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“Cottage Cheese Makes a Comeback,” proclaimed the New York Times in July.
Indeed. The protein-rich diet standby has rebranded itself for foodies. Move over, yogurt.
If you haven’t tried cottage cheese since the ’70s, give it a fresh look. The payoff: A half-cup serving of a low-fat (2% fat) variety like Good Culture Simply Low-Fat Classic supplies 14 grams of protein for just 80 calories.
That’s about what you’d get in a 5.3 oz. serving of a plain nonfat Greek yogurt like Chobani, and it’s triple the protein of a 70-calorie slice of cheddar or Swiss cheese.
Lactose intolerant? Good Culture makes a Lactose Free version.
The downside: Cottage cheese has added salt. (Good Culture, for example, has 340 milligrams of sodium per serving.) On the upside, it packs enough flavor to need no added sugar or low-calorie sweeteners.
No Good Culture at your grocer? Try Daisy 2% Low Fat or Friendship 1% Low Fat.
As for toppings, you can go one of two ways:
- Sweet. Toss in berries, banana, frozen mango or peach slices, chopped apples, you name it. Or add some crunch from toasted walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds.
- Savory. Pile on the vegetables to turn your cottage cheese into a lick-your-lips snack or a light lunch’s main event (check out the Healthy Cook's recipe).
Say cheese!
