Healthy cheese?

hsh0927
hsh0927 Posts: 259 Member
edited October 7 in Food and Nutrition
What are some good, healthy cheeses? Not the little wedges that are the size of a quater and gives you 3 bites. I've heard people talking about using spreadable cheese on fruit sandwiches and other foods but I don't know what kind. Any suggestions/ideas??
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Replies

  • fusiongal
    fusiongal Posts: 23 Member
    My tip is always to buy a stronger cheese and use lesser of it! Works for me :-) Cottage cheese is supposed to be good for you, but I can't stand the stuff - unless it's cooked in something like lasagne.
  • hstevens3
    hstevens3 Posts: 4
    The little triangle cheese is the cheese they are probably talking about to spread on fruits and stuff. It's the laughing cow
  • sassyjvg
    sassyjvg Posts: 32
    Parmigano Regiano is a low calorie, flavor packed cheese and a good source of calcium.
  • marielouisehilton
    marielouisehilton Posts: 42
    Hi everyone,

    Was looking for ideas and found this thread, anyone got any more ideas for healthier cheeses? I am looking to boost my protein, rather than a cheese addict ;o)

    Thank you!
  • Bethyann7793
    Bethyann7793 Posts: 22
    There's a healhy cheese???!
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Do you mean "healthy" as in contains nutritional benefits, or "low-calorie"? Because you can get lower calorie cheese, but be aware that low-calorie foods are just more processed versions of the "real" thing.

    I would go for higher quality, hard cheese and eat in moderation. I like parmigano Regiano because a little bit goes a long way.
  • lilac67
    lilac67 Posts: 311
    I'm not sure if this is healthy, but a better option. I buy cheese made from 2% milk. I get the sharp cheddar to get more taste for less cheese. I also use real parmesan cheese, not the stuff in the shaker. It too gives more flavor for less.
  • jnhu72
    jnhu72 Posts: 558 Member
    Parmesan and Sharp are great because they are a stronger cheese so you can use less.
  • TexanThom
    TexanThom Posts: 778
    Be careful with the sodium. Lot of it in cheese.
  • moksumike
    moksumike Posts: 30 Member
    White cheese is almost always more healthy than yellow cheese. Some of the best white cheeses are Farmers Cheese and Yogurt (Fountain of Youth) Cheese. Farmers Cheese is getting a little more common in the grocery store, Yogurt Cheese you may have to look for at s Cheese/Deli type store. They are both a mild cheese

    Monterey Jack Nacho cheese spread is low calorie, (40 calories for 2 Tbs) but it is not very natural and full of chemicals.
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    God made cheese so we could have little peices of heavan on earth. All cheese is healthy :) in my book...especially paired with wine :wink:

    But, Laughing cow is a great substitute and you can get VERY creative with them. Wraps, pasta, sammies, dips, etc.
  • shine_
    shine_ Posts: 150 Member
    Linessa makes some great ones, anything from mozzarella and cottage cheese to low fat brie and cheddar and it's all amazing! I love it!
  • frecklesgalore
    frecklesgalore Posts: 5
    It isn't a spreadable cheese but Cabot makes a 75% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese. I like the white version and use it on everything from eggs to veggies to crackers. I had a friend try it and she noticed a bit of a difference in taste but once I showed her the nutritional facts she was hooked!

    http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/our_products/product.php?catID=6&id=7
  • mcrowe1016
    mcrowe1016 Posts: 647 Member
    Goat Cheese!!!

    Goes really good on veggie sandwiches, and has a really strong flavor, so you don't need to use too much. (about 70 calories an oz)
  • hauntgoddess
    hauntgoddess Posts: 109 Member
    They have fat free Kraft cheese in cheddar shredded/American Singles...they are low on Sugar/Fat(what I look for.) They also have fat free American Singles in Kroger brand.
  • roachhaley
    roachhaley Posts: 978 Member
    I eat Camembert cheese and it is around 50 calories for a 1 inch cube. I eat it really slowly and it satisfies my cheese cravings.

