As many of you know, we’re taking baby steps toward living a more clean eating lifestyle. After all, clean eating is one of those changes that if you jump completely 100 percent into before you’re ready, you run the risk of being completely burnt out, fed up, and will ultimately just go back to your old ways. This is one lifestyle change I don’t want to get burned out on so we’re continuing to implement more things as we go along.
One thing in particular that I’ve been dragging my feet on is the whole shredded cheese debacle.
If you’re like me and had no clue (up until a couple months ago), then this may rock your world. Shredded cheese is covered in something the industry calls cellulose to keep it from clumping together. Have you ever noticed that white powdery stuff on your shredded cheese? Yeah. It’s not cheese dust. Cellulose is commonly made from WOOD PULP.
Now whether it’s harmful or beneficial or what have you– that’s not the point. The point of clean eating is to…you know…eat foods in their whole form. Last I checked, wood pulp is not an actual part of cheese. Cellulose is just another additive thrown into our food in a very additive-filled world.
But alas, I’ve been dragging my feet on making this change in my house because 1) I love cheese and 2) I hate grating it.
Well, that’s until I discovered a cool feature on my birthday present the Hubs got me. I had been dying for a really greatfood processor, and when the Hubs got me the 14-Cup Oster version, all my expectations have been blown out of the water.
This food processor has a grating plate, and depending on the speed you choose, you can either have shredded cheese or almost powdery like cheese in SECONDS.
I tried this out last night when I made my second attempt at cauliflower pizza (I’m working on perfecting a recipe for it and am almost there! Blog to come!). The cheese was perfect for melting and I think it even tasted better. Last time I made this same pizza, the pre-shredded cheese seemed chewy on the pizza. This time? Just glorious, melty, gooey cheese.
I think everyone should have a food processor, naturally (I mean, it totally opens up a new world of what you’re able to do culinary-wise), but now I’m here to tell you to make sure if you are in the market for a new food processor, get one with a grater plate. It’ll change your world.
So why should you grate your own cheese?
1) Avoid unnecessary additives
2) It’s cheaper to buy blocks of cheese instead of pre-shredded
3) It tastes way better
Sure, you don’t need a food processor to make this step in your life. But boy, it sure does make it easier to implement. My life is now changed at the click of a button and I will no longer buy shredded cheese ever again.
Mrs. Healthy Ever After 
I found out the same thing about shredded cheese and I will never buy shredded cheese again. I have found that it has been cheaper to buy a block of cheese. I also have a food processor with a shedding plate and its amazing. I usually task my husband to shred cheese 🙂
I, also, have one of those grater plates on the food processors, but I still typically grate the old fashioned way with the block-style grater. That is, unless I have a lot (read: at least two blocks) to grate. While I’m not a huge fan of grating, I really dislike dishes, and a dirty block grater is less work than a sink full of food processor attachments. But Laura does have the best solution: have your sous-chef take care of it!
I never understood why you would buy pre-shredded cheese anyway…it is so easy to do yourself. Now, I will avoid it more than I currently do. Thank you for the post! I’m definitely sharing this info with my peers.
Ew. I’ve always felt sick after eating pre-shredded cheese and assumed it was the powdery stuff on it, but never thought to search what it was. Eventually, when I’m a real adult, I’ll have a food processor.
I’ve always been a block girl! I like having the option of sliced OR shredded, plus it’s crazy cheap… but now what an added benefit!! 🙂
cellulose is a polysaccharide (sugar) found in vegetables, fruits, and other plant products (like grains). there’s nothing wrong or really unhealthy about it – every time you chow down on vegetables, you’re eating cellulose. more power to you for trying to “eat clean” but you might want to also learn more about what makes up your food.
Cellulose is definitely in your food naturally, but I’d rather eat the cellulose that comes in my food naturally– not the kind that was put there by food companies. While some companies strive to use better forms of cellulose in things like shredded cheese, there are still some that either use wood pulp or chemicals. The whole point of my journey is to learn more about what makes up my food, and it’s been a very fun ride. I’m just going to stop being lazy and shred my own cheese and eat more foods in their whole forms from now own instead of being lazy and just taking whatever additives companies are claiming are healthy, whether they are or not.
