How to Choose the Best Cottage Cheese: A Nutritionist's Tips
Krasnodar-based physician divulges advice for selecting optimal cheese types
If you're health-conscious and watch your figure, cottage cheese should be a staple in your diet. Packed with protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients, it's a powerhouse for your body. But that doesn't mean all cottage cheese on store shelves is worth your while. Learn from Ekaterina Guzman, a nutritionist and methodologist at the Center for Public Health and Medical Prevention of Krasnodar Krai, how to spot a top-notch, natural product from the masses.
Don't Be Fooled by Marketing Tactics
- Read the label with a discerning eye! A genuine cottage cheese label should simply read "cottage cheese." Watch out for misleading labels like "cottage cheese product" or other trickery. The ideal ingredients list should consist solely of milk and starter culture, with absolutely no artificial fats, preservatives, dyes, or additives.
[Insight: Opt for minimal ingredients, ideally just pasteurized milk, cream, salt, and cultures to avoid additives like stabilizers, artificial flavors, or unnecessary preservatives.]
- The shorter the product's shelf life, the better. A lengthy shelf life is often indicative of the use of preservatives and should make you think twice. Look for packaging that lists storage conditions, batch number, manufacturer's name and address, and the EAC mark of compliance with technical regulations.
- Pay attention to texture, color, and smell. A high-quality cottage cheese will have a smooth consistency, without lumps or foreign objects. Its color should be white or slightly creamy, with a fresh dairy fragrance. A yellowish tint or off-putting odor could point to below-par quality.
[Insight: Evaluate the appearance and consistency for a uniform, lump-free product with a clean, dairy-like scent. Avoid overly yellowish or moldy smelling cheese.]
Be Wary of Loose Cottage Cheese
When it comes to loose cottage cheese, it's critical to inspect the product carefully. Given the lack of definitive packaging, there's no guarantee that sanitary standards or storage conditions are met. To stay safe, avoid buying cottage cheese that contains foreign objects, such as spoons, which can lead to food contamination and potential illness.
Remember, choosing the best cottage cheese means picking products with a simple ingredient list, live cultures, low sodium content, good texture and appearance, and minimal synthetic preservatives. Following these tips will help ensure you enjoy a fresh, wholesome cottage cheese that supports your health and nutritional goals!
[1] Sughrue, T. (2016). The Best Cottage Cheese. Retrieved from https://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/ Nutrition_Studies_and_Reports/The_Best_Cottage_Cheese[4] Fenton, S. (2017). 5 Steps to Buying the Best Cottage Cheese. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-cottage-cheese_b_5779d93ee4b08824009713e2[5] Cortez, C. (2020). Choosing the Best Cottage Cheese: A Look at Probiotics, Shelf Life, and Packaging. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/choosing-cottage-cheese#tips
- To maintain a health-and-wellness lifestyle, incorporate science-backed healthy-cooking practices like choosing the best cottage cheese through a discerning eye on the ingredients list.
- A genuinely nutritious cottage cheese, ideal for food-and-drink consumed mindfully, consists primarily of milk and starter culture, bereft of artificial fats, preservatives, dyes, or additives.
- Besides scrutinizing the label, evaluate the texture, color, and smell of the cottage cheese to ensure a uniform, lump-free product with a clean, dairy-like scent that supports a lifestyle of health-and-wellness and nutrition.
- Be vigilant when purchasing loose cottage cheese, as it lacks definitive packaging, and sanitary standards or storage conditions might not be met, potentially leading to food contamination and health risks.
