Cheese has always been one of those tricky foods that are heatedly debated as to whether or not they should be incorporated into everyday diets.

Is eating cheese good for you? Is cheese unhealthy? Maybe it’s okay in moderation? 

These are commonly asked questions that plenty of influencers and diet ‘experts’ love to weigh in on, but there is no safer source than an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist. Hence, we have asked our very own Dietitian team what they recommend when it comes to eating cheese and here’s what they had to say.

The Pros Of Eating Cheese

• Good source of protein and calcium
• Lots of different types can be used for different things.
• Hard cheeses are low in lactose, so they are still suitable for people with lactose intolerance.

The Thing To Be Mindful Of When Eating Cheese

• Can be more energy dense, so you may like to choose lite options depending on your nutrition goals.
• Need to be mindful of food safety when including them in sandwiches/salads/other dishes – you need to keep cheese cold with an ice brick in a cool bag when at school or work if you don’t have access to a fridge.

Ways To Add Into Meals/Snacks

• Cheese can be included as an excellent protein-rich snack with veggie sticks/fruit or wholegrain crackers.
• Can be used as a topping on toast – cottage cheese or reduced-fat ricotta cheese are both good options – can add sliced tomato onto cottage cheese, or put berries on ricotta cheese.
• For people that are aiming to gain weight, cheese can easily be added to savoury dishes for additional energy and protein, e.g. in tray bakes like pasta bake, cauliflower/potato bake; on top of spaghetti bolognese; in white sauce to put over meat and vegetables.

If you need more assistance with your diet or eating habits, get in touch with your local Sports & Spinal Dietitian today! 🥝