Did you know that cheese was a happy accident? Ancient people, thousands of years ago, accidentally discovered cheese by carrying milk in the stomach linings of animals, which housed the bacteria rennet needed to curdle milk. Since then, countries worldwide have experimented with cheese-making, creating cheese lovers on every continent. Today, cheese is a household staple used to create savory, sweet, ooey-gooey, fried, and chilled dishes.

Cheese doesn’t just taste good; it’s good for you, too. Cheese is a nutrient-dense dairy food that provides protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The amount of different nutrients will vary depending on the variety of cheese. An ounce of hard cheese has about 8 grams of protein, whereas a half-cup of soft cheese, like cottage cheese, has about 14 grams of protein. There are over 2,000 varieties of cheese, and all of them can fit into a healthy lifestyle.

With so many cheeses, it’s sad that many Americans rarely venture out past cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, American, and cream cheese. Thanks to pizza, mozzarella is the most consumed cheese in the US, with cheddar coming in next due to our obsession with mac and cheese. There is nothing wrong with these trusty favorites, but if you want to expand your cheese pallet, try these varieties.

Asiago

Asiago is an underrated cheese. It is a popular Italian cheese made from cow’s milk and is a semi-soft cheese with a creamy, buttery flavor. It doesn’t get as much attention in the US as it should because Parmigiano Reggiano often overshadows it in our culinary world. Fresh Asiago aged for under a year tends to melt well, making it perfect for cheese sauces and gooey dishes. Mature Asiago is suitable for shaving, grating, and topping dishes like a salad.

Fontina

Fontina is also an Italian cheese made from nutritious cow’s milk, ranging from semi-soft to semi-hard. Fontina can easily be a substitute for mozzarella in any recipe and is readily available in most grocery stores. It melts well and can elevate a weeknight grilled cheese sandwich or classic cheeseburger. Since it is similar to mozzarella, it also goes great on homemade pizzas.

Ricotta

Soft ricotta cheese may be on your grocery list when making lasagna, but it is also perfect for manicotti or cookies. Ricotta cheese works well in both sweet and savory dishes. In Italy, ricottas are sold fresh and eaten like yogurt with a spoon! Experiment with homemade ricotta pizzas. Go savory and use ricotta as the base with spicy sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Go sweet with ricotta paired with honey, sliced pears, and walnuts.

Take time today and every day to enjoy some cheese (even a new cheese)! On National Cheese Lovers Day, remember to share your favorite cheese recipes or puns.

Using print, TV, and the radio, Rebecca Turner translates the complex world of nutrition into understandable, and achievable concepts. Purchase her books Mind Over Fork and Enjoy Good Health on Amazon. On weekdays, she hosts Good Things with Rebecca Turner on SuperTalk Mississippi. Connect with her online at RebeccaTurnerNutrition.com.

For many dads, back-to-school comes with early mornings, packed lunches, after-school pickup, homework, and practices. The daily race to get everyone out the door on time, mixed with juggling life demands, makes healthy eating challenging. Despite this, the busy back-to-school season also brings an opportunity to play an active role in building healthy habits at home.