In my opinion, you can never go wrong with cheese. Cheese adds so much flavor to any dish and it comes in many different forms. Depending on the type, you can enjoy it melted, shredded, cubed, and, of course, whole. Let’s explore these delicious ways to use cheese.
Besides being extremely tasty, cheese is a good source of high-quality protein and contributes other essential nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A to the U.S. diet. For those with lactose intolerance, you can still enjoy cheese by consuming small amounts of aged, hard cheeses such as Parmesan, Cheddar, and Swiss. These types of cheese contain minimal lactose, which may help minimize gastrointestinal discomfort and still allow for the consumption of important dairy nutrients.
For vegetarians and those consuming a plant-based diet, cheese and other dairy foods can be an important source of high-quality protein. Consuming adequate amounts of dairy foods such as cheese can help to meet nutrient needs which are essential for our overall health.
Check out these 3 easy ways to use cheese in your kitchen.
Add it to your favorite omelet recipe.
Cheese is extremely versatile, which means that you can add any kind of cheese to your omelet, and it will turn out great. In my opinion, the perfect cheese companion for my veggie omelet includes sharp cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese has a sharper, more pronounced flavor, that pairs perfectly with almost any dish.
Pair with fruit.
There are so many different cheese and fruit combinations that it’s hard to pick just one, but I’m partial to pairing semi-soft cheese with fresh fruit. Semi-soft cheeses, like Havarti and mozzarella, have a higher moisture content and tend to be mild in taste. They pair very well with fresh fruit such as cranberries and peaches.
Use it in a delicious grilled cheese recipe.
You can’t go wrong with a grilled cheese sandwich. But if you want to upgrade your traditional grilled cheese recipe, I recommend using Swiss cheese. Swiss cheese has a milder flavor, and it melts well, making it perfect for sandwiches.
Are you lactose-intolerant? Remember, lactose-free cheese comes in a variety of brands. Next time you go to the grocery store, make sure to pick up a variety of cheeses and get a little creative in the kitchen!
Andrea Mathis, MA, RDN, LD (also known as Andy) is a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of the nourishing food blogs, Beautiful Eats & Things, and Little Eats & Things. She is also the author of The Complete Book of Smoothies: 115 Healthy Recipes to Nourish, Heal, and Energize.
Her unconventional and practical approach to providing wholesome recipes and body-inclusive focused nutrition advice has been featured in the nation’s leading media outlets including Good Morning America, Women’s Health, Prevention, Huff Post, Shape, and many more. She is a contributing editor for EatingWell, The Kitchn, Food, and Nutrition Magazine, and a contributor to Mind Body Green, Well + Good, Parents, MSN, Healthline, and others.
Based in Alabama, when she’s not running after her two boys, Andy enjoys creating content to encourage self-love and promote body positivity.