Choose Your Cheese Wisely

Cheese is a good source of protein, and as delicious as it may be, a small amount packs a lot of fat and calories (refer to the table below). Here are some tricks you can do to enjoy the taste of cheese while limiting your intake of excess calories:

- Choose cheese naturally lower in fat (mozzarella, feta, queso fresco), or choose cheese made with part-skim or low fat milk.

- Purchase pre-packaged cheese as a snack (so you know the exact amount of calories/fat/protein you are consuming).

- Top your dishes with flavorful cheese like feta, blue, goat, or sharp flavored cheese; a little goes a long way.

Indulge consciously!

Essential nutrition information for popular cheeses

*Amount is equivalent to one serving of dairy based on U.S. Dietary Guidelines, with the exception of cottage cheese, which uses a common serving amount.

Source: Based on data from the USDA National Nutrient Database