Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook

Chapter 18: Smart Snacking 273

Making Everything Better with Cheese

Moooove over for cheese, a favorite food for a lot of folks. Creamy or hard,

sharp or mild; a type of cheese exists for even the pickiest of eaters.

Keep in mind that because of its high fat content, cheese is not a low-calorie

food. Cheese is labeled with different levels of fat: regular, reduced fat, and fat

free. Regular cheese is the highest in fat and calories. Reduced fat cheese has

less fat but is not a low-fat food. It’s made with 2 percent milk and has 25 per-

cent less fat than regular cheese. Reduced fat cheese melts and can be used in

cooking. Fat-free cheeses have a rubbery texture and do not melt. They only

work if you eat a slice on a cold sandwich or sprinkle some on a salad.

T Pears and Gorgonzola

The sharpness of Gorgonzola and the sweet crispness of pears make for perfect

snaking when your craving is for something tangy and sweet. Store pears loose in the

refrigerator and ripen them on the counter. Keep them away from strong-smelling foods

because they absorb odors easily.

Stage: Regular foods

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Yield: 1 serving (1 pear)

2 teaspoons Gorgonzola crumbles

1 teaspoon fat-free cream cheese, softened

(^1) ⁄ 8 teaspoon black pepper
1 small pear, peeled, cored, and cut into 6
sections
In a small bowl combine gorgonzola, cream cheese, and pepper and mix well. Serve with
pear slices.
Note: Some pears have a thin skin and may not cause you sticking problems. We peel ours
just to be save. Prevention is the best remedy for food sticking.
Per serving: Calories 110 (From Fat 20); Fat 2g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 100mg; Carbohydrate 24g
(Dietary Fiber 3g); Protein 2g; Sugar 15g.
Place peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract into a small bowl and mix well. Spread
over rice cakes.
Per serving: Calories 180 (From Fat 80); Fat 9g (Saturated 1g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 120mg; Carbohydrate 21g
(Dietary Fiber 2g); Protein 5g; Sugar 4g.