Get Creative and Enjoy Low Fat Cottage Cheese

Welcome once again to this Health and Fitness blog. Here is another fascinating snippet of health related news for you to read all about:

Getting plenty of high quality protein in a low calorie diet can be a bit of a challenge. But making sure you have enough may be just what you need to succeed with weight loss. In addition to meeting your nutritional needs, protein will keep you feeling full and satisfied for longer than either fat or carbohydrates. You need all three just don’t skimp on the protein.

What I would like to do beginning today is give you creative ways to enjoy healthful low calorie protein foods. In this article I’ll share some of the many ways you might enjoy low fat cottage cheese. Maybe it will give you a bit of incentive to include more variety in what you eat.

If you are not a fan of cottage cheese consider changing the way it is eaten. That might be enough to make you reconsider. On the other hand, if you are willing to eat cottage cheese but don’t like the taste or texture you can easily improve on it by adding other ingredients or blending to smooth out the less than appealing texture. If you are a cottage cheese fan you will hopefully find at least one new idea or more that you haven’t tried.

Low fat cottage cheese is a good source of protein and a fair source of calcium and potassium. I like it because it gives me lots of choices for quick and easy meals. I also enjoy it for snacks and as an ingredient or supplement to certain meals.

Simple No Fuss Ways to Enjoy Cottage Cheese

Some people like to sweeten cottage cheese. Others don’t like sweet at all and prefer more of a savory touch. And if you are like me, the fun comes from finding yet another way to enjoy a dependable standby whether it is sweet or savory.

Ingredients to add for a sweet touch:

Dried cranberries, bananas, red or green seedless grapes, cinnamon, chopped apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, raspberries, blueberries, mangoes, raisins, poppy seeds, oranges, melon, honey, etc.

Ingredients to add for a more savory touch:

Canned tomatoes, chopped onions, salsa, black olives, green olives, grated carrots, steamed veggies, Mrs. Dash seasoning, cucumbers, broccoli, canned green chilies, cumin, celery, diced onion, peas, diced tomatoes, green onions, tuna fish, roasted beets or red peppers, black beans, curry, etc.

Some specific combinations for Cottage Cheese

(Includes Sweet, Savory, and Combinations)

• Add a little cinnamon and a little sugar (or other sweetener) for sweet (some people like to also add vanilla flavoring)
• Mix with a little of your favorite gourmet mustard
• Mix with peanut butter or other nut butter and spread on toast
• Stir in your favorite salsa and enjoy with whole grain crackers
• Mix with canned tomatoes and cooked spinach, season to taste, enjoy in a wrap
• Add salsa and chopped hard-boiled egg, season to tast
• Top with your favorite whole grain cereal, add a few berries, and a little honey
• Top scrambled eggs with cottage cheese and season to taste
• Add some nuts and a little dried fruit
• Mix with chopped onions, grated carrots, chopped celery and seasonings
• Blend with mandarin oranges for a creamy sweet treat
• Blend with frozen fruit such as strawberries or peaches for a cold and creamy sweet treat
• Mix in a bit of Tabasco sauce (some people like to add a little mustard too)
• Add chopped cucumbers, tuna fish, and seasoning (pepper is good)
• Add diced onion of your choice, chopped celery, diced red apple, and seasoning (curry is good)
• Top with steamed veggies of your choice and some low fat shredded cheese
• Add Kalamata olives and roasted red peppers
• Add salsa and black beans

Include low fat cottage cheese in making meals

Cottage cheese can be added to pancake batter, smoothies, or scrambled eggs. Also consider adding to sandwiches, wraps, or casserole dishes. We like to use cottage cheese when making lasagna rather than ricotta cheese (cottage cheese has a greater water content than ricotta and as a result fewer calories for an equal amount by volume).

Thick Chocolate Pudding-Like Treat

Blend low fat cottage cheese thoroughly in a food processor or blender. Add a sweetener and some unsweetened cocoa powder to make a thick chocolate blend.

(I find 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 tbsp. cocoa powder, and sweetener works well for a low calorie treat. Might need an additional tsp. or so of water.)

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 whole egg

1/3 cup quick oats

1/3 cup 1% low fat cottage cheese

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of vanilla

Add a little water to thin

Blend in a small food processor or a blender. (Make sure to use a quality nonstick pan and/or wipe with a little cooking oil. Also, get the temperature of the stove to a medium heat and not too high. These pancakes have a high protein content and tend to stick easily.)

Makes 4 small pancakes for one serving.

246 calories total

3.9 grams of dietary fiber

18.3 grams of protein

You can substitute egg whites for the whole egg to reduce the cholesterol count if you are sensitive to dietary cholesterol. The American Heart Association says most people can enjoy one whole egg a day without it being a problem

Crepes

If you add enough water to the Cottage Cheese Pancake recipe you’ll have crepes. Fill crepes with some chopped fresh fruit and enjoy.

If you would like to explore more recipes that include cottage cheese you might want to take a look at 101 Ways to Enjoy Cottage Cheese!

Oh yes, one more breakfast/snack idea I’ve tried and really enjoy. Top two whole wheat English muffin halves with low fat cottage cheese mixed with a little sweetener of choice and cinnamon. Add a little fresh or frozen fruit on top (I add frozen blueberries) and bake in a toaster oven. Mmm…delicious!

Now it’s your turn. How do you enjoy cottage cheese? Please share!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Women and Weight Website

Also, check out this great weight loss and health site for more ways to lose weight and stay healthy.

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