Cheese Search Or Cheese Dilemna?
 

I started this thread to point out a change in the fat requirements for cheese as listed in the new plan. I believe it is an important change and one that I have not heard mentioned before.

In the color plans (blue, red, purple, etc), the specification for cheese was “lite or reduced fat.”

In the new numbered plans, the description is changed to “cheeses with 3 grams of fat or less per ounce.”

Here is the problem as I see it. I have been searching for hard cheeses that meet the new description and so far I have not been successful. Note: I am in Wisconsin which has a reputation as a “Cheese State”. Example: I find that Kraft Natural Reduced Fat Mild Cheddar Cheese made with 2% milk still has 6 grams of fat per ounce.

Last time I visited my COD, I told my counselor that I was having trouble finding a cheese that meets the new requirement and the answer was maybe you have to look at white cheeses. I thought farmers’ cheese? So I looked at white cheeses and did not find any that meet the requirement.

I was also told not to use ricotta cheese because I am not a vegetarian and it is not going to help me lose weight because ricotta has low amounts of protein.

If you have searched and found a cheese or cheeses that meet the requirement, please share that information with us. For those who, like me, wish to use cheese in our menus, I believe we have to use it sparingly.

One other change in the cheese usage is that the classification of cheese depends on the serving size. 3 oz of cheese counts as a protein, while 2 oz of cheese is counted as a dairy.

I do acknowledge that light string (mozarella) cheese made with 2% milk is 2.5 grams of fat per ounce, but I hope that string cheese is not the only cheese that meets the new guidelines.

I'm not much of a cheese eater, Lynn...but I did find this on the national dairy council webpage...

In addition to cheeses naturally lower in fat (e.g., cottage, ricotta, part skim mozzarella), manufacturers have developed a variety of cheeses reduced in fat (e.g., 0 to 6g fat /oz) (7,13). Researchers are using new technologies, processes, and ingredients to improve the quality of cheeses reduced in fat (5,14). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established definitions for foods, including cheese, labeled as low fat, reduced fat, light, less fat, nonfat and fat free (1,15). Under these definitions, for a cheese to qualify as low fat, it must contain no more than 3g fat per serving.

Hmmm, I always use the Kraft 2% as well. I have Laughing Cow Lite at home. I will check it later.

I use the light string cheese for snacks mainly and other than that most of my dairy is in yogurt or milk. Not much help but if I find anything I'll let you know.

I hadn't even noticed that! I've checked online to see if the cheese I've been using qualifies, and it doesn't... :(

As a fellow cheesehead, this is going to be HARD!

Have you tried the Land O Lakes r/f individual pieces?

Then again maybe I should be happy I'm maintaining from Red. No need to worry about the numbered plan thing.

Okay, the Laughing Cow lite wedges are 2 grams each, and I think that we have determined that 2 wedges are one dairy. The Kraft 2% individual American slices are 2.5 grams. Each slice is 3/4 of an oz of cheese, so not quite an ounce, but that still helps.

Lynn,

I had the same problem. I searched multiple grocery stores looking for something that fit the requirement. I finally asked my COD and they asked if I had looked at FF cheeses. However, due to the sodium, I thought we were suppose to stay away from them, plus they're nasty.

Anyways, after a nationwide search (or at least a city search), I found that Cabot makes a cheese that fits the requirement. It is Cabot 75% reduced fat sharp cheddar. It is made with 1% milk. Unfortunatley, they only make it in sharp cheddar, but that's better than nothing. It comes in a block and I found it at Food City in TN. Kroger had Cabot cheese but did not carry this particular one in my area.

I also found Swiss cheese slices at Kroger that fit the requirement. (2.5 grams for 3/4 oz) The brand is Jarlsberg & it was over by the deli like where they sell their prepackaged potato salad, chicken fingers, etc... It is in the packages that spread the slices out, so it is a long, thin package. The only problem with it is it is expensive. I think 5.99 for 10 slices!!!

I'm not sure that the 2% Kraft slices that come stacked on top of each other (I think they are Kraft Deli in a blue wrapper) count. If you read the package it says processed cheese "product", so I am not sure if it is true cheese. May want to check with COD.

Hope this helps,
Kathryn

Oh & quick question.... can we use laughing cow cheese? I had wondered if this counted as cheese...the spreadable stuff in wedges right? If so, I would be thrilled to use that on a bagel.

Kathryn

Kathryn,
Yes, the Laughing Cow Lite cheese wedges are approved, 2 wedges=1 dairy.

I was going to mention the cabot 75percent lite, but ya beat me to it. It is very sharp, but I really like that. When you don't get a lot you need a flavorful cheese imo. Have you checked your deli counter vs the dairy section?

Thanks Katie, I'll have to get me some of that.

Thanks Tina, Katie, Katy, Teresa, Megan, Kathryn and Dairy Fairy for your suggestions and help.
I have found that it is sometimes the little things that we know and what we do that can make the difference......

bumping this thread up to help answer merem's thread question.

