The so-called cheese diet is a ketogenic diet. Some people use the cheese diet to drop a few pounds in a short period of time, but the cheese diet is undoubtedly a fad diet, which should be avoided.

Even if you can lose some weight on the cheese diet, it is not worth your efforts simply because it is not a diet that can be sustained for a meaningful time period. So if the cheese diet is nothing but a fad, why am I still talking about it?

It is all about the cheese! Yes, cheese is not diet friendly, but it can be used to add extra protein to a sandwich, and eating a stick of string cheese is a pretty good option to fend off the mid-afternoon munchies.

However, unless you are trying to gain weight or are following a low-carb diet, you probably want to only use low-fat or fat-free cheese.

Cheddar: (per slice) 113 calories, 7 g protein, 0 g carbs, 9 g fat, 0 g fiber. Arguably the most popular cheese, Cheddar doesn’t necessarily belong in your diet. High in fat (that goes for the sharp variety, too), the best way to enjoy Cheddar is to find a low-fat option. Try Cabot 75% Reduced Fat Cheddar, with 2.5 grams of fat and 9 grams of protein per slice.

American: (per slice) 70 calories, 4 g protein, 2 g carbs, 5 g fat, 0 g fiber. American cheese is processed, which means it typically contains random chemicals intended to increase shelf life. Therefore, though its macros are (slightly) better than Cheddar’s, you should still consider eating low-fat Cheddar both on principle and for its protein content.

Swiss: (per slice) 106 calories, 8 g protein, 2 g carbs, 8 g fat, 0 g fiber. You would think that with all those holes (which are formed by carbon dioxide produced by one of the species of bacteria that make the cheese), Swiss would be lighter than other cheeses. Wrong. Look for Jarlsberg Lite, a full-flavor, low-fat Swiss.

Mozzarella: (per slice) 80 calories, 6 g protein, 1 g carbs, 6 g fat, 0 g fiber. The macros here are for whole-milk mozzarella, but while some cheeses taste noticeably different in low-fat incarnations, mozzarella really doesn’t. Be on the lookout for part-skim mozzarella, made (no surprise) partially from skim milk. It is just as tasty as the full-fat original.

Monterey Jack: (per slice) 106 calories, 7 g protein, 0 g carbs, 9 g fat, 0 g fiber. Sure, it has got 0 carbs and 7 grams of protein, but Monterey Jack cheese is up there with Cheddar in the fat department. Named after David Jack, who came to Monterey, California, after the 1849 Gold Rush, this cheese is best ditched for leaner options. [via]