Ah, fried food. Whether you’re ordering it at a drive-thru, throwing some frozen snacks into the oven, or even indulging in your favorite state fair treat, it’s certainly hard to resist the pull of fried, crispy, salty—and often cheesy—goodness. However, it’s also no secret that fried foods can take a serious toll on your health. In fact, there’s one fried side in particular that experts recommend steering clear of, especially if you want to avoid weight gain: cheese curds.
But why exactly are cheese curds so bad for you, and what are the specific health risks at hand? To answer those questions, we spoke to experts Lisa Richards, a registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, and Katie Tomaschko Tout, a registered dietitian. Read on for all of their expert insight.
Fried cheese curds and weight gain
If you love cheese, chances are you love it fried, too. What's more of a cheese lover's dream than ooey gooey fried curds? Unfortunately, while this popular side dish may be delicious, it's not recommended to eat it regularly if you're trying to slim down.
"This fried cheese side item is [calorie-dense] and high in fat and carbohydrates. If consumed on a regular basis they are likely to lead to weight gain and inflammation," Richards tells us. In fact, she points out that one large serving from Dairy Queen can pack in a whopping 1,000 calories and 67 grams of fat. Yikes! That's over half the recommended calorie intake for one day. "Even if you were to order a small in place of a large it is still at least a quarter of your daily calorie needs," she warns. "When combined with a [calorie-dense] hamburger and soft drink you are looking at nearly 2,000 calories in just one meal."
Those portion sizes will really get you. "Fast food portion sizes can make weight loss very difficult," Tomaschko agrees.
But the amount of food and calories you consume isn't the only issue with this fried snack. Cheese curds and other fast food dishes typically contain harmful ingredients. "Ingredients that are commonly used in fast food are calorically dense, like oils, mayo, aioli, cheese, etc., and do not have to be presented to you in large portions to make them a potential hindrance to weight loss," Tomaschko adds. The high amount of sodium in foods like cheese curds is another major culprit of health issues, including weight gain, clogged arteries, and even heart disease.
There's the issue of all the gluten, dairy, and harmful oils in cheese curds, as well, all of which could play a role in inflammation, bloating, and weight gain.
All in all, it's best to limit your intake of this food—and all fried foods, in fact—to keep your health in check. Tomaschko recommends choosing "lighter options" and whole, unprocessed foods whenever possible. Luckily, there are many healthy snacks to choose from. If you're craving a fried snack, you could cook up something healthier in an air fryer.
Of course, it's also important to remember that the real key to weight loss is moderation. If you have a real hankering for cheese curds, indulging in some fried cheese every now and then won't kill you. As Tomaschko concludes, "Moderation, not deprivation, is key."
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