Sargento is a Wisconsin-based company that produces many varieties of cheese, each of which offers different nutritional qualities. In general, cheese is a calorie-dense food that you should enjoy in moderate amounts. However, cheese does have some nutritional benefits, in addition to making a tasty addition to just about any meal or snack.
Shredded
Sargento offers multiple types of shredded cheese, and the nutrition profile will vary depending upon which type you choose. The mild cheddar version provides 110 calories, 9 g of total fat, 5 g of saturated fat, 170 mg of sodium and 20 percent of the daily value of calcium per 1/4-cup serving. The same serving of shredded mozzarella, on the other hand, provides 80 calories, 5 g of total fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat, 180 mg of sodium and 20 percent of the daily value of calcium. Shredded mozzarella is a better choice for heart health because it is lower in saturated fat, which is linked to high cholesterol.
Sliced
Sargento's sliced cheeses also vary considerably in nutrition, because of differences in cheeses as well as differences in serving sizes. Some of the cheeses are sliced thicker than others, which contributes to more calories, fat and other nutrients per serving. For instance, a thin slice of Swiss cheese provides 70 calories and 5 g of fat, while a thick slice provides 110 calories and 8 g of fat. Regardless of the size of slice, Swiss cheese is a good choice for decreasing your sodium intake, which may contribute to high blood pressure if consumed in excess. Sargento's Swiss cheese has only 40 mg of sodium per thin slice and 60 mg per thick slice.
Snacks
Sargento's snack cheeses, such as string cheese, provide a convenient on-the-go snack option. In addition to other types of cheese, string cheese is a good option for boosting calcium intake. Calcium is an important mineral for maintaining proper bone health. Each 1-oz. piece of string cheese provides 20 percent of the daily value of calcium, along with 80 calories, 6 g of total fat, 3.5 g of saturated fat and 210 mg of sodium.
Reduced Fat
Using reduced-fat cheese is a good way to include cheese in your diet while minimizing your calorie, fat and saturated-fat intake. Sargento's reduced-fat cheeses contain 33 percent less fat and 25 percent fewer calories than the regular cheeses. For example, reduced-fat Swiss provides only 60 calories, 4 g of fat and 2 g of saturated fat per slice. Sargento also offers light string cheese, which has 50 percent less fat and 25 percent fewer calories. Each piece provides only 50 calories, 2.5 g of total fat and 1.5 g of saturated fat.
Reduced Sodium
Sargento's reduced-sodium cheeses are good choices for reducing sodium intake, as they provide 25 percent less sodium per serving. Reduced-sodium provolone, for instance, contains 100 mg of sodium per slice and reduced-sodium Colby-Jack provides 90 mg. The regular version of Swiss cheese is actually the best option for reducing sodium intake, as it contains less sodium than each of the reduced sodium cheeses.
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