Cottage Cheese Is Back and Everywhere on TikTok. Two Dietitians Explain Why Social Media Is So Fascinated

You may remember cottage cheese from your childhood. Back then, it was considered a “diet food.” You could eat it straight from the container, with celery, or spread it on crackers as a low-calorie snack. Then cottage cheese went out of fashion.

But cottage cheese is experiencing a renaissance. In recent months, Google has been searching for “cottage cheese” They rose to its highest level since 2004.

Social media influencers are promoting its benefits on TikTok and Instagram with hashtags like #cottagecheese, #cottagecheeseforlife and #cottagecheeserecipe. Cottage cheese sales have soared worldwide shot up.

Let’s see why cottage cheese is having such a moment.

What is cottage cheese?

Cottage cheese is a fresh dairy cheese with a soft flavor and a slightly sour taste. It is made by curdling cow’s milk and then draining the whey, leaving the curds. This curd is usually petite and lumpy, and its consistency can vary from creamy to arid, depending on the amount of whey left in the cheese.

The term “cottage cheese” is said to have initiated because this cheese was usually produced in rural homes from milk residues left after butter production.

Cottage cheese is affordable, it costs about 12 Australian dollars per kilogram in the supermarket, just like ricotta cheese.

It can also be surprisingly basic to make at home using commonly available ingredients. recipes. All you need is milk, salt and a little vinegar.

We exploit cottage cheese in novel ways

It’s difficult to say what started the latest cottage cheese trend. However, the creativity of social media has people sharing alternative ways to exploit cottage cheese, changing people’s views from boring and tasteless to this being versatile and healthy.

People spread cottage cheese on toast and exploit it to prepare foods such as porridge, sauces, salads, bread and flatbreads. They exploit it in cakes and buns, as well as in desserts such as mousses and ice cream.

Is cottage cheese robust?

Compared to other cheeses, cottage cheese is low in fat and therefore energy (kilojoules or kJ). This makes it a wise choice for people who want to limit their daily energy intake.

For example, 100 grams of cottage cheese contains about 556kJ. Same amount Cheddar contains 1254 kJ and Parmesan 1.565kJ.

Many cheeses are high in protein, but often contain higher kilojoules due to their fat content. But cottage cheese has a significant amount of protein for fewer kilojoules.

This makes cottage cheese an ideal alternative for people who want to maximize their protein intake without having to consume huge amounts of kilojoules.

About 100 g of cottage cheese provides 17g protein. This is more or less the same as what was found in three eggs60g chicken breast or 320 milliliters (about 300 g) full fat yogurt.

Cottage cheese also contains a huge amount of vitamin B12 (crucial for healthy brain function), riboflavin (supports healthy skin and eyes), phosphorus (helps build strong bones and teeth) and folic acid (necessary for cell growth).

However, cottage cheese contains less calcium compared to other cheeses. It contains only 89 milligrams per 100g. It can be compared to parmesan (948 mg), halloumi (620mg) and ricotta (170mg).

You’ve convinced me. How can I exploit cottage cheese?

In addition to its excellent nutritional profile, the resurgence of cottage cheese allows people to experiment in the kitchen. Its neutral flavor and a variety of textures—from velvety to chunky—make it suitable for a variety of dishes, from sweet to savory.

TikTok and Instagram have some great recipes. You can start with an senior, tried-and-true recipe celery and cottage cheeseand work on novel options like cottage cheese ice-cream.

The healthiest recipes are those that combine cottage cheese with whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as lean sources of protein.

For example, you can make cottage cheese wrap up Then add vegetables and a lean protein source (like chicken or fish).

Other combinations include cottage cheese salad dressings, vegetable dips AND Egg salads.

The rise in popularity of cottage cheese is well-deserved. Adding more cottage cheese to your diet is a astute choice to get a large dose of protein without adding processed ingredients or too much energy. Follow the trend and get innovative in the kitchen.