Cheese alternatives?

_tannyw

Cheese will always be my weakness! Especially cheddar - mainly because it adds so much flavour to salads, as I hate dressings and I'm allergic to nuts. I've tried substituting for low fat cheese spreads and cottage cheese, but I feel like i need to stop the addiction! any sugestions?

cityruss

No cheese?

_tannyw

cityruss wrote: »

No cheese?

that's not a helpful response, though?

TavistockToad

I have reduced fat cheddar cheese, almost as tasty as the full fat stuff!

fr33sia12

I allow myself 25grams of Apetina salad cheese (similar to feta cheese) to add to my salads. I will never give up cheese, just have it in smaller amounts.

Sarah_Pelfrey

Guacamole! It still has about 100 calories per serving, but it's "good fat."

fitmom4lifemfp

I love cheese and I'd never ban it from my diet. Nothing wrong with adding a bit of shredded cheese to a salad. I always add about a tablespoon of parmesan regianno to my salad - about 20 calories. No big deal.

lemurcat12

Less cheese?

I use a lot of feta, because it's a bit lower cal than many other cheeses, and only a very small amount is needed for flavor, since the taste is strong.

I tend to reserve higher cal cheeses (I love so many cheeses and trying new ones) for a snack on their own, since that way I appreciate them more.

_tannyw

Sarah_Pelfrey wrote: »

Guacamole! It still has about 100 calories per serving, but it's "good fat."

that's a really good idea

jessiefrancine

Like you, I dislike salad dressings. Cheese is great but I try to keep my salads low-cal to make room for other treats in my day. I like topping my salads with other interesting/flavorful ingredients. Some of my faves:

• Reduced sugar Ocean Spray craisins (more tart than sweet, nice bit of chewiness and tons of fiber!)
• Sliced mini sweet peppers (you'll see them in the produce section in little prepackaged bags - red, orange and yellow)
• Diced red onions (be careful here - a little bit goes a looooong way!)
• Salsa
• A combo of black beans and corn with a dash of lime juice, garlic and cliantro mixed in

melly_fluous

Sorry! I'm no help. I too, am a cheese addict.

LPflaum

I feel ya here. Rather than giving up cheese altogether, I've moved to using small amounts of very flavorful cheeses. Essentially, if you have to buy it in the dairy case instead of the deli case, i'm not buying it anymore. Feta, gorgonzola, blue cheese, deeply smoky gouda, and super duper sharp cheddars have become my go to.

If you're looking for something else to put on a salad that might mimic what a dressing does, I like poached or over easy eggs, sriracha, or sometimes i make my own salad dressing with mustard. Its always good to have a little fat on a salad since so many of the vitamins in veggies (A,D,E,K) are all fat soluble.

upoffthemat

I find a cut up granny smith apple can sometimes add some of that bite I like from the cheddar cheese. I still like cheese though

cfritch26

I have tried the reduced fat and calorie cheeses, but honestly there is no such thing as a cheese substitute. Since I have reduced my carbs I am able to allow myself more fat and that's exactly what I do. Then again, carbs are more of a trigger for me than anything...if I have 1, I have 1000.

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mjwarbeck

If you are adding cheese to a salad for flavour, then why not get a block of a hard cheese like a pecorino (our farmers market had a blue parmesan style cheese). Using a cheese plane you will get airy light shreds...you be surprised how much can be added for a little weight. Plus the hard ago cheese has tons of flavour.

auntstephie321

_tannyw wrote: »

Sarah_Pelfrey wrote: »

Guacamole! It still has about 100 calories per serving, but it's "good fat."

that's a really good idea

if your gonna sub guac you might as well just have cheese, if the problem is the calories in cheese its not going to save you any by adding guac instead. have what you enjoy and learn how to work it in to your goals. if you don't like reduced fat cheese then buy really good great tasting regular cheese. if its not reasonable for you to forever give up cheese then don't force it now and try adding back later, learn to work with it in weight loss and your maintenance will be a lot easier.

tulips_and_tea

What do you dislike about salad dressings? And do you mean ALL, whether creamy or a vinaigrette? I only ask because that's help with what types of substitutes to suggest.

There are a few good jarred salsas that I like on a salad, particularly a corn and black bean one because it adds great flavor and vegetables that I don't have to buy and prepare separately.

I prefer to eat good cheese by itself, as others have mentioned. You really get to enjoy the flavor. Adding it to dishes can sometimes diminish that and just adds extra calories.

mrspaws91

LPflaum said what I was going to say. Instead of giving it up completely, use a tiny amount of very flavorful cheese. Extra sharp cheddar packs a lot of flavor into a little portion.

sunnybeaches105

Sarah_Pelfrey wrote: »

Guacamole! It still has about 100 calories per serving, but it's "good fat."

Cheese also has good fat.

Weigh your cheese and fit it into your calorie goals.

jwcanfield

TavistockToad wrote: »

I have reduced fat cheddar cheese, almost as tasty as the full fat stuff!

Agree - Cabot's has a good lower fat cheddar

_tannyw

I think I'll start eating cheese on its own, like alot of you guys said - so i can enjoy the flavour more. I think maybe then, I'll start seeing it as a treat and stop adding unnecessary extra calories to my meals

auntstephie321

_tannyw wrote: »

I think I'll start eating cheese on its own, like alot of you guys said - so i can enjoy the flavour more. I think maybe then, I'll start seeing it as a treat and stop adding unnecessary extra calories to my meals

not sure if you use shredded cheese or not, but I've found that grating my own extra sharp cheddar not only creates a ton of shredded cheese for one ounce, but adds tons of flavor to everything. the already shredded stuff doesn't seem to have as much of an impact as shredding fresh from the block does

fishshark

if your already not having high calorie dressings and nuts i can't imagine not being able to fit cheese in. When i have to eat 1200 (rare days thst i sit around and do nothing im usually at 1400-1500) I can fit in bread rice cheese and more. If that can happen on 1200 dont see a reason to cut it out or find a substitue. If you like cheese then eat it. Diets are supposed to be food you like, enjoy, and can sustain.

MamaFunky

Have you ever tried goat cheese? 1 oz is 80 calories. I love it on crackers, salads, eggs, etc.

Sassie_Lassie

Just eat the cheese! There's nothing wrong or unhealthy about it.

ASKyle

Make it fit into your day. I regularly eat a wedge of brie all to myself. And it fits!

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Adc7225

I would just have the cheese. Try shaving it with a vegetable peeler this way you have more than a shred but less than a slice so you can still taste it without needing a large amount. I was actually surprised how much shaved cheese there was to an ounce when I weighed it.

Also, you might want to try some new cheeses, while you are at it.

melissa6771

I keep laughing cow light and babybel light on hand for cheese snacks. Low cal and pre portioned.

Oh, and like above, I love goat cheese. Toast some thin slices of bread, spread a little goat cheese on, top with homemade bruschetta. Best... Thing... Ever... yum

ForeverSunshine09

A life without cheese is a life I refuse to live.