Your Mantra: "Everything Is Better With Cheese"

Smart, satisfying snacks to feed your cravings

Cheese is one of the cravings that we convince ourselves is healthy (calcium, right?) and chow on until dinner becomes a distant memory. Sadly, cheese is loaded with saturated fat (70 percent for Cheddar, even more for Brie). Ironically, the key to controlling your intake may be switching to a more flavorful variety (think a small bite of Parmesan versus a massive slice of Swiss). “And if you can keep your cheese portion to one ounce—about the size of your index finger—you’re eating healthily by keeping those fat calories down,” says Elisa Zied, R.D., a New York City-based nutritionist. This low-fat homemade cheese dip will feed your cheese addiction and lower your calorie count. Squash adds a dose of vitamin A, fiber, and antioxidants.

Easy Cheesy Homemade Fix:  Cheddar Squash Dip
Serves 4

1 small butternut squash (about 1 pound or 2 cups mashed)
1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 c non-fat, low sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
Whole grain crackers for dipping

1.    Cut squash into quarters.  Steam until tender 8 – 10 minutes and remove the seeds and skin. 
2.    Mash in a medium saucepan with the cheese, chicken broth, and salt.
3.    Warm gently over low heat until the cheese melts and enjoy with crackers or tortillas.

Store-Bought Solution: Jettison the triple cream Camembert and try one of your store’s three skinniest cheeses:

Low-fat cheddar (50 calories, 2g fat per ounce)
Feta (75 calories, 6g fat per ounce)
Part-skim mozzarella (81 calories, 5g fat per ounce)

---