Before I dive into cottage cheese, I want to give you a little background on why I chose cottage cheese for the letter ‘C’ above the plethora of other yummy ‘C’ foods. Growing up I would be classified as your typical “picky eater”. I survived on peanut butter sandwiches, chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, corn and green beans. That was pretty much the extent of my culinary palette. While my palette grew some as I reached adulthood, it really exploded when I began studying nutrition and dietetics.
I do not want to give the impression that this was simple. I didn’t wake up one morning and decide I liked spinach. I first tried a spinach artichoke dip at a local restaurant. Then, I tried some fresh spinach on my sub during my lunch break. Now, I enjoy spinach in quiches, casseroles and soups. However, I do NOT enjoy cooked spinach alone as a side, but that is fine. I experimented with a variety of ways to prepare spinach and discovered some yummy dishes to add to my dietary experiences. If I had started and stopped at the steamed spinach side, I would be missing out on my daughter’s favorite holiday appetizer – Spinach Balls. I know it does start with the letter ‘C’, but I couldn’t resist sharing as the holidays are upon us.
The point is to try new foods in a variety of ways before excluding it entirely. Hence, the choice of cottage cheese for this week’s post. Cottage cheese is a great source of protein and calcium with a nice splash of potassium. I know when it comes to cottage cheese most people love it or hate it, right? Well, I challenge you to be your own anthropologist and experiment with some different ways to enjoy cottage cheese. Here are a few ideas:
- Spread it on toast and top with sliced tomatoes and fresh cracked pepper
- Make cottage cheese patties (google for different recipe variations)
- If you like it sweet, pair it with fruit like pineapple
Or you can try my favorite way to enjoy cottage cheese. I use it to make a super simple and tasty ranch dip.
Cottage Cheese Dip
What you will need:
-
1 – 1 ½ cups of cottage cheese (I usually use small curd)
-
½ packet of Hidden Valley Ranch powder dressing mix
Instructions:
Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Serve with your favorite veggies, crackers and/or pita chips for dipping.
The moral of this story is: You CAN teach an old taste bud new tricks!
Hope you found this post helpful in your own journey to expand your culinary palette. Please share your experience with new foods with us – the successes and the challenges.
ducing a new series here on the Nutrition Anthropology blog – Food Fun from A to Z! After all, food is meant to be enjoyed and we want to show you fun ways to enjoy foods throughout the alphabet (Spoiler Alert: the letter X is going to be eXtra fun). We are sure you remember your 
With that in mind, let’s talk about what I mean by Nutrition Anthropology and why it is the title of this blog and the future podcast. Registered dietitians are often touted as the food experts. I would argue that this may be true. Goodness knows we have dedicated a large portion of our lives to studying all things food. However, I believe you are the expert of YOU. I may know the chemical makeup of broccoli and how a digestive system breaks it down into its various nutrients. What I don’t know is how your body reacts to broccoli or how you perceive its taste/texture or how you feel after eating broccoli. I am always telling my clients to “be your own anthropologist”. Experiment with different foods. Notice how they taste and smell. Observe without judgment how particular foods make you feel. Just like anthropology in general, I encourage my clients to go beyond the food. Let’s explore your environment, your culture and your social relationships. How do those things impact your nutrition? With curiosity comes knowledge and with knowledge comes achievement. If you want to reach your wellness goals, start by being curious.