Cheese is OK to snack on, especially if you eat the lower fat cheeses and lower sodium cheeses and even add vegetables and fruits with the cheeses.
The healthiest cheese to snack on is cottage cheese, feta, mozzarella, ricotta and Swiss cheese as these cheeses are lower in fat and lower in sodium and higher in protein than other cheeses.
These cheeses are also rich in protein and calcium and aid in satiety and they pair well with vegetables and fruits, which also improves their nutritional value.
String cheese is also a good portion controlled snack cheese that is low in fat and high in protein.
Goat cheese is also a healthy cheese to snack on and is high in protein and iron and is often also easier to digest than cow milk based cheeses.
Swiss cheese is naturally lower in sodium than other cheeses.
And even Ricotta cheese is a soft cheese that is high in calcium and protein and Feta cheese is low in calories and fat and flavorful, which makes it perfect for smaller portions.
Mozzarella cheese is lower in sodium and fat when compared to other cheeses and fresh mozzarella cheese is a great snack option for cheese.
Cottage cheese is a great cheese for weight management and it's also high in protein and low in calories.
To eat cheese as a snack you can eat the cheese by itself, add some hot sauce to the cheese, bbq sauce to the cheese or eat the cheese with some crackers, fruits, vegetables or anything else you would enjoy eating the cheeses with.
I like to eat bite sized chunks of Brie cheese covered in some Frank's Red Hot Sauce, which is delicious and it also works well with other cheeses as well.
Other good snacks to have with cheese are Triscuit crackers or water crackers and even fresh fruits like pears, sliced apples, grapes, dried fruits like figs and apricots and even nuts like walnuts and almonds.
Even crusty bread, olives, pickles and cured meats like salami and prosciutto are great with cheeses like soft brie cheese and sharp cheddar cheese.
Even just eating some cheese by itself is also great.
Or you can eat sliced cucumbers with Swiss cheese, radishes with some Havarti cheese or other cheeses and tomatoes.
Soft and creamy cheeses like Brie and Camembert cheeses pair with crusty bread, fruit or mild crackers.
Hard and aged cheeses like Gouda or Parmesan cheeses pair with seeded crackers, nuts or sweet jams and sharp cheeses like cheddar cheeses pair with apples, pears or even buttery crackers like Ritz crackers and blue and tangy cheeses go well with dried fruit, neutral crackers or honeycomb.
The cheeses that go with everything are Cheddar cheese, Gouda Cheese and Cream Cheese.
These cheeses are very popular for their ability to melt well and enhance recipes and also can act as a standalone snack, which also complements breads, crackers and even wine.
Cheddar cheese is the most versatile cheese, with mild to sharp varieties that are also suitable for melting on burgers and even pairing well with fruits, including apples or snacking with crackers and melting on nachos, chips, Macaroni and cheese etc.
Gouda cheese is a very flexible cheese that has a creamy texture that also pairs very well with everything from crackers to fruits.
Cream Cheese is great for both sweet treats and savory dishes, and it's often used in baking, use as a spread on bread or even served with vegetables and fruits.
Another great cheese that goes with everything is Monterey Jack and Gruyere cheese which are known for their excellent melting capabilities in various diverse cuisines.
These cheeses have a balance of creaminess, sharpness and saltiness that complements instead of overpowering the flavors.
And these cheeses work well in both cold foods like salads or sandwiches and hot foods like grilled cheese, pizza, pasta etc and they are often crowd pleasing as well.
Parmesan cheese also pairs well with olives and charcuterie.