Cottage Cheese: The New Dairy King?
Sep 09, 2019 (Westby, WI)
Protein-packed and rich in calcium, cottage cheese used to be written off as old folks’ food, but new research and nutrition trends are steering the younger set back to this healthful, creamy treat.
Cottage cheese has never been a fad for Westby Creamery. As Wisconsin’s only plant that still produces cottage cheese, the Creamery prides itself on making this silky soft food the old-fashioned way – in small vats.
This type of production and resulting taste has gained international recognition with Westby Creamery cottage cheese earning first place at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest in 2019 and second at the World Championship Cheese Contest in 2018.
Like fashion trends, food fads rise and fall. In the 1950s, for example, low-fat diets became popular as a method to combat heart disease in American males. Later, research indicated this high-carb way of eating contributed to obesity.
In the 1960s Robert Atkins, an American physician, and cardiologist created a nutrition plan based on close control of carbohydrate consumption and emphasis on protein and fat as the primary source of daily calories.
The Atkin’s diet, as it was called, aimed to decrease a person’s weight thereby improving high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. As with most weight-loss nutrition plans, improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels can be achieved, at least temporarily.
The popularity of high fat, high protein diet has had a reemergence over the last two years via the ketogenic diet, or keto diet, which involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts a body into a metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis is when the body doesn’t have enough glucose for energy, so it burns stored fats instead.
If high protein is what you’re looking for, look no further than Westby Creamery’s family of satisfying cottage cheeses, which include both an organic and conventional option. One-half cup serving of Westby Creamery’s 4% cottage cheese contains 11 grams of protein and the added benefit of calcium and potassium.
Cottage cheese is also low in calories and sugar. It has just four grams of sugar per half-cup, while vanilla yogurt has about 23 grams.
These nutritional factors, and the innumerable ways to dress up this mild, fresh dairy food, has increased demand. Globally, packaged cottage cheese is expected to grow at a rate of 9.73% from now until 2022, according to a Research and Market report. And while cottage cheese represents just two percent of all U.S. cheese sales, this renaissance is most welcome by Westby Cooperative Creamery’s farmer-owners, who are suffering the effects of years of poor milk prices, poor weather and trade issues.
These challenges continue to drive small family farms out of business every day in Wisconsin. In fact, an average of two close each day in the state, which makes the increased popularity of cottage cheese not just convenient for Westby Creamery but critical.
In this light, a simple purchase of Westby Creamery cottage cheese will turn over a trifecta of positivity for you and small communities of farmers. Westby Creamery believes that buying cottage cheese feels good, tastes good, and is good.
Purchasing Westby Creamery cottage cheese:
- helps keep small, family farms in business.
- tastes better than mass-produced alternatives due to its small vat style production.
- gives you a great low-calorie source of protein and calcium.
So, whether you scoop it up on your favorite cracker like a dip, sprinkle bacon bits on top for a savory treat or add fresh fruit for a filling breakfast, Westby Creamery cottage cheese is back in style and ready to support your nutrition needs. Visit our Westby Creamery Cheese Store for all your cheese needs!