    I also love the Laughing Cow triangle things. though theyre less cheesy and more cream cheesy.
  • Briszler75
    Briszler75 Posts: 88 Member
    I like feta cheese in salads... yummy and I don't have dressing on it, just feta cheese, olives and salad. YUMMEH!
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    It isn't a spreadable cheese but Cabot makes a 75% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese. I like the white version and use it on everything from eggs to veggies to crackers. I had a friend try it and she noticed a bit of a difference in taste but once I showed her the nutritional facts she was hooked!

    http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/our_products/product.php?catID=6&id=7

    Reduced Fat = Increased Sodium

    You may be eating less fat, but you'll end up retaining more water. I second the "little bit of the real thing" sentiment.
  • roslynds9
    roslynds9 Posts: 139 Member
    Philidelphia extra light is really nice =) you can get it in little individual portion pots that are only 38cals but more than enough for two slices of bread.
  • KourtneyP83
    KourtneyP83 Posts: 319
    We get 2% slices and weight watchers shredded cheese...sure it adds calories but it's not like we use it with everything.
  • fitacct
    fitacct Posts: 242 Member
    Boar's Head has a great no-salt-added natural Swiss cheese, 25% lower-sodium and lower-fat American cheese, and 42% lower-sodium Provolone, and low-sodium Muenster. I've had the Swiss and Provolone...both are really good.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    Do you mean "healthy" as in contains nutritional benefits, or "low-calorie"? Because you can get lower calorie cheese, but be aware that low-calorie foods are just more processed versions of the "real" thing.

    THIS! Some of the least "healthy" foods out there are the low-calorie meals like Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc. It's healthier to eat cleaner-- food that are closest to their natural state. The more processing a food goes through the more sodium, fat, and sugars they add to it.
  • Jesstruhan
    Jesstruhan Posts: 331 Member
    Cheese, like most things, is healthy depending on how you look at it. Processed cheese, filled with carageenan and gums, are not the way to go in "most" cases, though it makes it lower in fat because it is filled with other things than cheese.

    NOTE: I'm a cheese purist, so if there is anything more than milk, salt, rennet (veg, microbial or acid), whey and perhaps some flavorings like fresh herbs, I tend to steer clear.
    That said, I do indulge in the lower fat Laughing Cow wedges from time to time. The cream cheese on apples is LOVELY.

    You can make your own lower-calorie cheese spreads by taking a very strong cheese that you enjoy. Here is my recipe for a snack:
    - 1 to 2 TBSP shredded pepper jack, sharp cheddar or very aged gouda's (my personal favs)\
    - 2 to 4 TBSP of Neufchatel or Cream Cheese. You can also mix Greek yogurt and Ricotta, but the texture will change.
    - Instructions: Put the mixture in the microwave for about 10 seconds (enough to heat them) and mix. This blends the flavors. If you want it eat it as dip, get it hot but not bubbly, or you'll get separation of the oil.

    Make it as strong as you like, but keep a watch on how much natural cheese you put in. 1 oz of real cheese hovers around 100 calories (I've seen from 90 - 110).

    Light Alouette has some decent flavors and not too many calories, but look for fillers. The brand is great for straight-forward products, so you are usually safe. Store brands can be touchy and salt is a big one to watch out for. Sometimes you trade calories and protein for salt or sugars, which don't do you any good anyway.

    No matter what, cheese is a healthy snack IN MODERATION. If you want the real deal, stick to about 1 oz for your snack size. I'm disputing the idea that white cheese is healthier than yellow. It is not. Cheese is cheese. Yellow cheese just has annatto or coloring to make it yellow, and often aging will slightly color the cheese to a carmel note.
  • Jesstruhan
    Jesstruhan Posts: 331 Member
    Totally agree! I forgot about goat cheese! I posted earlier, but mainly referring to cows milk cheeses. Goat cheese is fantastic and creamy. Even the aged varities are great and tend to be a little lighter. I LOVE bits of goat cheese on my home made ratatoullie! it adds a lovely little *something* to it.
  • thrld
    thrld Posts: 610 Member
    Neufchatel is a lower calorie subsitute for cream cheese.

