Friday, August 2, 2013

SS: Cheese Alternative



Veggie Slices

By Tim Cullen

Sandwiches are a common food that our society has adopted over the years. You have fast food joints that make sandwiches, delis, soup and sandwich restaurants and lunch meat easily accessible. Obviously most of us don't eat a sandwich with just bread and meat, although there may be some out there that do, and that means that there is going to be more ingredients. One of the most common ingredients on a sandwich is cheese. Now, it is only a slice of cheese and you may ask, "How bad can that honestly be?" I will highlight the cons of adding cheese on sandwiches and offer a healthy alternative that tastes similar to our unhealthy counterpart.

The alternative to cheese would be veggie slices by Galaxy Nutritional Foods. Galaxy Nutritional Foods have been established for over 30 years and have been dedicated to providing nutritional food and to give healthy eaters a wide variety of options to satisfy their appetite. Veggie slices look just like cheese slices and they taste very similar to that of cheese slices. However, they are a much healthier option for you to add to sandwiches, grilled cheese, quesadillas and more foods you normally use cheese slices for.

What is so different between cheese and veggie slices? In fact, there are many differences between them. Below is the comparison between the two foods.

Nutrient
Veggie Slices
Cheese Slices
Calories per serving
40
71
Total fat (g)
2.5
4.6
Saturated fat (g)
0
3
Cholesterol (mg)
0
15
Sodium (mg)
220
223
Carbohydrates (g)
0
2
Protein (g)
3
4.1
Vitamin A
10%
4%
Vitamin C
2%
0%
Calcium
20%
25%
Iron
4%
0%

You can see the differences in the table above. You are not losing much in the energy department (cal) but you are gaining in many of the other areas! Calcium and protein may be higher in cheese than veggie slices, but it is not so much of a difference to make you afraid to make the switch. Along with the vitamins at the bottom, veggie slices are also a good source of Vitamin B6, B12, E. It also contains a high amount of riboflavin, which is an essential component in FAD, a cofactor that is integral to many important metabolic processes producing flavoproteins in the human body. There is one negative about veggie slices, along with cheese, and that is it contains a high amount of sodium, but I truly believe that the pros outweigh the cons significantly in this situation.

Veggie slices can be found in the produce sections of markets or grocery stores. They are harder to find than cheese, but if you try you can definitely find them. They are a good option for lactose intolerant eaters out there allowing an alternative to enjoy. If you are doing this solely to go the vegan route, then before you purchase any of these products you need to look closely if it includes casein. Those are often added to them to supply amino acids to the food, but also disqualify it from being vegan, so be careful!
  
My view on cheese on sandwiches is that if you put enough on the sandwich itself, do you really taste the cheese all that much? I feel that you can add this as an alternative and not lose anything when it comes to the composition to your sandwich but you are making it healthier for you. I personally do not add any type of cheese on my sandwich, because I feel that it is unnecessary and you can get a great tasting sandwich by adding a variety of vegetables to it! I know there are many people out there in love with their cheese, so I thought I would write this up for all of you out there if you simply cannot go without cheese!  

For more information on veggie slices and the other products offered by Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Visit their official website at this link: http://www.galaxyfoods.com/

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