What is the healthiest cheese? Try these low-sodium, low-calorie and low-fat options. (2024)

While the internetremains agog over the viral ‘Butter Board’ trend, snack board purists will remember the blueprint: the charcuterie board. Chockfull of cheese, crackers, and occasionally a marmalade and some dark chocolate, the boards are a hallmark of book clubs and housewarmings alike.

While they certainly bring in an air of elegance, a charcuterie board’s contents can be awfully rich. If you’re on a health journey or looking to offer guests something a little lighter, there’s no need to ditch the board entirely.

There are plenty of healthy cheeses that still offer robust flavor. Here's everything you need to know about choosing a low-calorie, low-fat or low-sodium cheese.

What is the healthiest cheese?

Chelsey Amer, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, shared with USA TODAY that this is not a question with a direct answer. Amer is anMS, RDN, CDN, and the owner of Chelsey Amer Nutrition.

"As a dietitian who focuses on a healthy relationship with food, there truly isn’t one 'healthiest' cheese," she wrote in an email. Amer said her go-to recommendation is cottage cheese because it's high in proteinand filling fat. And it's a great low-sodium option.

Amer also recommends ricotta cheese and mozzarella as great low-sodium, high-protein options.

What is the healthiest cheese? Try these low-sodium, low-calorie and low-fat options. (1)

Is cheese good for you?

A subjective question, for sure. Everything in moderation. While cheese has some health benefits it can also prove unhealthy in excess.

Depending on your dietary restrictions here are some healthy options provided by Amer:

  • Mozzarella cheese isrich in protein and low sodium.
  • Cottage cheese is low in fat, but higher in sodium.
  • Ricotta cheese is also lower in fat, but higher in sodium.
  • Feta cheese is low in calories but also lower in proteinand higher in sodium.
  • Goat cheese is also low-calorie but higher sodium and not super protein rich.

"Most cheeses are within a slim margin of each other when it comes to protein, sodium, and fat content" Amer said."So prioritize flavor and satisfaction because a little bit can go a long way."

Does cheese have protein?

Yes."Allcheese contains protein as it’s made from milk, however, not all cheese is considered equal when it comes to its protein content," Amer says.

Cottage cheese ranks high on that list,with approximately 13 grams of proteinper 100 calorie serving, Amer said. Other“cheese board” cheeses, like mozzarella, gouda, feta, or goat cheese, contain only about 4-8 grams of protein for each100 calorie serving.

Which cheese is anti-inflammatory?

Despite commonly held beliefscheese, and dairy on the large, is not inherently inflammatory, Amer said.

Because of this, no cheese is actually “anti-inflammatory” in Amer's book. She recommends the best way to approach anti-inflammatory eating is to instead keep an overall ahealthy diet overall meaning a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, and dairy (including cheese.)

What are the least processed cheeses?

Amer stresses that all cheeses are processed because a draining and curdling process is required when making it. There are, of course, some cheeses which aremore processed than others. These are some minimally processed options:

  • Ricotta cheese
  • Goat cheese
  • Feta cheese
  • Cottage cheese

What is the healthiest cheese for a sandwich?

When you're at that deli counter and not sure what to choose, fresh mozzarella might be your healthiest option, Amer advises.

Mozzarellais rich in both protein and calcium and it is alsolower in sodium than many other cheeses, Amer explains.

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Discover more health tips for your daily diet:

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What is the healthiest cheese? Try these low-sodium, low-calorie and low-fat options. (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest cheese? Try these low-sodium, low-calorie and low-fat options.? ›

Amer said her go-to recommendation is cottage cheese because it's high in protein and filling fat. And it's a great low-sodium option. Amer also recommends ricotta cheese and mozzarella as great low-sodium, high-protein options.

What is the healthiest cheese that you can eat? ›

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains.

What cheese is the lowest in fat and calories? ›

Ricotta cheese is much lower in calories and fat than other cheeses. Ricotta is made from whey protein, which can significantly decrease cholesterol, including harmful LDL cholesterol, according to a 2020 study.

