Who doesn’t love the ooey-gooey goodness of a grilled cheese sandwich? We crave the comfort food year-round, but it’s almost mandatory to enjoy one during April’s National Grilled Cheese Month. But you don’t have to throw your healthy eating plan out the window — here’s how to enjoy the scrumptious bread-cheese combo without going overboard.
Bread & Cheese
A typical grilled cheese can tip the scales at 700 calories per serving. When made with hefty amounts of cheese and butter, your sandwich’s saturated fat content skyrockets — not very heart-healthy!
Because the ingredients for this dish are minimal, you want them to be high quality and full of flavor (diet bread and fat-free cheese just won’t do!). Choose a whole-grain bread that has 110 calories or less per slice and match it up with a small amount — only 100 calories worth — of a really flavorful cheese such as Manchego, Swiss or goat cheese. Pre-sliced, low-fat cheeses usually have about 70 to 100 calories per slice — cheddar, Jarlsberg Lite, provolone or pepper jack are all yummy choices and as long as they’re low fat or part skim, you’ll still get the flavor.
Layering in the Flavor
Instead of just relying on cheese to bulk up your sandwich, add flavorful ingredients that are lower on the calorie scale. Spread on your favorite condiments and toss in just about any veggie you can think of or even a fruits such as green apple slices or a tart jam spread. You can also add in some hunger-fighting protein to keep your sandwich satisfying without the fat (though, yes, we know that is veering off from the classic).
- Here are some winning combinations:
- Turkey, Swiss and sundried tomatoes on whole-wheat bread
- Low-fat cheddar, honey mustard and granny smith apple slices on multi-grain bread
- Goat cheese, tomato and baby spinach in a whole-wheat pita
- Part-skim mozzarella, basil and roasted red pepper on whole-wheat bread
- Manchego, arugula and olive tapenade on an English muffin
- Jarlsberg Lite, grilled chicken breast and BBQ sauce on potato bread
- Low-fat cheddar, salsa and spinach on multi-grain bread
Heating It Up
When it comes to grilling your sandwich, pass on the butter or oily griddle. Use a nonstick pan or panini press along with some nonstick cooking spray. The cheese will be melty and the bread toasty without adding in additional calories and fat from gobs of butter.
- Recipes to Try:
- Grilled Blue Cheese and Fruit
- Easy, Spicy, Veggie Grilled Cheese (shown above)
- Light Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Herbed Goat Cheese Sandwiches
- Pressed Cheese Sandwiches
[Photo by Annacia / Recipezaar]
TELL US: How do you make grilled cheese?
Sounds delicious ~healthy and flavoful. My kind of sandwich!
Most mornings for breakfast we have one slice of bread, what ever we are eating at the moment, with reduced fat white American done in the toaster oven – open faced. I prefer several thin slices to one thick on
May
Very similar to what I do for most breakfasts. I lightly toast an english muffin, top each side with sharp chedar, pop it into the toaster oven 'til the cheese bubbles…. it is deliciousm healthy, filling, and reasonably low fat, carb., and calorie! Sometimes I top the muffin with a thin slice of tomato and a few leafs of baby spinach then top with the cheese. I stopped using American cheese some time ago as it is mostly oil but I love the mild flavor. I developed a taste for sharp chedar but began that transition with mild chedar. Try it!
I make an open face sandwich. Toast wholesome bread in the toaster, spread with light mayo, put any type of sliced cheese on top, very thinly sliced tomatoes, top with a sprinkle of chili powder. Put under broiler until cheese is melted. Yum! Great with tomato soup on a cold day.
Along with the cheddar cheese, I had two slices of Canadian Bacon to my grilled cheese! It packs on tons of protein and helps me to stay full longer!
A great breakfast or afternoon snack. I make an open faced sandwich. Toast your favorite healthy bread in the toaster and top with a couple of tablespoons of cottage cheese. Add a layer of thinly sliced apples, sprinkle with cinnamon and pop in the broiler til bubbly and hot.
The lowfat cheddar,salsa,spinach combo is yummy!
Vegan friendly version: http://www.fourgreensteps.com/community/recipes/s…
I tried this link & got an error msg. can u please re-check & re-submit. Thanks!
Laughing Cow cheese is great on grilled cheese!!!
I use my George Forman grill–no need to buy a panini press to eliminate the butter when making grilled cheese. I have even added very thin slices of plain tofu to bulk up the sandwich and add protein without adding a different flavor–this works well with a very flavorful cheese and veggies.
We use our Forman grill too to make the most wonderful panini sandwiches- all kinds! The toaster oven works well too!
There is a grilled cheese that is healthy an will make your body happy…… try advacado with tomatoes and baby swiss… low in calories. For best flavor dill rye bread no butter but grapeseed oil. Let me know what you think.