Cream cheese is a versatile spread that can be used to add flavor to a variety of dishes. Whether it’s added to toast bread or used as a dip for veggies, it’s a great way to get more texture and make every meal burst with buttery goodness.
With cream cheese being a household favorite, beginners of the ketogenic diet often wonder if it’s something they have to give up or can easily incorporate into their keto diet. Here, we look to nutritionists and experts to answer whether or not cream cheese is keto-friendly and give you all the information on the best types of cream cheese, their nutritional information, carb content, and more.
Is Cream Cheese Keto Friendly?
Here’s the good news — cream cheese, just like pork rinds, is very keto-friendly. In fact, nutritionists and keto advocates consider it one of the best keto foods thanks to its high fat and low carb content. It fits seamlessly into theketo diet macros, requiring your daily calories to be 70% fat, 25% protein, and 5% carbohydrates.
Because cream cheese is suitable for the keto diet regime, it becomes a versatile solution to add flavor and texture to your meals. Keto dieters add it to their keto bread, use it as a dip for veggie sticks, or incorporate it as an ingredient in their custom keto recipes.
What are the Best Types of Cream Cheese?
While cream cheese, in whole form, is keto-friendly, some varieties may not be suitable for the keto diet. Keto practitioners often opt for plain, high-fat, and whipped cream cheese and avoid flavored or sweetened cream cheese products that contain sugar and additives.
Proponents say the best type of cream cheese to consume on the keto diet is grass-fed cream cheese or organic cream cheese. Unprocessed and without additives, these varieties will keep your carb consumption low and facilitate ketosis.
If you’re looking for cream cheeses that you can add to your keto diet without compromising your daily macros, nutritionists swear by the following brands:
Philadelphia Cream Cheese (Plain, Full-Fat)
Di Stefano Premium Mascarpone Cheese
Trader Joe’s Mascarpone
Organic Valley
Green Valley Creamery
Nancy’s
How Many Carbs in Cream Cheese?
Keto dieters love adding cream cheese to their meals because it’s a good source of fat and a meager amount of protein. While it does contain carbs, the amount is insignificant when consumption is monitored.
According to theUSDA, 100 grams of cream cheese contains 34.4 grams of fat, 6.15 grams of protein, and 350 calories. As for its carb content, the same serving size has only 5.52 grams of carbohydrates. If you convert this to the regular serving size of 1 tablespoon (14.5 grams), that’s only 0.8 grams of carbs!
Different types of cream cheeses will also have different carb contents. 100 grams offull-fat and plain cream cheese, for example, only has 3 grams of carbohydrates. While the same amount oflight cream cheese has 4 grams of carbs.
Aside from helping you meet your daily keto macros, cream cheese also yields added health benefits. This is owing to its vitamin and mineral content. 100 grams of plain cream cheese contains the following essential micronutrients:
Calcium: 97 mg
Iron: 0.11 mg
Magnesium: 9 mg
Phosphorus: 107 mg
Potassium: 132 mg
Zinc: 0.5 mg
Copper: 0.018 mg
Manganese: 0.011 mg
Selenium: 8.6 µg
Thiamin: 0.023 mg
Riboflavin: 0.23 mg
Niacin: 0.091 mg
Pantothenic Acid: 0.517 mg
Vitamin B-6: 0.056 mg
Vitamin B-12: 0.22 µg
Vitamin A: 308 µg
Beta Carotene: 59 µg
Vitamin E: 0.86 mg
Vitamin K: 2.1 µg
Cream cheese is a good source of vitamin A, antioxidants, and probiotics, whichresearch links to immune system support and reduced information. Compared to other cheese varieties, cream cheese is low in lactose, making it suitable for those with a lactose intolerance.
Conclusion
Cream cheese, with its high fat and low carb content, is a great addition to your ketogenic diet. Nutritionists support cream cheese as a food item that helps you stay on top of your daily macros while also supplying your body with micronutrients to facilitate overall health and wellness.
The best part about it is its versatility — there are plenty of ways you can incorporate it into your keto meals to add more flavor and texture.
Love cheese in general? Here is a complete keto cheese list for you to explore and add even more amazing types of cheese to your keto diet.
We also have an article about the best keto meats, where you will find all the best keto meat options. Belive it or not, one of the healthiest options are pork rinds.
Is Cream Cheese Keto: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Philadelphia cream cheese keto-friendly?
