FUELED Wellness + Nutrition | Cottage-Cheese Comeback: Three clean-label picks that live up to the hype

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Social feeds are still obsessed with cottage cheese – cottage cheese ice cream, protein dips – even cottage-cheese ‘chips.’ Molly Kimball and Carrigan Chauvin are here for it: this old-school dairy is truly a nutrition powerhouse. We’re breaking down why it deserves the buzz, and which brands deliver the cleanest ingredients and best taste in the dairy case.

Why we love cottage cheese

• Protein power: 13-14 grams protein per half cup; 1 cup is protein equivalent to ~4 oz lean meat
• Slow-release casein: a type of protein that digests slowly, fueling muscles and curbing hunger.
• Electrolytes: potassium and sodium; 3× the electrolytes of many sports drinks.
• Also calcium: 300+ mg in a half-cup serving
• Low lactose: less than ~3 g per ½ cup; many with lactose-intolerance tolerate it just fine.
• Versatility: options are limitless: smoothies, sub for sour cream or mayo, or whip into high-protein dips, ice cream, low-carb eggplant lasagna, even popsicles!

Molly’s Clean-Label Short List

• Short, streamlined ingredient lists – only the essentials (milk, cream, salt, cultures)
• No starches, gums, thickeners or stabilizers – not necessary; also impact flavor and texture

Daisy 4% Cottage Cheese

• Ingredients: Cultured skim milk, cream, salt
• Per ½-cup: 110 calories; 5 grams carbs (4 sugar); 13 grams protein
• Electrolytes: 370 mg sodium; 100 mg calcium; 130 mg potassium
• Creamy taste, just three ingredients—no gums, thickeners or stabilizers

Good Culture Organic Whole-Milk Cottage Cheese

• Ingredients: Organic skim milk, organic whole milk, organic cream, sea salt, live cultures
• Per ½-cup: 110 calories; 3 grams carbs (3 sugar); 14 g protein
• Electrolytes: 340 mg sodium; 80 mg calcium; 90 mg potassium
• Pasture-raised milk + probiotic cultures for gut support; zero additives

Nancy’s Organic Cultured Cottage Cheese

• Ingredients: Organic milk, organic cream, salt, live probiotic cultures (L. acidophilus, B. lactis)
• Per ½-cup: 80 calories; 4 grams carbs (4 sugar); 14 g protein
• Electrolytes: 300 mg sodium; 160 mg calcium; 189 mg potassium
• Billions of live probiotics with one of the simplest labels in the case

Having trouble finding cottage cheese? High demand has caused intermittent shortages— Last week, we showed you how to whip up a batch at home in under an hour!

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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian and nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of the Eat Fit nonprofit restaurant initiative. Tune in to her podcast, FUELED | Wellness + Nutrition, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Molly’s articles and TV segments at mollykimball.com, and download the Eat Fit mobile app to stay in the know about Eat Fit partners, new dishes, festivals, and more. To schedule a nutrition consult with Molly’s Lifestyle Nutrition team, email nutrition@ochsner.org.

The views, opinions, and recommendations expressed by Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, are her own, provided for general educational purposes and not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

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