Good evening everyone.

Does anybody have a good brand recommendation for string cheese?

I found one (Target brand) that is pretty good for a snack - each string contains 8 grams P but 2.5 grams F. The P is very slightly over what I want for my snack, but the F concerns me.

Actually, 2.5 grams F was the absolute lowest that I could find out of 3 large super-grocery stores.

I have been having 1/2 an apple for 1 block of C along with the cheese, but have not been adding any extra F, because I am suspecting that the cheese has sufficient F (maybe too much).

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!!

Actually, that is pretty good for string cheese! I don't think that I have seen anything less than 4 g fat per stick, myself (with the exception of lowfat cheese, which tastes like rubber, IMO).

A full zone block of fat is really 3 grams of fat, so you are definitely NOT overdoing the fat. You may be a tad short, in fact. Of course, the fat is an animal fat, which doesn't make it the most healthy of fats.

I think the 1/2 apple with the string cheese is fine for a balanced 1 block snack, and no need to supplement any additional fat, unless you want to get that additional 1/2 gram that you are missing.

Fantastic, thank you!

Hi Glenn!

A one block snack should contain at least 3 grams of fat (usually about 1.5 g fat occurring in the low fat P block and another 1.5 in the added fat block). You could eat a one or two nuts along with that cheese and 1/2 apple, if you'd like to be precise.

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Sue on 01/04/2009 8:44 PM

Hi Glenn!

A three block snack should contain at least 3 grams of fat (usually abotu 1.5 g fat occurring in the low fat P block and another 1.5 in the added fat block). You could eat a one or two nuts along with that cheese and 1/2 apple, if you'd like to be even more precise.</div>

I think Sue means "a ONE block snack", not "a THREE block snack"

Thanks Sue! I was actually just thinking that myself. I'll add one almond to the snack for sanity's sake.

Glenn,

Just one quick question for you--when you ate the apple and the stick of string cheese (without adding an extra almond), did this snack satisfy you?

Here is my point. Sure, it may be lacking a 1/2 gram of fat, but in the Zone, it is all about "ranges". It isn't an exact number. So, it really doesn't make sense to worry about a missing 1/2 gram of fat. Sure, you can eat an extra almond, but if the snack kept you in the zone without the extra almond, then do you really need it?

If it makes you feel better to eat that almond, that is fine, I have no problem with it. I just want to you rid yourself of the obsession of counting every little 1/2 gram. You can be effective in the Zone without counting anything. Just use your senses--your eyes can tell you about portion sizes, and your sense of satiety will tell you if the meal or snack was hormonally correct. Now, that extra almond may be important, if the snack was not satisfying until you ate the almond. But, if the snack was already satisfying, then did you really need to worry about scavenging one extra almond?

Sorry, I didn't really want to make such an issue of it, but in my earlier zoning days, I drove myself crazy counting things as meticulously as you are doing. It really doesn't matter. What matters more is how you feel after eating that snack.

You're welcome Glenn!

OK, that's good advice. Thanks CC.

Your welcome, Glenn!

Would this actually be considered zone favorable?

Yes, Rah, it is. If you go under Quick Start Guide on the right and then to the snacks tab, you will see string cheese as a suggested protein snack.

Happy Zoning!
Karen

Some more info for Rah about string cheese. While it's accpptable, it is not among the better Zone protein choices. It's not included among what Barry Sears considers the to be the top choices for Zone foods (refer to his book TOP 100 ZONE FOODS).

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Cranberrycat on 01/04/2009 8:46 PM



I think Sue means "a ONE block snack", not "a THREE block snack"

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Hi Cran!

Thanks for pointing out my typo! Yes, I meant to type the word one. I've corrected it.

Sue, when you say acceptable does that mean favorable or just fair?

Hi Rah,

The more solid cheeses (meaning cheddar, string cheese and similar as opposed to cottage cheese) are considered fair Zone protein choices. I understand that's because of the amounts of fat (incl. saturated fat) they contain.

"Fair" protein choices are still good choices, though. Sometimes if I have string cheese, then I just won't have any additional fat. And string cheese is such an easy portable snack. Most of my other protein choices are better, and so I would not beat myself up over a stick of string cheese.

It's not about being a perfectionist or beating myself up. I had that phase years ago but mellowed out pretty nicely. It's just that with the zone i tend to get in habits where i'll eat the same type of meal or snack for weeks at a time. Like literally i'll keep doing the same meal over and over again for weeks if not months until i get tired of it then switch to something different. So since my personality is based on habit i try to stay favorable. Just makes it easier that way for me personally.

I could easily see myself using only string cheese as protien til summertime, probably not a good idea :p

You're right Rah, not a good idea. Protein powder (pp) and egg whites are excellent protein sources for the Zone and both are fine to eat on a daily basis. Also,both are fat free (check your specific pp to be sure your's is), so remember to add suffficient fat when you eat them.

Rah,

String cheese is also a good source of calcium and phosphorus.

I guess I would consider the number of times that you would be eating string cheese. If it is the protein of choice for all meals every day, then that would be too much saturated fat. But, for a snack once per day, I highly doubt that the saturated fat would have that much impact.

You could also consider those Babybel rounds. If you are concerned about getting too much fat in your cheese, the Babybel light cheese is lower in fat, but still very tasty.

But, I know what you mean, I tend to get "stuck" on the same meals, too. I eat the same breakfast every day, and I may eat the same lunch every day, and generally the same snacks every day. Dinner will vary, though, because my family would definitely not like it if I served the same thing every night!