Wow. You obviously don’t understand what eating clean is all about. Additives aren’t necessary, regardless of whether you view them harmful or not (and given, some are more harmful than others). But really? I’m pretty sure this whole blog demonstrates that this chick knows or at least attempts to know what’s in her food.
Actually some additives are necessary…for example apple juice with no additives is foggy and dirty looking. Without some additives, consumers won’t buy products because taste is almost 80% of what we see. Also, without some additives, in a matter of minutes, some foods would be infested with bacteria which makes it more likely that pathogens form and finally, you being sick. Yes, whole foods are the best options, but definitely take a look at some food science textbooks or articles before you judge out additives entirely!
btw, i definitely agree with shredded cheese. Buying block cheese is cheaper in the long run, lasts longer, and you can decrease the amount of additives you eat. Love the post!
PS. my source is that I am studying food and nutritional science so I have to know these things!
Love nutritional science majors! Way to go. 🙂 took 4 years of bio myself an wish I had done a concentration at some point. Hoping to get a certification in the future.
I don’t think additives are evil entirely and know that for store bought products they are necessary like u said. But like your example with the apple juice, that’s why I juice instead of buying store bought juices. They have more sugar too added which is the main reason for me.
I’m not a 100 percent clean eating person like some of the other interesting blogs out there, but I’m taking baby steps where I can 🙂
I wasn’t really commenting about whether or not additives fall under an “eating clean” lifestyle – it wasn’t my intention if it came across that way. I also don’t regularly read this blog so I can’t comment on the rest of the blogger’s knowledge. The point I was wanting to make is that people shouldn’t judge their food products based on what they think or hear to be bad for you without looking more into the matter. It might seem weird to add cellulose to cheese, but there’s nothing actually wrong with cellulose. Like I said, more power to you for trying to eat clean, but I personally don’t feel it’s a necessary change to make in my diet. I’m a med student and I’ve taken several biochemistry classes, so I know a lot about what goes on with digestion and nutritional needs and I think I’m leading a perfectly healthy life even with additives and everything in my diet. It’s up to you to do your research and figure out your dietary needs for yourself. I’m okay with eating processed foods and “additives” and whatever else, but I also believe in “everything in moderation” when it comes to food.
Very true about moderation and I think that’s awesome. And I really do appreciate your comments! If a hardcore clean eating blogger read my blog, they’d b like pfft this girl isn’t clean at all. I’m a moderation person too and keep taking baby steps toward trying to b clean. It really is all about finding that happy medium in living a healthy lifestyle that works for the individual. Loved your comment. Very well said.
Is it a problem if the shredded cheese is organic?
First I want to say, I am very much agree with you on buying the block of cheese and shredding it yourself. Sometimes it is cheaper, but it all depends on if you find it on sale. 2 reasons I prefer to shred my own: it tastes WAY better, 2) it melts a lot better.
Now I have a bachelor’s in Dietetics, and am completing my thesis for a Master’s in Food science. For my thesis research I worked with a processed form of cellulose, and I want to mimic what others have said, that it is completely fine for you. Actually it’s a insoluble dietary fiber that your gut needs. I am not working with a company that produces cheese, but there are numerous laws and regulations that food companies have to abide by in order to sell their products. All these laws and regulations are put into place to protect the public, not trick them. I agree, we eat way too many highly processed things, and I think we should get away from that. But cellulose and dietary fiber are highly essential to human digestion. I would go on about cellulose, but in all honesty it’s not my favorite dietary fiber. If you want an additive that actually helps you, look for foods that contain Inulin, which is a soluble dietary fiber, which can lower cholesterol, increase uptake of calcium, and regulate blood sugar.
Sorry I got a little carried away! Just wanted to give some helpful information.
Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was extremely
long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything.
Do you have any tips for novice blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Cellulose is good for you! This is called “fiber”.