I recently had the opportunity to try a new product: B’more Organic Skyr Smoothie. Curious to know more about skyr and what I thought about it? Of course you are!
Skyr (pronounced SKEER) is the traditional yogurt of Iceland. Active cultures are added to skim milk, which is then strained to create a super-thick consistency. This also boosts the protein content to 2-3x that of regular yogurt. The flavor is quite tangy and tart, similar to plain greek yogurt. B’more Organic sells their skyr in a convenient and drinkable smoothie form (no spoon required).
Skyr is a rich source of probiotics. Probiotics, or strains of beneficial bacteria, are known for promoting gut health by boosting healthy bacterial that help with immunity and digestion of nutrients. These helpful bugs exist naturally in the gut. However, the use of antibiotics, hormonal birth control pills, and other medications can wipe them out or leave the good guys outnumbered by harmful bacteria and organisms, which can lead to illness and digestive troubles.
Whats more is that much of the lactose that exists in skyr is consumed by the good bacteria, so it is generally well tolerated by people who are sensitive to lactose. Skyr is also a an excellent source of high-quality protein…at least 20 grams or more per 8 oz serving. The bottom line is that consuming skyr can help keep your gut and immune system strong and balanced (and who wouldn’t want that?).
Although I make a point to look at serving size and the nutrient stats on a food label, I also pay close attention to the ingredient list, too. I prefer to consume real foods as opposed to a bunch of ingredients that I don’t recognize. However, I was quite impressed with the minimal ingredients: milk, vanilla, stevia, and active cultures.
Their products contain no added sugar and are lightly sweetened with organic fruit purees, which pleasantly offsets the naturally tangy flavor. There are several flavors to choose from, including strawberry, mango banana, banana, caffe latte, vanilla, and plain. I tried the vanilla and was pleased, but I think next time I’ll be a bit more adventurous and go with the caffe latte.
An 8 oz serving of skyr smoothie would be a great post-workout recovery drink, offering protein and carbohydrates that your body needs after exercise. You could also make this smoothie part of a portable protein-packed breakfast. I poured some of the skyr, frozen cherries, and unsweetened cocoa powder into my blender for an afternoon snack…yum! For more ideas of what to do with skyr, check out their blog (they got my attention with blueberry pancakes).
Full disclosure: I’ll be honest. I would rather eat my calories than drink them. It’s easy to drink excess calories without realizing it, especially if its something sweet and void of any nutrients that promote satiety, such as fiber, fats, and protein. But since this smoothie is packed with real-food nutrition and not full of added sugars, its a great option.
Bottom line: Thumbs up! I would definitely grab another one of these skyr smoothies. They can be found at most grocery stores around town in the refrigerated section. Now that I have become familiarized with the smoothie form of skyr, I plan to venture into eating the thicker, spoon-able, yogurt-style skyr.
Melanie Beers RDN/LDN, CLT and Nourish Family Nutrition was not compensated other than receiving a sample of the product. The opinions expressed in the post are my own.
