The cheese aisle at your grocery store offers a wealth of creamy, tasty goodness. Flavors from around the globe come together, with Dutch Gouda, French Brie and Spanish Manchego sharing space with Vermont cheddar and American singles. When you want a little zing with your cheese, reach for Pepper Jack, which blends the mellow taste of Monterey Jack with the bite of jalapeno peppers. This cheese can help spice up an ordinary salad or sandwich.
Calories
One ounce of Pepper Jack cheese has about 100 calories in it, but this figure can vary slightly depending on the brand. Check your label for the exact figure. If you don't have a scale handy to weigh your cheese, take a tip from the "CommonHealth" program run by Virginia's Department of Human Resource Management: one ounce of cheese is about the size of four dice.
Fat
Cheese is fairly high in fat, and Pepper Jack is no exception. One ounce of cheese has 8 grams of fat -- a full 12 percent of your daily value. Five of those grams are saturated fat, which is a quarter of your daily limit. The American Heart Association warns that eating a lot of saturated fat can raise your cholesterol, which may increase your chances of having a heart attack or a stroke. An ounce of Pepper Jack cheese has 30 mg of cholesterol, which is 10 percent of your daily allotment.
Nutrients
Pepper Jack is a good source of protein, with 1 ounce providing 7 grams, or about 14 percent of your daily value. Protein makes sure your body can repair and build the cells that make up your skin, muscles and glands. The same serving of cheese also accounts for about 20 percent of your daily intake of calcium, which you need to keep your bones strong, as well as 6 percent of your needed vitamin A. Vitamin A helps your cells grow and develop. It also keeps your eyes and skin healthy and boosts your immune system.
Considerations
Because of the relatively high calorie and fat count of Pepper Jack cheese, it shouldn't make up a large portion of a healthy diet. People watching their weight or cholesterol should use it sparingly. Many brands make low-fat versions of Pepper Jack cheese, such as Cabot, Sargento and Weight Watchers. This can cut the fat count down by half, which is good, but it's still not a license to chow down on a whole block of Pepper Jack for dinner.
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