Cottage cheese is having a moment, and rightfully so! It’s a versatile, protein packed food that blends well and has a mild flavor making it easy to incorporate into everyday meals to boost the nutritional content without changing the flavor. It’s also cost effective and easy to access, making it the ideal way to add protein to your everyday meals.
Here are five ways to include cottage cheese in your daily diet from a Registered Dietitian.
- Protein Pack your Smoothie
Add a ½ cup of cottage cheese to your smoothie and you will have added 12 grams of protein, without changing the flavor! You’re also getting a boost of calcium without any added sugar- its a win, win! One of my favorite recipes is my Strawberry Banana Creme Smoothie.
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen cauliflower
1 cup frozen strawberries
½ frozen banana
½ cup cottage cheese
1 scoop Clean Simple Eats Strawberry Shortcake Protein Powder
12 oz of water (or more to blend)
Directions:
Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!
- Level Up your Pasta Sauce
I bet you hadn’t thought of adding cottage cheese to your pasta sauce, have you? Cottage cheese happens to be a great substitute for heavy cream- bringing the creamy texture and rich flavor without the excess calories and fat. You can even add cottage cheese to the boxed mac and cheese powder to level up the nutrition even on your busiest of days!
- Dial Up your Dessert
My newest dessert obsession is my Ninja Creami- homemade protein ice cream has become a staple! My go to recipe includes 1 scoop of my favorite protein powder, 1.5 cups of fairlife milk, 1 tbsp sugar free jello pudding mix, and ½ cup of cottage cheese. I blend all of this up, and then freeze the mixture overnight before processing it in the Creami to make the most delicious low fat, high protein ice cream treat!
- Elevate your Eggs
Cottage cheese and scrambled eggs might sound weird, but give it a try and you’ll understand the hype! It’s easy to prepare- just mix your eggs with ½ cup of cottage cheese and your favorite spices (everything but the bagel seasoning is my jam), pour into a pan and cook like you would normally cook your eggs. They’re fluffy, creamy and protein packed!
- Pump Up Your Pancakes
As a mom of 3, I have always struggled to get my little ones to eat protein. Over the years, I have had to get creative on how to incorporate it into foods they love to eat, and Protein Pancakes are one of their favorites.
Ingredients:
1 cup oats
1 cup cottage cheese
1 banana
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup blueberries
Cinnamon if desired
Directions: Place all ingredients except blueberries in the blender and blend until a smooth batter is formed. Gently fold in the blueberries. Scoop batter onto a greased pan and cook until browned on each side and cooked through- about 4 mins/side.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, grab a carton of cottage cheese and get ready to dive into some deliciousness with these recipes! Protein is a powerhouse for your body, but sometimes hitting those protein goals can feel like a challenge. These tips will help you pump up your protein intake and keep you energized all day long!
Previous Post