Great Gobs.Lower-Fat Cheese Comes of Age Eight point eight billion dollars. That's what we spent last year on cheese. And it doesn't does·n't Contraction of does not. even include the cost of what was used by restaurants and in pizzas, frozen lasagnas, and other commercially prepared foods. No wonder cheese is neck and neck with beef as the number-one source of artery-clogging saturated fat saturated fat, any solid fat that is an ester of glycerol and a saturated fatty acid. The molecules of a saturated fat have only single bonds between carbon atoms; if double bonds are present in the fatty acid portion of the molecule, the fat is said to be in the U.S. diet. Do the math. Every ounce ounce, in zoology ounce, in zoology: see leopard. ounce, unit of measurement ounce: see English units of measurement. of regular cheddar Cheddar, village, Somerset, SW England. It is chiefly a tourist center. Limestone is quarried, and strawberries are grown. Nearby Cheddar Gorge towers c.400 ft (120 m) high, with imposing limestone cliffs and numerous caves from which relics of prehistoric man have contains nine grams of fat, six of them saturated saturated /sat·u·rat·ed/ (sach´ah-rat?ed) 1. denoting a chemical compound that has only single bonds and no double or triple bonds between atoms. 2. unable to hold in solution any more of a given substance. . Mozzarella's a little lower, at seven grams of fat--four saturated (part-skim mozzarella moz·za·rel·la n. A mild white Italian cheese that has a rubbery texture and is often eaten melted, as on pizza. [Italian, diminutive of mozza, a cut, mozzarella, from mozzare, , at five grams of fat and three grams of sat fat, is just a touch better). Plug that into your daily 20-gram sat fat limit. And then start multiplying mul·ti·ply 1 v. mul·ti·plied, mul·ti·ply·ing, mul·ti·plies v.tr. 1. To increase the amount, number, or degree of. 2. Mathematics To perform multiplication on. ... because an ounce ain't ain't Nonstandard 1. Contraction of am not. 2. Used also as a contraction for are not, is not, has not, and have not. Usage Note: Ain't has a long history of controversy. much cheese. It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have about a one-inch cube cube, in geometry, regular solid bounded by six equal squares. All adjacent faces of a cube are perpendicular to each other; any one face of a cube may be its base. The dimensions of a cube are the lengths of the three edges which meet at any vertex. , 1 1/2 slices of process cheese, or 1/4 cup of shredded shred n. 1. A long irregular strip that is cut or torn off. 2. A small amount; a particle: not a shred of evidence. tr.v. cheese. Thank heavens for low-fat low-fat adj [milk, yoghurt] → desnatado; [diet] → bajo en calorías low-fat adj → maigre low-fat and no-fat cheeses. Well, thanks for their numbers. For every three grams of total fat a cheese loses, it drops about two grams of sat fat. But it keeps much of the calcium that makes cheese a great bone-builder. (An ounce of most cheeses will give you 150 to 300 mg; a glass of milk has 300 to 350 mg.) Unfortunately, as cheese sheds fat, it tends to shed its wonderfully rich taste. But there are exceptions. Here's a look at reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free cheeses. An ounce of our "Best Bites" (or a 3/4-oz. slice of a Best Bite process cheese) has no more than four grams of total fat, two grams of saturated fat, and 300 milligrams of sodium. It also has at least 15 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for calcium. If you don't like our Best Bites, move up to a "light" cheese--that usually means half the fat of the regular version--or to a "1/3 less fat" cheese (like Kraft Reduced Fat Cracker Barrel This article is about the restaurant-and-store chain. For the unrelated company marketing cheeses bearing the "Cracker Barrel" trademark, see Kraft Foods. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. ). The idea is to see how low you can go. Cheddar When you cut half the fat from an ounce of cheddar, you're left with about five grams. That's still plenty. Most people would be hard-pressed to taste the difference between full-fat cheddars and ones like Sargento Light Mild Shredded or (our favorite) Cabot 50% Light. But five grams of total fat usually means three grams of saturated fat. That's not the end of the world, but you can do better. Try (hard-to-find) White Clover white clover trifoliumrepens. Light or Cabot 75% Light (for phone numbers, see "Low-Fat Tips"). Both were Best Bites. Each had a nice cheddary bite and pleasant aftertaste aftertaste /af·ter·taste/ (-tast?) a taste continuing after the substance producing it has been removed. af·ter·taste n. . (The Cabot contains the safe fat substitute Simplesse, which is made from whey protein whey protein, n soluble protein found in milk whey that has been clotted by rennin, examples of which include alpha-lactalbumin, lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin. .) Go much lower than three or four grams of fat and things get a little dicey dic·ey adj. dic·i·er, dic·i·est Involving or fraught with danger or risk: "an extremely dicey future on a brave new world of liquid nitrogen, tar, and smog" New Yorker. . Healthy Choice Shreds and Kraft Free Shredded weren't exactly exploding with taste. Mozzarella & String Cheese Be careful trying to melt our Best Bites in dry dishes like pizza or grilled cheese sandwiches A grilled cheese sandwich, (also known as cheese toasty or toasted cheese sandwich) is a form of toasted sandwich that consists of two slices