    Generally, the drier the cheese, the less calories it has. You can make your own cheese by putting yogurt into cheesecloth and letting the liquid drip out.

    Some people use Greek yogurt or icelandic yogurt in their 'cheese' spreads.
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    As a rule, I try to stick with naturally aged cheeses. Many "spreadable" cheeses are made that way by adding chemicals or other unknown agents. Read the labels. If there's a list a mile long with unfamiliar ingredients, I'd pass. Most "hard" cheeses (cheddar, monterey jack, grated cheeses, swiss, bleu, etc.) are a safe bet.
  • classycouture
    classycouture Posts: 888 Member
    I absolutely LOVE cheese. All kinds of cheese.

    I had found this "awareness" ad a few months ago and was absolutely appalled.

    cheese-ads-article.jpg

    I can't stress it enough: moderation. Moderation. MODERATION! Cheese is a great source of protein, just don't eat an entire wheel of it every day. :laugh:
  • serhanilker
    serhanilker Posts: 15
    DON'T CUT THE CHEESE - If you're laboring under the myth that milk, cheese and other dairy foods are unhealthy, YOU'RE WRONG - DEAD WRONG!

    Dairy foods are packed with calcium, which boots metabolism. Unfortunatelly, most people don't consume the recommended daily amounts.

    So add milk, yogurt, and cheese back into your life.

    Bonus benefit: research shows that consuming calcium through dairy foods may also reduce fat absorption from other foods.

    Cheers
    S
  • illiquod
    illiquod Posts: 23
    I simply can't have cheese in the house anymore other than the Laughing Cow. I like cheese too much. Cheese is the reason I weigh so much. Why? Because when I drink wine, I eat cheese. I drink a lot of wine, so I ate a lot of cheese. I could eat a whole block a Jarlsberg cheese a night if no one took it away from me. So... I had to give up most cheese.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    Cheese, like most things, is healthy depending on how you look at it. Processed cheese, filled with carageenan and gums, are not the way to go in "most" cases, though it makes it lower in fat because it is filled with other things than cheese.

    NOTE: I'm a cheese purist, so if there is anything more than milk, salt, rennet (veg, microbial or acid), whey and perhaps some flavorings like fresh herbs, I tend to steer clear.
    That said, I do indulge in the lower fat Laughing Cow wedges from time to time. The cream cheese on apples is LOVELY.

    You can make your own lower-calorie cheese spreads by taking a very strong cheese that you enjoy. Here is my recipe for a snack:
    - 1 to 2 TBSP shredded pepper jack, sharp cheddar or very aged gouda's (my personal favs)\
    - 2 to 4 TBSP of Neufchatel or Cream Cheese. You can also mix Greek yogurt and Ricotta, but the texture will change.
    - Instructions: Put the mixture in the microwave for about 10 seconds (enough to heat them) and mix. This blends the flavors. If you want it eat it as dip, get it hot but not bubbly, or you'll get separation of the oil.

    Make it as strong as you like, but keep a watch on how much natural cheese you put in. 1 oz of real cheese hovers around 100 calories (I've seen from 90 - 110).

    Light Alouette has some decent flavors and not too many calories, but look for fillers. The brand is great for straight-forward products, so you are usually safe. Store brands can be touchy and salt is a big one to watch out for. Sometimes you trade calories and protein for salt or sugars, which don't do you any good anyway.

    No matter what, cheese is a healthy snack IN MODERATION. If you want the real deal, stick to about 1 oz for your snack size. I'm disputing the idea that white cheese is healthier than yellow. It is not. Cheese is cheese. Yellow cheese just has annatto or coloring to make it yellow, and often aging will slightly color the cheese to a carmel note.

    I think I love you! I am definitely going to try this!
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