healthy cheese options - JP Fitness Forums

ciliatus · 01-10-2008, 12:01 PM

What are they? I've completely changed my (once horrible) eating habits because I'm in the worst shape I've been in in my life and (gasp) I turn 30 this year. I'm a notoriously picky eater but I've done a pretty good job of coming up with healthy/delicious meals, but what cheese should I use in my turkey wraps, etc.

miket5567 · 01-10-2008, 01:26 PM

I use american cheese. I'm pretty picky too, I also like Colby.

LisaS · 01-10-2008, 01:28 PM

define "healthy" for you.

me - all real cheeses are good in moderation.

UpNorth · 01-11-2008, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciliatus

What are they?

It's easier to define which are not healthy. Any processed cheese is bad. American cheese, Velveeta, "nacho cheese," anything in a can (do I really need to tell you that?) are all bad. Basically any cheese that has any oil in the ingredients I would stay away from.

Other than that, as a rule of thumb, typically the harder the cheese the less the fat if you are worried about that end of it.

AFI82 · 01-11-2008, 10:02 AM

Yea, steer clear of the canned stuff. Cheez whiz is definitely not part of a healthy diet.

I'd think most of the cheeses you can get from the deli section would be ok. Provolone, Mozzarella, Colby, Monterey Jack, etc.

ciliatus · 01-11-2008, 10:39 AM

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm somewhat new to this eating healthy thing (actually more like "back into" after about a decade) and in addition to trying to eat healthy, I'm trying to lose the last decades worth of pizza and beer gut. Looking for the best options for someone trying to tighten up.

LisaS · 01-11-2008, 12:31 PM

it depends on your dietary plan. Get in your good fats first like fish oil, avocado, nuts, olive oil -- and if you have room to spare and be on your plan (whatever that is) - have some cheese.

ToniL · 01-11-2008, 12:42 PM

I use Jarlsberg Light slices, it's a low fat swiss cheese. Trader Joe's also makes a 'light' cheddar cheese and a mixed blend of shredded cheeses that are 'light'. Cheese is a real trigger food for me, so I try to stay away from it as one slice can easily turn into 4 or 5 quickly. I usually melt a slice of the light swiss onto my egg white omlette or put half a one in a 'deli roll up' (slice of prosciutto, mustard, lettuce). I also use cottage cheese and low fat ricotta cheese for creamy texture.

hth -- Toni

Frank.S · 01-11-2008, 02:28 PM

Cottage Cheese.. hah.

Lots of people hate it. Personally, I could eat 2 tubs of it everyday.

ToniL · 01-11-2008, 02:46 PM

loves my cottage cheese xoxoxox

RobLL · 01-11-2008, 04:01 PM

The fat is the good part of healthy cheese

Lost Dog · 01-14-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciliatus

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I'm somewhat new to this eating healthy thing (actually more like "back into" after about a decade) and in addition to trying to eat healthy, I'm trying to lose the last decades worth of pizza and beer gut. Looking for the best options for someone trying to tighten up.

Like Lisa said, it about fitting it into your diet. All true cheese is pretty much fine. Can you spare the calories for full fat cheese? Go for it. Do you want a lot of cheese and are trying to stick to a moderate carb plan, low fat cheese is fine, too.

Personally, I'm on a high fat, low carb diet and I still choose some low fat cheeses because I feel like I can eat A LOT more of it. I'm not satisfied by 2oz of regular cheese, but I can have almost 4oz of low fat for the same amount of calories. Low fat string cheese is good stuff. Calories count. Still.