of bread and at least one slice of cheese melted in between. . You may end up with a gummy gummy an old sheep that has lost all of its incisor teeth. or plasticky mess. But use them in a moist moist having a moderate moisture content, slightly wet to the touch. moist dermatitis see moist dermatitis of rabbits. moist grain storage grain stored at about 30% moisture in airtight silos. dish like lasagna or bean bean, name applied to the seeds of leguminous trees and shrubs and to various leguminous plants of the family Leguminosae (pulse family) with edible seeds or seed pods (legumes). The genera and species encompassed by the term bean are many and variable. burritos and you're in business (see "Low-Fat Tips"). String cheese is mozzarella that's fun to peel and eat ... so much fun, in fact, that it's easy to down more one-ounce strings than you should. We tasted three: Horizon Organic was delicious but had a gram too much fat and sat fat for a Best Bite. Polly-O Lite was a touch gummy but very tasty--perfect for the kids' (or your) lunchbox. Healthy Choice was fine, but a bit drier. Process Cheese Our favorites Another term for bookmarks, which was popularized by Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. See favicon and Internet Explorer. : Borden Low Fat Sharp and Kraft Free Sharp Cheddar. If you still need more flavor, move up to three grams of fat and (delicious) Kraft 2% Milk Singles. Just keep in mind that process cheese can have twice the sodium of natural cheese. Swiss What looks like Swiss, tastes like Swiss, and has less than half the fat and saturated fat of Swiss? Jarlsberg Lite has been our favorite for years, but Sargento Light Swiss now tastes every bit as good. Miscellaneous We loved Sargento Light Provolone pro·vo·lo·ne n. A hard, usually smoked Italian cheese. [Italian, augmentative of provola, a kind of cheese.] and White Clover Light Colby and Light Muenster. Each tasted remarkably like the real thing. Sargento Light 6 Cheese Italian (shredded) was almost as good. And Greek-salad-lovers should make a beeline bee·line n. A direct, straight course. intr.v. bee·lined, bee·lin·ing, bee·lines To move swiftly in a direct, straight course. to Alpine ALPINE Antihypertensive Treatment and Lipid Profile in a North of Sweden Efficacy Evaluation (drug trial) ALPINE Advanced Logistics Program Integration and Engineering Lace Reduced Fat Feta. It has 70 mg too much sodium for a Best Bite, but we couldn't tell it from full-fat feta. We found a few "non-dairy" cheeses that we'd actually buy ... and that melt--Galaxy Foods Veggie Slices and Soyco Rice Slices. Unfortunately, they--and most others--are made using the milk protein casein casein (kā`sēn), well-defined group of proteins found in milk, constituting about 80% of the proteins in cow's milk, but only 40% in human milk. , so they're really not non-dairy. And some don't contain even half the calcium of regular cheese. We didn't include any in our chart. The information for this article was compiled by Wendy Meltzer and Christine Donat. RELATED ARTICLE: LOW-FAT TIPS Low- and no-fat cheeses aren't as well-behaved as their fattier cousins. When we tried to melt a few on pieces of pita bread, we're pretty sure we discovered a new form of plastic. Here's how the folks at the Cabot Creamery The Cabot Creamery Cooperative is an American dairy marketing cooperative started in 1919 by farmers in Cabot, Vermont. The original plant had an investment of $3,700 in total, which was paid by 94 farmers in proportion to the number of cattle which each owned. in Vermont Vermont (vərmŏnt`) [Fr.,=green mountain], New England state of the NE United States. It is bordered by New Hampshire, across the Connecticut R. say to treat their light cheddars. The advice--which we've adapted--is probably also good for other low-fat and no-fat cheeses: * Shred while the cheese is chilled chill n. 1. A moderate but penetrating coldness. 2. A sensation of coldness, often accompanied by shivering and pallor of the skin. 3. , right from the refrigerator. * Shred finely, not coarsely coarse adj. coars·er, coars·est 1. Of low, common, or inferior quality. 2. a. Lacking in delicacy or refinement: coarse manners. b. . * Try to cook the cheese with foods that add moisture. Lasagna works better than pizza, for example. * Lower-fat cheese melts best when heated for a longer time at a lower temperature. * If you microwave, use a lower setting, cover the food with plastic wrap or a cover designed for microwaves, make sure the food rotates, and stir frequently. (You can mail-order Cabot cheeses by calling 800-639-3198. For information on White Clover cheeses, call 800-878-5765. Both brands can be hard to find.) RELATED ARTICLE: Say Cheese "Best Bites" contain no more than four grams of total fat, two grams of saturated fat, and 300 milligrams of sodium in a one-ounce serving (3/4 oz. for process cheese). They also have at least 15 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for calcium. One ounce is about a one-inch cube or 1/4 cup of shredded cheese. A slice of most process cheese is 3/4 oz. Best Bites are based on numbers, not taste. Within each category cheeses are ranked from least to most total fat, then saturated fat, sodium, and calories. Cheeses with less than 15 percent of the DV for calcium are marked with an asterisk (1) See Asterisk PBX. (2) In programming, the asterisk or "star" symbol (*) means multiplication. For example, 10 * 7 means 10 multiplied by 7. The * is also a key on computer keypads for entering expressions using multiplication. (*).
