For those who aren’t lactose intolerant, cheese is a great food to eat everyday. Not only is it incredibly tasty, but it’s also a well-balanced source of calcium, fat and protein, and nutrient-packed with vitamin A, B-12, zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin. And for the grass-fed varietals, it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K-2. Whoever knew that your favorite food was *that* good for you?! But health experts warn that there is one cheese varietal you should avoid at all costs.
Pre-Shredded Cheese
The cheese that you should *never* buy from the grocery store are the bags and jars of pre-shredded or pre-grated cheese, certified nutritionist and personal trainer Emma Caird tells us.
Items like Mexican 4-Cheese Blends or grated Kraft Parmesan cheese (the green can) should be avoided because of the non-cheese fillers that go into them, she warns.
“These prepackaged cheese selections have additives and non-cheese fillers such as wood pulp, cellulose and starch to prevent clumping,” she warns. Yikes!
Pre-shredded cheeses have a slew of other ingredients and preservatives not found in fresh cheese which decreases the nutritional value AND taste of the cheese.
So, what should you do instead? “Grate your own cheese for your next chicken parm or taco tuesday party,” Emma suggests. It will taste much more fresh and be more economical, too.
