Walk into nearly any Italian or American restaurant and you're likely to find mozzarella cheese sticks on the appetizer menu. While this fried snack may taste delicious, it's packed with saturated fat and calories.
Nutrition
A single breaded and fried mozzarella cheese stick dipped in marinara sauce contains 90 calories, half of which come from the 5 g of saturated fat. When you eat one cheese stick, you're consuming 2 g of saturated fat, 5 mg of cholesterol, 290 mg of sodium, 6 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of protein.
Significance
While cheese sticks contain protein and are rich in calcium, they also are high in both sodium and saturated fat. The appetizer contains a high amount of calories by volume compared to other foods and should be consumed in moderation, especially when following a reduced-calorie diet.
Healhty Alternatives
Start your meal with a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad to cut down on the saturated fat calories while adding a serving of vegetables. To further reduce the calorie count of your appetizer, order a salad with balsamic vinegar or a broth-based soup.
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