Total Fat Saturated
Calories (grams) Fat (grams)
Cheddar (1 oz.)
([check]) Kraft 50 0 0
Free Shredded
Healthy Choice 50 2 1
Shreds(*)
([check]) Cabot 60 3 2
75% Light
([check]) White 80 4 2
Clover Light
Alpine Lace 70 5 3
Reduced Fat
Cabot 50% 70 5 3
Light(1,2)
Weight Watchers 80 5 3
Reduced Fat(1)
Sargento Light 70 5 3
Mild Shredded
Horizon Organic 80 6 4
Reduced Fat Shredded
Kraft 2% Milk(1,2) 90 6 4
Kraft Reduced Fat 90 6 4
Cracker Barrel(1)
Cheddar, regular 110 9 6
Mozzarella & String
Cheese (1 oz.)
([check]) Polly-O 40 0 0
Free(2)
Sorrento Fat Free(*) 30 0 0
Kraft Free Shredded 50 0 0
([check]) Healthy 60 2 1
Choice
([check]) Healthy 50 2 1
Choice String
Cheese(1)
([check]) Healthy 50 2 1
Choice Shreds(1)(*)
([check]) Sorrento 50 2 2
Low Fat(2)
([check]) Alpine 70 3 2
Lace Reduced Fat
([check]) Polly-O 60 3 2
Lite(2)
([check]) Polly-O 60 3 2
Lite String Cheese
Sargento Light 70 4 3
Sargento Light 70 4 3
Shredded
Mozzarella, 80 5 3
part skim
Horizon Organic 80 5 3
String Cheese
Kraft 2% Milk 80 5 3
Shredded
Mozzarella, regular 90 7 4
Process Cheese
(3/4-oz. slice,
except when noted)
([check]) Weight 30 0 0
Watchers Reduced
Sodium Fat Free
([check]) Smart 30 0 0
Beat Fat Free
(2/3-0z. slice)(1)
([check]) Lifetime 40 0 0
Fat Free (1 oz.)(1)
([check]) Kraft 30 0 0
Free(1)
Weight Watchers 30 0 0
Fat Free(1)(*)
Borden Fat Free(1) 30 0 0
Healthy Choice 40 1 1
Jalapeno(*)
([check]) Healthy 40 1 1
Choice, except
Jalapeno(1)
([check]) Borden Low 30 1 1
Fat, except Swiss
(2/3-oz.-slice)(1)
([check]) Lifetime 50 2 1
Low Fat (1 oz.)(1)
Borden Low Fat 50 2 1
Swiss (1-oz. slice)
([check]) Light n' 50 3 2
Lively American
Wholesome Valley 50 3 2
Organic American(*)
([check]) Borden 50 3 2
Light American
([check]) Kraft 2% 50 3 2
Milk Singles(1)
Velveeta Light 60 3 2
(1 oz.)
Process American 80 7 4
cheese, regular
Swiss (1 oz.)
([check]) Jarlsberg 70 4 2
Lite(2)
Sargento Light 80 4 3
Alpine Lace 90 6 4
Reduced Fat
Lorraine 90 6 4
Kraft 2% Milk 100 7 4
Swiss, regular 110 8 5
Miscellaneous
(1 oz.)
President Fat 30 0 0
Free Feta(1)(*)
Healthy Choice 50 2 1
Italian Shreds(*)
Healthy Choice 50 2 1
Mexican(*) or
Pizza Shreds(*)
Alpine Lace 50 3 2
Reduced Fat Feta(*)
([check]) White 80 4 2
Clover Light Colby
([check]) Sargento 70 4 2
Light Provolone
([check]) White 70 4 2
Clover Light
Monterey Jack
([check]) White
Clover 70 4 2
Light Muenster
([check]) Sargento 70 4 2
Light Cheese
Italian Shredded
Athenos Reduced 60 4 3
Fat Feta(*)
Alpine Lace Reduced 70 5 3
Fat Provolone
Alpine Lace 80 5 3
Reduced Fat Colby
Denmark's Finest 80 5 3
Light Havarti
Sargento Light 70 5 3
4 Cheese Mexican
Shredded
Sargento Light Taco 70 5 3
Cheese Shredded
Kraft 2% Milk 80 6 4
Colby
Kraft 2% Milk 80 6 4
Monterey Jack
Feta, regular 70 6 4
Provolone, regular 100 8 5
Monterey Jack, 110 9 5
regular
Muenster, regular 100 9 5
Colby, regular 110 9 6
Sodium
(milligrams)
Cheddar (1 oz.)
