Food Focus: Cheese
Cheese is the best!
Many of the members miss their mozzarella during Level 1, and we don't blame them.
Good news! Level 2 gives you the opportunity to get cheese back in the mix.
Cheese is made by adding a special type of bacteria and enzymes to milk. These enzymes cause the milk to form cheese "curds." From there, depending on the cheese type, there are nearly endless approaches to making specific textures, flavors, and types of cheese.
There are around 2,000 different cheese varieties!
This is important to know because these different varieties have a range of nutritional properties, allergenicity, and an impact on your health.
The most common cheeses are
- Mozzarella: Lower in sodium than most cheese, high in calcium, and contains probiotics
- Cheddar: Good source of iron, high in protein, higher in saturated fats than most cheese
- Kraft Singles/ American: High in calcium and vitamin D, highly processed, and contains more added ingredients than other cheese
- Feta: Maybe easier to digest because it comes from sheep's milk, low in fat, higher in sodium, a good source of zinc
- Parmesan: Very high in protein and fat, virtually lactose-free so it may be easier to digest, beware of processed imitations that contain other chemicals
Cheese is a nutrient-dense, tasty food but many people experience sensitivities when they eat it.
A number of people even become diagnosed with lactose intolerance as they age. Those symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Cramps
- Bloating
- Gas
- Constipation
Keep in mind that your body may react better to some types of cheeses than others. If you want to be cautious about reintroducing cheese, you may want to start with goat cheese or a cheese lower in lactose.
Endless Options
Because cheese is so nutrient-dense, it is best to use it to add flavor to your dishes instead of making it the star of the show.
- Use your favorite cheese as a salad topper. If you want a meal where cheese is a major source of protein, try some high-quality mozzarella with sliced tomatoes and fresh basil!
- For something warm and melty, top a bit of cheese onto your favorite Betr recipe and bake! We love adding a sprinkling of cheddar cheese to our stuffed bell peppers recipe.
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