Philadelphia is one of the best brands of keto-friendly cream cheese. A 2-tablespoon serving of Philadelphia cream cheese contains 102 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.8 grams of protein, and only 1.6 grams of carbohydrates. It’s recommended to opt for plain or full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese for the keto diet.
How much cream cheese can I have on the keto diet?
While cream cheese is suitable for the keto diet, practitioners warn against going overboard. Of course, consuming cream cheese in large amounts can easily skew your daily macros. Limit consumption of cream cheese to the regular serving size of 2 tablespoons. But this will ultimately depend on your daily carb limit.
Does cream cheese break ketosis?
Cream cheese even in cheesecake does not break ketosis. It is high in fat and low in carbs, which fits the principle of the ketogenic diet regime. When carb intake is limited, the body will be forced to use up stored fat to create energy, bringing the body into a state of ketosis conducive to weight loss.
Moderation is key. So, if you're having cheese as part of a weight loss strategy like keto, make sure you know your daily calorie limit along with your protein and fat macronutrient needs. As mentioned earlier, 1-3 ounces should fit well into a keto diet plan.
All types of cheese are allowed on the keto diet, as cheese is relatively low in carbohydrate, which complies with the key principle of the keto diet. The Ketogenic diet or “keto” diet is a low carbohydrate and high fat eating plan.
This is a keto favorite, thanks to its nutritional profile: Per the USDA, 1 oz contains 84 calories, 8 g of fat, 1 g of carbs, and 2 g of protein. That means it's a great addition to a meal or snack when you need more fat.
Philadelphia is one of the best brands of keto-friendly cream cheese. A 2-tablespoon serving of Philadelphia cream cheese contains 102 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.8 grams of protein, and only 1.6 grams of carbohydrates. It's recommended to opt for plain or full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese for the keto diet.
Enjoying cheese is one of the pleasures of the keto diet. But that doesn't mean it's unlimited and unrestricted. Nutritionists say that keto practitioners need to be selective with the cheese varieties they consume while on keto and enjoy them only in moderation to avoid disrupting ketosis and hampering weight loss.
Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.
While many dieters think of cheat day as a well-deserved reward, nutritionists say there are downsides to it. Some disadvantages of having a cheat day on keto include getting knocked out of ketosis and hindering further weight loss.
Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.
Cow's milk is high in lactose, a type of carbohydrate, so it is not suitable for a keto diet. Milk and related dairy products are essential ingredients in many people's diets. You may enjoy pouring milk on your morning cereal, mixing sweet creamer into your coffee, and adding cream cheese to savory pasta dishes.
The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties. If you're following the keto diet or know someone who is, be sure to keep these cheeses in mind to promote ketosis and meet dietary goals.
While cream cheese is high in fat and calories, it also contains essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin A, and protein. Consuming cream cheese in moderation can be part of a healthy diet, especially if you choose lower-fat varieties or pair it with nutritious foods like whole-grain bread and fresh vegetables.
Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet? "Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto." One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.
Mayo is a great keto condiment because it is high in fat. Mayo contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that are good fats. Both of these fats can help decrease your heart disease risk and reduce your cholesterol levels.
Can You Eat Bacon On a Keto Diet? While you may not think of bacon as diet food, most types of bacon fit perfectly into a keto diet plan since they're low in carbs yet high in protein and fat. That means bacon is perfect for snacking on in the afternoon or mixing into your chicken dinner dish for some extra flavoring.
Cheese, cream, and whole-milk yogurt are very tasty. Unfortunately, the flip side of being so delicious is that they can be very easy to over consume. Yes, these foods are generally a good fit for a low carb or keto lifestyle.
Cream cheese is a versatile dairy spread. It's a good source of vitamin A and doesn't provide much lactose. However, it's low in protein and high in fat and calories, so it's best to use it in moderation. Notably, versions like whipped cream cheese are lower in fat and calories.
Measure portions - Stick to 1-2 tbsp servings to keep calories under control. Whip it - Whisk heavy cream into airy peaks as a topping for low-carb desserts. Make sauces - Blend into creamy alfredo, cheese or curry sauces for a fat and flavour boost.
In fact, one of the most common causes of weight gain on keto is adding too much extra butter and cheese to meals. (The same applies to keto weight loss stalls as well.)
Introduction: My name is Corie Satterfield, I am a fancy, perfect, spotless, quaint, fantastic, funny, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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