I found a FF feta cheese that is pretty low in sodium. I believe it was Presidente brand but need to double check that and the sodium. I use an ounce of it on a salad occasionally for a kick.

I like the precious reduced fat string cheese but it's 4 grams per packaged serving....you could always throw off 1/4 of it, for the dog or something!

Thanks for the info on laughing cow cheese. I hadn't even considered that one. I will have to put it on my grocery list!

Maia

P.S. Lynn you are so good at starting thought provoking threads. Thanks for keeping an eye out for us. I definitely still have a lot to learn b/c this whole weight loss thing is relatively new for me.

Thanks Maia - I firmly believe it is the little things that can help us down the scale ladder.
Since I am a Wisconsin gal, cheese has always been a part of my life.
Having said that, I have scaled way back on cheese because it is so hard to find non processed cheese that fits the requirement of 3 grams of fat or less.
I do use Sargento light string cheese. Each piece is .75 oz and 2.5 grams of fat so trust my math on this - 1 oz is 3 grams of fat. Not too often that I get to use my algebra.
Also, I love, love, love ricotta cheese and I can find skim or fat free versions, but I was told by my counselors that I was not going to lose weight using ricotta cheese. Why I asked? The answer I was given is that the protein in ricotta cheese is too low. It is among the list of proteins for vegetarians. Love ricotta cheese heated slightly with cinnamon and maybe with pineapple as a topping.

Lynn - I may have to try the ricotta with fruit. I've never been able to stomach cottage cheese but love ricotta.......of course that was in lasagna or something:) I never thought of eating it like cottage cheese with fruit. I'm getting pretty bored with the food and combinations I've been eating so I definetely need to mix it up some.

Katy,
I can't tolerate cottage cheese. I don't like the consistency. I did try it recently and put it in the bullet to smooth it out, but still not my thing. But, ricotta cheese is wonderful. There is even a recipe for ricotta cheese pancakes in the recipe thread.
Enjoy

Have you all ever tried using cottage cheese as a salad dressing? I do it all the time, so I dont HAVE to waste a fat on my salad. I just had a salad with Romaine lettuce, 4 oz of grilled chicken (i was behind a protein) LA's Ranch Soy Crisps, 1/2 c of cottage cheese, and a tsp of mustard. Sometimes I add Fat Free dressing if I need more flavor.

Velveeta has a 2% milk product and it is less than 3g of fat per ounce but I am not sure if we can have Velveeta or not since it is a cheese product.

I asked my counselor today what type of cheese I can use with the new plan. She said lite string cheese and 2% shredded cheese will work.

Kimberly R -
Love the idea of using cottage cheese for a salad dressing. I will try that!

I just got some Laughing Cow Lite today at the grocery store, but it must be popular b/c all they had left was one pkg of the french onion. I'm not sure how that will taste, but I thought I'd try it. I also found the hard Jarlsburg Swiss w/ 3 g of fat and the Cabot Cheddar with 3 g of fat. I'm so excited to actually have some hard cheese - FINALLY!

Maia

Thanks for the info!

And thanks Lynn for bumping this up to answer my thread.:)

I hadn't read this thread until now...glad I did. I am a food dork. I really thought ricotta cheese looked and tasted like cottage cheese (which I cannot stand the taste nor the smell of). I've never had ricotta (maybe hidden in lasagna), but I think I'm going to go out on a ledge and buy some and try those pancakes this weekend. Thanks for starting a great thread Lynn. As someone else mentioned, you start great, informational posts!

Thanks Joni. I broke down and got some ricotta cheese today. There are so many choices, but I decided on the fat free. I know others have come up with many ideas on toppings like chocolate syrup, but my fav is still just lightly warmed with cinnamon and pineapple.

oh by the way, Joni, I still have not recovered from the "build a bear" one liner for Dan. You MIGHT have missed your calling.... Glad to hear about your new employer and also about Charlie. Take care.

Lite 2% Velveeta has less than 3 fat grams per serving, but can we have it?

Krista, re Velveeta lite cheese - I don't know the official COD answer to your question, but velveeta lite cheese is still high in sodium and saturated fat.

This info is from the site - calorie-count.com
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 oz (28.0 g)

Amount Per Serving
Calories 62 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3.0g 5%
Saturated Fat 2.0g 10%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 444mg 19%
Total Carbohydrates 3.3g 1%
Sugars 2.4g
Protein 5.5g

Vitamin A 5% • Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 16% • Iron 0%


Nutritional Analysis
Nutrition Grade
100% confidence

Grade C Bad Grade?
Good points
Very high in calcium
Very high in phosphorus
High in riboflavin
Bad points
High in saturated fat
Very high in sodium

Trader Joes has a great Low Fat Sharp Chedder that comes in individual sticks like string cheese. 2 sticks = 1 Dairy