Salt and Cheese

Hey!

I'm trying to cut down on how much sodium i get each day, because at the moment its around 3500 :S

I'm quite certain that cheese is the main reason for it, as I have the low fat ones, and these ones are particularly high in salt.

Can anyone suggest a type of cheese i can have that is low in sodium?

<3

Less cheese..... Seriously.   1oz maximum per day.   All cheese is high in salt because it's a preserved food.  A low-salt cheese (and I'm sure one exists) would probably not taste like cheese.  Best advice I ever got was to 'use cheese as a flavouring rather than a food', & pick stronger-flavoured cheeses so that a little goes a long way

Thanks gi-jane for the helpful reply.

I usually have:

- Cottage cheese - low fat

- Laughing cow cheese

- Kraft singles processed cheese

Would you suggest that any are better than the others (in terms of saltiness and generally healthier ingredients)?

Perannum - No cheese is really healthy (except possibly cottage cheese), so you must use it in moderation, or like gi-jane said, as a flavoring rather than a food.  I can suggest bleu cheese, aged parmesan, aged provolone, extra-sharp cheddar, gorgonzola, and feta.  Even as little as 1/2 oz will give you awesome flavor, but not very many calories and not that much salt. 

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with any of those cheeses but just have them in smaller amounts and not every single day.    As an idea... have a 'cheese-free week'.  It'll make you think of other things to put on sandwiches or salads or wherever.  And if you do need cheese in or on a dish, try a mature-flavoured farmhouse cheddar or some grated fresh parmesan.  A tablespoon of real cheese packs a much bigger punch than a whole stack of Kraft slices.

There is such a thing as cheese thats low in sodium but yeah they're pretty bad...though I have tasted a few that were kind of ok....its still nto the same

cut down on the cheese though...too much of something is not always so good.

Bummer!

I usually use cheese as a salad dressing or spread on crackers, I don't eat it as a meal on its own.

What's a good substitute of cheese? I find that peanut butter is very high in fat, though it gives a good dose of protein.

I'd like something with protein in it... 

(thnx for replies)

Hummus is quite a nice spread for crackers.... contains lots of protein and is relatively low in fat and calories (27 per tablespoon typically).   There are quite of lot of different varieties around... red pepper, black olive, roast garlic...  Or you could mix canned tuna or egg with a little low-fat mayonnaise and use that as a cracker topping.  Peanut butter is quite a calorie-dense option but if you're happy with a small scrape it's not a bad choice.  Plain yoghurt makes a good basis for a salad dressing and is a good protein source.   Alternatively, use a light vinaigrette dressing and add protein to your salads by adding a hard-boiled egg, some meat/fish or things like chickpeas and kidney beans.    

Lots of options!

I agree with all the above and can tell you, from experience, that too much cheese will do a number on your weight loss.  I ate it every day and even though I kept within my calorie range I lost VERY SLOWLY and had a hideous weight gain before that time of the month.  I cut it back to 2 or 3 times a week and the weight just started to pour off.  Another alternative for salad dressing, if you are concerned with additives and chemicals, is extra virgin olive oil.  It's calorie dense but gives a good flavor and is rich in the good fats.  I usually have a salad at least once a day and use it 3 - 4 times a week.  It's especially good if you add turkey to your salad as the flavor is mild enough to compliment and not over power.  If I add meat then I eat the salad as a meal and can have more calories.

Hi...

Gi-jane - thanks for the great suggestions. Yesterday I went to my local grocers in search of good quality hummus, but i found that most of them have preservatives, food acids and colours added... so ive decided i will make me own hummus today lol. hopefully it'll be just as good as the commercial stuff...

Betsytuck - thanks for the advice. im pretty sure you're right about cheese being heavy. if i eat too much cheese over a few days, ill find a weight gain on the scales mostly because of the extra water in my body that the sodium is holding on to. Not good:S makes me panic. But i like the idea of turkey slices mmm..

Home-made hummus is incredibly easy.... I make Hummus bi Tahini fairly frequently and it's much nicer than the shop-bought stuff.

6oz-8oz cooked chickpeas

a good tablespoon of tahini (sesame seed paste)

1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

juice of half a lemon

salt to taste

ground cumin to taste

water

Place all the ingredients in a small food processor (or use a hand-held/stick blender), start blending and gradually add enough water to make it a creamy, dipping consistency.  Transfer to a bowl and dress with some extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of paprika. 

For me, the only low salt cheese readily available is no salt added 1% cottage cheese (Deans and Lucerne brands).  The flavor is very bland by itself.

Look for this at the deli counter 

Boars Head Lacy Swiss

Yay! I just made my first hummus :D

Thanks for the ideas... it tastes pretty nice, though I'll use less lemon next time...  its a bit tangy for hummus lol.

Great idea:D

I'd also give extra-sharp white cheddar cheese a whirl... delicious, and a little goes a long way.

And outside of hummus, what do you think of salsa, or no-sugar-added fruit preserves? Maybe some peanut butter? (I like to make mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my crackers).

And if your worry is salt, keep an eye on how much salt is in the crackers! It may surprise you.

thanks! ive been trying out some of your suggestions and they've been great!

Today, I melted 1 tablespoon of shredded extra tasty chedder cheese over wholegrain toast and it was delish;) (the quality of natural whole cheese kicks butt over reduced / fat-free cheese!)

Also, Ive been using silken tofu in my stirfrys and i hope to put together a pudding with silken tofu, oatmeal and peanut butter tonight... hmm any better ideas for a pudding with natural ingredients?