When you think of cheese, you probably think of fattening, high calorie, and greasy cheese sticks or gooey quesadillas. Not all cheeses are fattening and unhealthy however. Cottage cheese, particularly homemade cottage cheese, is the hands down, healthiest type of cheese there is. Cottage cheese is both low-fat and low-calorie but at the same time contains a lot of protein. It is a popular food for bodybuilders because of the high protein content. Cottage cheese diets are also becoming fad for people who want to lose weight quickly.
There are fad cottage cheese diets that consist of restricting yourself solely to cottage cheese and a few other food items. These types of diets may help you lose weight quickly but you are much more likely to gain the weight back when you go back to your normal diet. Instead of following fad diets, you should consider incorporating cottage cheese into your regular diet. For example, cottage cheese makes an excellent substitute for grated cheese and ricotta in many traditional recipes. You can also substitute high fat dairy products such as whole milk and ice cream with cottage cheese.
Don’t try to eat cottage cheese all day because it will get boring fast. Use it as an accent to your regular diet instead. Cottage cheese doesn’t have to be the centerpiece of your meals. You can use it as a side dish or eat it as a healthy snack alongside some fruit. Cottage cheese is also good for fueling work outs. Try eating some cottage cheese an hour prior to hitting the gym to keep your energy level up.
Some people may think that it is unfortunate that there is no “miracle” weight loss food out there. Incorporating cottage cheese into your regular diet will definitely help you achieve your weight loss goals but like any other real weight loss solution, it will take time. Sure, you can go on a strict cottage cheese diet but it will only make you hate cottage cheese in the end and you will most likely bounce back to your normal weight after resuming your typical diet.
A strict cottage cheese diet is not only boring; it is unhealthy. There is no way you can get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs from eating only cottage cheese. Don’t make the mistake of eating only cottage cheese. Instead, use it as a substitute or side dish. If you do so, you will never get bored of eating it and it will in fact add an interesting, unique flavor to your meals. Best of all, adding cottage cheese to your diet will help you achieve a diet that is healthier and lower in fat and calories.