Are nonfat dairy products and cheeses available?

If you are thinking about weight loss and preventing a myriad of health problems, substituting nonfat for regular cheese is the commonsense choice. These cheeses melt, and some are quite flavorful. There are several brand names available, as are the familiar varieties such as Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Swiss, and American. Generally, 1 ounce of nonfat cheese has approximately the same amount of fat, cholesterol, and protein as a cup of nonfat or skim milk. The nondairy soy cheeses have too much fat to be considered nonfat and have more calories than nonfat cheeses.

The cheese made from draining yogurt is thick, creamy, and can be whipped quickly into rich desserts as well as used as a substitute for high-fat, high-cholesterol cheese fillings in savory dishes. (Nonfat yogurts containing gelatin will give you a less creamy, unsatisfying result.) Undrained regular nonfat yogurt can be substituted for oil when making salad dressings. Recent additions to the dairy shelves also include nonfat versions of cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream.

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