I love cheese.  I really do.  But I also love keeping my body in shape.  And if you have ever counted calories or tried to lose weight, you know the two do not go hand in hand.  And there’s always that dilemma, hmmm, I guess I could have the low-fat cheese right?  But the trouble is that choosing fat free or very lowfat usually limits your choices to mass-produced, vacuum-sealed cheeses that have had much of their flavor removed along with the fat, not so appetizing a proposition. And the truth is while you think you may be getting fewer calories and a lower risk ofheart disease, the combination of protein and fat in regular, full-fat cheese is very satiating and as a result, eating full-fat cheese holds your appetite at bay for hours, cutting back on food intake at subsequent meals.

So what’s a guy to do?  Eat snacks of full-fat cheese, especially if you're on a diet but not without portion control.  If you're concerned about high cholesterol, know that Danish scientists found that when men ate 10 daily 1-ounce servings of full-fat cheese for 3 weeks, their LDL (bad) cholesterol didn't budge, so have no fear. Full-fat cheese can be a healthy snack and a great way to make a bland meal taste better. There are thousands of different aromas, textures, and flavor profiles.

Here are some great suggestions:  instead of using cheese as a main ingredient, use it to accent dishes–aged cheese is good for this becauses its often more flavorful so you actually don't need to use much of it. These include extra-sharp or sharp cheddar, Gorgonzola, Parmesan, and Asiago. Many cheeses are naturally lower in fat than others, such as part-skim mozzarella, string cheeses, farmers cheese, and Neufchâtel. Goat cheese is lower in fat and has fewer calories than cow's milk cheese.  So enjoy and say cheese.