The new must have: cottage cheese

Mary Wilcox is the founder of Significant Outcomes LLC, an Ohio-based consultancy, providing technical and business expertise spanning both the dairy and food industries. She holds a B.S. in Biological Science, M.S. in Animal Nutrition and MBA in Business. Learn more at https://significantoutcomesllc.com.

Renewed interest and excitement for cottage cheese took over TikTok, Instagram and Facebook last fall. Whether baking it into pancakes, biscuits, or cookies; adding savory ingredients such as hamburger, salsa, garlic, or avocado; mixing in fresh fruits, veggies, oats, seeds, or nuts; or blending it into dips, ice cream or desserts for a creamy afternoon or late night snack, consumers have been trying all sorts of tasty new combinations with this traditional dairy product. The neutral flavor and versatility of cottage cheese in recipes makes it an easy choice for both health conscious consumers and do-it-yourself foodies.

One such Gen Z consumer, Amelia Beard, age 17, of Richwood, Ohio, shared, “I love having it for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. The protein makes it super filling. The mild flavor allows you to put it into just about anything, sweet or savory.”

When asked what motivated her to start using cottage cheese as a component of her snacks and meals, Amelia replied, “I’m looking for ways to get higher levels of good tasting protein into my diet.”

Like many of her friends, Amelia blends cottage cheese into her breakfast smoothie with fruit, honey and granola and uses it as a mix in for an overnight oat pudding to take to school for a quick and nutritious lunch. Single-serve cottage cheese cups are also very popular with her fellow students who put them into the refrigerator in the classroom at her school.

“This cottage cheese renaissance is real,” noted Corey Christofel, brand manager for cultured dairy products at Kemps in St. Paul, Minn. “The cottage cheese category continues to grow 10% week over week with the Gen Z segment being the fastest growing age group, growing at 20% versus last year. Plus, multi-serve and single-serve options are both experiencing growth. Most exciting to see are sustained volumes, which are an indication of repeat purchasers that have the possibility of becoming lifelong consumers experiencing both the taste and nutritional benefits of this dairy product.”

Dairy manufacturers have launched varieties for these new consumers to enjoy. For example, adding fruit on top of cottage cheese has been a common way for boomers to enjoy cottage cheese for years. Now Kemps, Prairie Farms and HP Hood offer single-serve cup sizes with the fruit already included to make snacking even more convenient. Savory options are also available, which include: Kemps’ Bacon Cheddar Cottage Cheese, Prairie Farms’ Garden Veggie Cottage Cheese, and HP Hoods’ Cottage Cheese with Everything Bagel Seasoning or with Chive.

Newer entrants in the category like Munna offer a 5.3-ounce pot-shaped package, which houses the fruit on the bottom to differentiate themselves on store shelves, and Good Culture offers an organic cottage cheese with double the cream and active cultures to create a thicker and creamier experience while providing probiotics that consumers may be looking to add into their diets to help support gut health.

Speaking of nutritional benefits, cottage cheese contains protein. Protein is made up of building blocks, called amino acids. There are 21 amino acids, nine of which your body cannot make on its own, so you must obtain them from the foods you consume.

“Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein, providing between 11 to 14 grams per half cup serving, which can be hard to find in other less nutrient dense foods. It also contains all the essential amino acids your body needs, while being inexpensive and tasty as well,” said Caryn Kusleika, registered dietitian and owner of High Octane Wellness in Omaha, Neb. Caryn recommends cottage cheese for all the triathlon runners that she coaches as a great option for recovery after a long run when combined with another carbohydrate like fruit.

Cottage cheese also contains a good supply of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin B12, which can help support bone health. This package of nutrients is important not only as we grow, but even into our senior years as osteoporosis (loss of bone density) and sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass, strength and function) can occur without adequate nutrient intake and regular resistance exercise. If left untreated, these conditions can result in increases in bone fractures or falls.

Cottage cheese’s soft creamy texture also allows for easy swallowing and consumption, making it ideal for both young and old. So, no matter your age or your taste preferences, now is a great time to bring some cottage cheese home to reside in your refrigerator and explore the all the new possibilities during your next meal. DF