I’m posting today about something close to my heart…
Cheese!
I love cheese. I love pretty much all of the healthy fats. We NEED good fats to keep our hearts healthy.. But too much of any type of fat, good or bad, can be detrimental to our goals.
Unsaturated fats (see: avocados, nuts, olive oil, etc) have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol (thank you Greece for showing us this!!). Saturated fats (see: the glorious food that is cheese ?) can increase cholesterol levels, but only if eaten in larger doses.
I’m not sure where you’re all at with cheese, but I could pretty much sit and eat it all day ?
So.. Is there any exception to this rule? I was pretty determined to find a loophole to get to eat cheese more often. Now, I still recommend keeping it to ‘occasionally’ rather than ‘every meal’ because it’s lower on the list with protein but..
Cottage cheese!
I promise I’m not crazy. I was firmly in the “cottage cheese is weird, and I’m not into it” camp until a few months ago. Since then, I’ve gone a bit crazy finding uses for it ?
It’s HEALTHY!
? It’s qualifies as a complete protein source! There is a whopping 20 grams of protein in one red container serving of 2% cottage cheese.
? It’s low in carbohydrates (6g) and fat (under 5g), but high in Vitamin B12 (28% of your recommended daily allowance) and Calcium (13.5% of your RDA) and more!
It’s VERSATILE!
? Make protein pancakes or spread it on some toast (topped with avocado or tomato) for breakfast
? Stir in some cucumber, tomato, and paprika for a filling lunch or combine it with poached salmon, pickles, and a little mayo for a healthier take on tuna salad for lunch
? Drain it to use as a pizza topping or add it to your lasagna or pasta bake for an alternative to ricotta (which is also creamy and delicious, but that is a talk for another day!) for dinner
? Combine it with cinnamon and something sweet to fill crepes (or nalesniki if you’re Polish and like the best things!!) or whip it for a healthy fruit dip for dessert
Whatever your previous experience was like, try it again! Here are a few recipes to get you started:
Check out:
Fajita Sweet Potato Cottage Cheese Bowls (Recipe adapted from One Sweet Miss)
Let me know how you like to use cottage cheese in the comments, or request recipes!
