We asked three registered dietitians to narrow down the 5 best bungalow cheese brands ( and ones you should avoid ) .
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What is cottage cheese, and what are its nutritional benefits?
technically, bungalow cheese is actually tall mallow curds .
“ bungalow tall mallow is a mild-flavored, fresh cheese curd intersection made by draining the cheese alternatively of pressing it, so it retains moisture and some whey. Unlike other tall mallow products, it does n’t undergo an aging work, ” says Martin .
And since it ‘s a dairy product, it ‘s packed with protein and lots of vitamins and minerals .
“ bungalow cheese is packed with nutrients, including B-complex vitamins, like vitamin B12, and calcium, ” says Martin. “ It ‘s an excellent source of protein, with 1 cup of humble curd bungalow cheese containing closely 25 grams of protein. The majority of protein in bungalow tall mallow is casein paint protein, as opposed to whey, which is slowly absorbed and helps prevent muscle breakdown. Some brands may even contain probiotics, aka friendly gut bacteria that support intestine health. ”
How can you choose the best cottage cheese?
“ Most bungalow cheese brands are high gear in sodium, but if you need to keep your sodium consumption broken you can find brands labeled ‘reduced sodium ‘ or ‘no salt added ‘, ” says Martin. “ merely as with picking greek yogurt, I look for bungalow cheeses that have no total boodle, which is normally in the season varieties. ”
ultimately, it comes to your preference in taste and ingredients .
“ Finding the right bungalow cheese can be difficult. I believe it comes down to personal predilection and what your health goals are, ” says Amber Pankonin MS, RD, LMNT, registered dietician and owner of Stirlist. “ bungalow cheese can be a bang-up bite because it ‘s filled with quality protein and it ‘s low in carbohydrates, but it can besides be high in calories and sodium, indeed learning to read labels is in truth significant when finding the justly mark for you. ”
The 5 best cottage cheese brands you can buy.
Per ½ cup serving
: 120 calories, 6 deoxyguanosine monophosphate adipose tissue, 3 gigabyte sat fatty, 15 magnesium cholesterol, 300 magnesium sodium, 3 gram carbs ( 0 guanine fiber, 3 gigabyte sugar ), 14 gravitational constant protein
“ It ‘s made with minimal ingredients, free of artificial ones, and is free of pectins, gelatins or thickeners ( which are n’t known to cause damage but may be debatable for some individuals ), ” says Martin. “ Plus, they ‘ve added strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, probiotics which may help support immune and digestive health. ”
Per ½ cup serving
: 80 calories, 2.5 gram fat, 1.5 guanine sat fat, 15 milligram cholesterol, 340 milligram sodium, 3 g carbs ( 0 gram roughage, 3 gigabyte boodle ), 14 guanine protein
“ I like that it ‘s low in boodle and comes in a plain season plus a fruit spirit that helps to jazz up ‘plain erstwhile bungalow cheese ‘, ” says Maggie Michalczyk, RDN, registered dietician dietician who runs the web log Once Upon a Pumpkin. “ And I like that they are pre-portioned–great for taking on the sound. ”
Per ½ cup serving
: 110 calories, 5 thousand fat,3 thousand sat fatten, 20 magnesium cholesterol, 370 milligram sodium, 4 guanine carbs ( oxygen guanine roughage, 3 gravitational constant carbohydrate ), 12 gravitational constant protein
“ I think a short higher milk fatty can be very satisfying when it comes to picking the correct bungalow tall mallow. This matchless has big relish and it ‘s besides much cheaper compared to other options, ” says Pankonin .
Per ½ cup serving
: 110 calories, 5 guanine fat, 3 gigabyte sat fat, 15 magnesium cholesterol, 390 magnesium sodium, 4 gravitational constant carbs ( 4 g carbohydrate ), 13 gigabyte protein
“ I think the season is great and I like this one because I can find it at most grocery stores for a reasonable price, ” says Pankonin .
Per ½ cup serving
: 80 calories, 2 gigabyte fat, 1 guanine sat fat, 15 milligram cholesterol, 300 magnesium sodium, 3 g carbs ( 3 gram boodle ), 13 gram protein
“ vitamin a long as it does not have added sugars, you ca n’t go wrong with any store brand of bungalow cheese, ” says Michalczyk .
The 5 worst cottage cheeses
Per ½ cup serving
: 110 calories, 5 gigabyte fatty, 3 gravitational constant sat fat, 25 magnesium cholesterol, 340 milligram sodium, 6 gravitational constant carbs ( 0 g roughage, 5 gram boodle ), 11 g protein
“ saxifrage ‘s component number is much longer than those listed above and contains ingredients that seem unnecessary ( although harmless ) to make a good taste bungalow cheese, ” says Martin .
Per ½ cup serving
: 120 calories, 5 gravitational constant fat, 3 guanine sat fat, 30 magnesium cholesterol, 440 magnesium sodium, 5 gigabyte carbs ( 0 gigabyte roughage, 4 gigabyte boodle ), 13 g protein
“ Like Breakstone, the ingredient list for Hood ‘s Cottage Cheese is retentive, and many of the ingredients seem unnecessary considering many tasty brands do n’t include them, ” says Martin. “ For exemplar, I ‘m no food scientist but I ‘m not sure why a plain bungalow cheese would need to include natural relish. I ‘m not saying natural flavors are a harmful ingredient, they just seem unnecessary in this shell ! ”
Per ½ cup serving
: 60 calories, 1 g fat, 1 deoxyguanosine monophosphate sat fat, 10 milligram cholesterol, 400 milligram sodium, 5 g carbs ( 0 guanine fiber, 4 gigabyte sugar ), 8 gigabyte protein
“ even though this low-fat bungalow cheese is low in calories, I just do n’t find it identical satisfying, ” says Pankonin. “ It ‘s a little higher in sodium compared to the others and personally, I prefer a little more fat as I find that more hearty while snacking. ”
Per ½ cup serving
: 110 calories, 5 gravitational constant fat, 3 g sat fat, 20 magnesium cholesterol, 400 milligram sodium, 5 thousand carbs ( 4 thousand boodle ), 12 g protein
“ This is another bungalow cheese with a drawn-out component list. This ingredient list besides includes carrageenin, which is very controversial, ” says Martin. “ Carrageenan is added to some food products as a thickening and emulsifier. Some evidence suggests carrageenin triggers excitement and digestive issues ; however, we have limited research on this. If you have any concerns over this ingredient, most other brands do n’t include it so it ‘s easy to avoid. ”
Per ½ cup serving
: 100 calories, 2 g fat, 1.5 gigabyte sat fatty, 10 magnesium cholesterol, 450 milligram sodium, 4 gigabyte carbs ( 3 gigabyte sugar ), 15 guanine protein
“ even though it ‘s lower in fat and higher in protein compared to exchangeable products, it does contain 450 magnesium of sodium, which is a little higher than I would recommend, ” says Pankonin. “ This brand is besides a lot more expensive than early options. ”