ShahMSc, MA, BEd

Ghazia is a scientist-turned-writer with three years of research experience in Cancer Biology. She did her masters degree in Biotechnology at the University of Kashmir and bachelors in Education at the same university. Ghazia then delved deeper into the science of language with a masters in English.

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