What has less sodium, Swiss or Provolone? ›

Most mountain-style cheeses, such as Gruyère, fresh chèvre, and simple Swiss, are naturally much lower in sodium than many other cheeses; they have between 50 and 95 milligrams of sodium per ounce, compared to, say, provolone (248 mg/oz) or Havarti (215 mg/oz).

What is a healthier option than cheese? ›

sing crumbled roasted almonds or tofu. They both provide a similar salty and tangy flavor that can be used in salads and dips. Almonds are high in healthy fats, protein, and minerals, while tofu is a great protein, calcium, and iron source.

What is the best cheese to eat when trying to lose weight? ›

There are plenty of delicious cheeses that are low in both fat and salt. The best of these are the fresh cheeses. Fresh cheeses are the ones that are soft and creamy. They include cottage cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, mozzarella and ricotta.

Which cheese is low in fat and sodium? ›

Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat - 10 per cent fat, of which 6 per cent is saturated.

What cheeses are heart healthy? ›

The best cheeses for heart disease are the ones with less saturated fat and sodium. Swiss cheese is probably the best choice, with only 53 mg of sodium per ounce. Mozzarella, goat and ricotta cheeses also fall on the lower side of the sodium scale, with about 130 milligrams per serving.

What cheeses are anti-inflammatory? ›

Swiss, provolone, Cheddar and Gouda are some examples.

What cheese has no salt? ›

Mozzarella and Ricotta are two cheeses that do not require salt. All of the soft cheeses may be made without salt. Salt is added to these simply for flavor. The hard cheeses and mold-ripened cheeses do require salt.

Are eggs high in sodium? ›

One boiled egg has about 65 mg of sodium, which accounts for 4-5% of most people's recommended daily sodium intake. As a result, hard-boiled eggs are not considered high in sodium when prepared and eaten plain.

What is the best cheese to eat if you have high cholesterol? ›

Using lower-fat cheeses – such as mozzarella, feta, cottage cheese or reduced-fat cheeses – will provide less saturated fat.

What is the healthiest cheese to buy at the grocery store? ›

If you're looking for more protein in your diet, raid your local grocery store for cottage cheese and parmesan. If you're concerned with the amount of sodium in your diet, grab a ball of mozzarella. And if you want to feel stronger, healthier, and possibly even live longer, reach for that block of Swiss.

What cheese is healthy to eat every day? ›

Some of the healthiest cheeses are feta and goat cheese, which are better for lactose intolerance. Cottage cheese and ricotta have more than 11 grams of muscle-building protein in a single serving. Swiss cheese is naturally lower in sodium, so it is a good option for people with hypertension.

What is the least fattening cheese? ›

5 Cheeses Full of Taste but Low in Calories
  • Parmesan. Calories per serving: 20* Serving size: 1 tablespoon. ...
  • Part-Skim Mozzarella. Calories per serving: 70-80. Serving size: 1 slice/stick. ...
  • Camembert. Calories per serving: 85. Serving size: 1 oz. ( ...
  • Swiss cheese. Calories per serving: 100. ...
  • Cottage Cheese. Calories per serving: 164.

What is the most unhealthy cheese? ›

Although extremely tasty on that cheese plate, soft cheeses such as Camembert, brie and triple-crème (cheese enriched with cream) fall into the “less healthy” category because of their saturated fat content.

What is the best cheese to eat by itself? ›

Best Cheese for Snacking
  1. Cheddar Cheese. Cheddar cheese has a buttery to sharp flavor depending on how long it has been aged. ...
  2. Gouda Cheese. Gouda cheese has a sweet and creamy taste. ...
  3. Smoked Gouda Cheese. Smoked gouda is a variant of regular gouda cheese. ...
  4. Pepper Jack Cheese. ...
  5. Parmesan Cheese. ...
  6. Mozzarella Cheese.
Nov 28, 2022

What is the healthiest cheese for high cholesterol? ›

Choose cheeses that are lower in saturated fat and sodium. (Though sodium does not affect your cholesterol levels, excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.) Examples include reduced-fat Swiss, mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.

What is the healthiest way to buy cheese? ›

The best option would be to find cheese made from raw whole milk from pastured cows with minimal ingredients. These types of cheese are commonly found at farmer's markets or specialty food shops.

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