([check]) Kraft 300
Free Shredded
Healthy Choice 220
Shreds(*)
([check]) Cabot 200
75% Light
([check]) White 160
Clover Light
Alpine Lace 170
Reduced Fat
Cabot 50% 170
Light(1,2)
Weight Watchers 180
Reduced Fat(1)
Sargento Light 200
Mild Shredded
Horizon Organic 140
Reduced Fat Shredded
Kraft 2%Milk (1,2) 230
Kraft Reduced Fat 240
Cracker Barrel(1)
Cheddar, regular 180
Mozzarella & String
Cheese (1 oz.)
([check]) Polly-O 250
Free(2)
Sorrento Fat Free(*) 290
Kraft Free Shredded 340
([check]) Healthy 200
Choice
([check]) Healthy 220
Choice String
Cheese(1)
([check]) Healthy 250
Choice Shreds(1*)
([check]) Sorrento 180
Low Fat(2)
([check]) Alpine 200
Lace Reduced Fat
([check]) Polly-O 230
Lite(2)
([check]) Polly-O 250
Lite String Cheese
Sargento Light 140
Sargento Light 200
Shredded
Mozzarella, 150
part skim
Horizon Organic 170
String Cheese
Kraft 2% Milk 210
Shredded
Mozzarella, regular 120
Process Cheese
(3/4-oz. slice,
except when noted)
([check]) Weight 150
Watchers Reduced
Sodium Fat Free
([check]) Smart 180
Beat Fat Free
(2/3-0z. slice)(1)
([check]) Lifetime 220
Fat Free (1 oz.)(1)
([check]) Kraft 290
Free(1)
Weight Watchers 310
Fat Free (1*)
Borden Fat Free(1) 320
Healthy Choice 200
Jalapeno(*)
([check]) Healthy 210
Choice, except
Jalapeno(1)
([check]) Borden Low 260
Fat, except Swiss
(2/3-oz.-slice)(1)
([check]) Lifetime 200
Low Fat (1 oz.)(1)
Borden Low Fat 370
Swiss (1-oz. slice)
([check]) Light n' 280
Lively American
Wholesome Valley 290
Organic American(*)
([check]) Borden 300
Light American
([check]) Kraft 2% 300
Milk Singles(1)
Velveeta Light 440
(1 oz.)
Process American 300
cheese, regular
Swiss (1 oz.)
([check]) Jarlsberg 130
Lite(2)
Sargento Light 50
Alpine Lace 40
Reduced Fat
Lorraine 40
Kraft 2% Milk 70
Swiss, regular 70
Miscellaneous
(1 oz.)
President Fat 450
Free Feta(1*)
Healthy Choice 210
Italian Shreds(*)
Healthy Choice 220
Mexican(*) or
Pizza Shreds(*)
Alpine Lace 370
Reduced Fat Feta(*)
([check]) White 180
Clover Light Colby
([check]) Sargento 190
Light Provolone
([check]) White 190
Clover Light
Monterey Jack
([check]) White
Clover 190
Light Muenster
([check]) Sargento 200
Light Cheese
Italian Shredded
Athenos Reduced 390
Fat Feta(*)
Alpine Lace Reduced 120
Fat Provolone
Alpine Lace 120
Reduced Fat Colby
Denmark's Finest 160
Light Havarti
Sargento Light 200
4 Cheese Mexican
Shredded
Sargento Light Taco 240
Cheese Shredded
Kraft 2% Milk 220
Colby
Kraft 2% Milk 240
Monterey Jack
Feta, regular 320
Provolone, regular 250
Monterey Jack, 150
regular
Muenster, regular 180
Colby, regular 170
([check]) Best Bite. (1) average of all flavors (sharp, smoked, etc.). (2) Average of all forms (shredded, brick, sliced, etc.). (*) contains less than 150 mg of calcium, which is 15 percent of the Daily Value (DV). Cheeses in italics are for comparison. The use of the information from this article for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited pro·hib·it tr.v. pro·hib·it·ed, pro·hib·it·ing, pro·hib·its 1. To forbid by authority: Smoking is prohibited in most theaters. See Synonyms at forbid. 2. without written permission from CSPI CSPI Center for Science in the Public Interest CSPI Corporate Service Price Index CSPI Cumulative Schedule Performance Index . Source: Manufacturers. |
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