cottage cheese

In order to lose weight, eating low-calorie protein is a must. Protein offers sustained energy, satiates your hunger, and curbs sugar cravings. Choosing low-calorie, low-fat protein sources is a must and while Greek yogurt has gained a lot of recognition, don't leave out the unsung hero of the protein world — cottage cheese. Here are some ways this simple food can help you drop pounds.

Breakfast: High-Protein Addition
You know how after you eat a bagel for breakfast it's tough to shake that sluggish feeling all morning? Protein has the opposite effect. It offers you energy for hours, so you feel bright-eyed and ready to tackle the day. Eggs and yogurt are popular choices, but for something a little different, whip up a smoothie and you guessed it — add cottage cheese to the blender. For 81 calories, four ounces will add a whopping 14 grams of protein to your glass. The blender will puree the cottage cheese into a smooth consistency, so your taste buds won't even know it's in there. Not into smoothies? Enjoy a bowl of cottage cheese topped with fruit for fiber and sweetness, and nuts for even more added protein.

Keep reading to find out two more ways cottage cheese can help with weight loss.

When it comes to healthy eating, what's old is new again. Case in point: cottage cheese, which is making something of a comeback these days. It's time, however, to nix that canned pineapple and update your curds with a few new stir-in combinations. Here are a few of our current savory favorites.

1. Olive oil, salt, and pepper: Give cottage cheese the Cal-Med treatment with a drizzle of peppery Tuscan olive oil, flaky sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. In Summer, during peak tomato season, insert fresh heirloom slices.
2. "Everything bagel" spices: Friendship Dairies recommends mixing cottage cheese with bagel spices like dried onion, garlic flakes, sesame seeds, caraway seeds, poppy seeds, and sea salt. Use the seasoned cheese to flavor a toasted plain bagel or bagel chip.

For two more, keep reading.

Some people have a serious hankering for cottage cheese. I like the white stuff alright, but it's the fixins that really make me crave the lowfat snack. Apples and oats are always a delicious addition, and avocado cups make me happy, but the easiest and perhaps tastiest treat I've found so far comes in the form of a cinnamon stick.

When your sweet tooth attacks, satiate it with a few sprinkles of cinnamon on a small bowl of lowfat or nonfat cottage cheese. The combination of the natural spice and cottage cheese will add just the right amount of kick to your taste buds while providing the benefits of calcium, vitamin D, and keeping your blood sugar levels in check. You'll be surprised you're not lapping up dessert!

Flickr user S. Diddy