Cheese is a very ambiguous item on the South Beach food lists. They don't tell us how to count it, as dairy or as a protein.

So I made a decision for myself about it as its a biggie for me in the calorie dept. I count cheese in my 2 cup daily, dairy total. This means that I eat cheese as a condiment more than a protein source. It should not be eaten as an unlimited protein, low fat or otherwise!!

While we're at it, those of you that are eating low carb cheese cake and low carb cookies, where are you counting those in your daily totals? Be very careful with these itmes!!

This is a very good point Judy about the cheese. I found out the hard way about the sodium in cheese. I'm one of those persons that retains water, and eating cheese bloats me really fast. Sodium is a large part of all processed foods.

I count my cheese in my dairy. It stalls me big time if I overdo it and I know if I planted the seed in my mind that it was part of unlimited protein, I'd freak out and eat a whole block!! Low fat or not, that's a lot of cals! I also really love the Babybel and Laughing Cow light cheeses - SO tasty and VERY VERY VERY few calories!! I buy a huge bag of the babybel cheese rounds at Sam's Club for like $7! A tiny bag is almost $4 at my grocery store! (just a tip)

I agree about watching the cheesecake and cookies. I save it for special occasions and PMS time only ( ), because I know I don't have the will power to not eat the whole batch in two days! Oh, another great tip w/ the cheesecake if you MUST make it - slice it up right away and freeze anything you won't eat that day in individually wrapped packages. That way, you have to thaw it overnight if you want a piece so it has to be part of your planned menu that day and not a spur of the moment food choice. This has worked wonderfully for me in the past (and it tastes the same after you thaw it!) It's also a good idea to make super tiny slivers instead of the normal sized slices. If a recipe says it makes 8 slices, make 12 or 16 out of it!! You're still satisfying yourself with the taste, but not eating as many calories.

I count cheese as a protien...I do this because I don't eat very much of it...and...I'm addicted to NF Lattes. My daily NF Latte uses up most of my dairy and then some...works for me. Also, it was my impression from reading the book that cheese and cheese products were protien. In the good fats good carb guide cheese and milk products are listed separately. Remember that cheese needs to be non fat or low fat. Higher fat cheeses like blue cheese need to be used only occaisionally.

I think if I ate a lot of cheese, I would do as Judy and count it as dairy in order to limit my intake.

Also...like Judy has pointed out...if you want to be successful stay away from LC cookies, cheese cake, bars, and all the other LC items that are substitutes for "real" desserts.

I am using cheese part of my Dairy intake. Which is not very much to begin with.
Cookies I use as my daily Sweets allowence. I know the Almond cookies are going overboard with 110cals each but there is a bunch of fiber and protein in them to make up for it
I also would'nt be eating them everyday, but only everyonce in a while make a batch. I found the recipe in one of the books I got from the library and just had to try it out I did however change it up a bit since it was calling for some NON South Beach allowed foods in it.
SInce starting the Beach I actually find that I am not even craving sweets that much. The sugar free jello or the Ricotta cream is doing an awesome job for me. A big downfall used to be the Low Carb Breyers Ice cream (Butter pecan was my favorite) I used to be eating 1 bowls every night. It got very addicting. Yes it was low in carbs but very high in other bad stuff.
Oh look I am rambling on here Sorry if I got of the subject LOL
So Cheese I count as dairy and Cookies as half sweet treat.

I thought since someone had a question about cheese, this could use a bump.

Good points ladies!

I just found this response about cheese at the South Beach official web site:



I still count it as part of my dairy!! Very limited quantities!!

I would like the receipe for cheese cake
thanks