Achieving a nutritionally balanced menu
Government and nutrition experts recommend that people include three portions of dairy products in their daily intake as part of a sensible, balanced diet. Dairy foods provide calcium, protein, vitamins and energy:
- Calcium for strong bones and teeth
- Protein to construct, maintain and repair muscles and bones, and give us energy and vitality
- Vitamin D, again to promote healthy bones
- Vitamin A for good vision and healthy skin
- Vitamin B12 for producing red blood cells and supporting the nervous system
- Fat for energy and, for children, brain development
- Unsaturated fat has a positive effect on cholesterol levels
- Tooth friendly sugar, lactose, for energy
Cheese is an excellent source of calcium. A single Mini Babybel®, for example, contains as much calcium as a glass of milk. And for vegetarians especially, cheese is an important source of protein, as they don’t derive this from meat.
Of course, dairy foods contain fat and it’s important to control how much fat we consume. Fat (in small quantities) is necessary in the diet, because it is needed for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin A and D. Fat is also an important source of energy, particularly for children. Cheese generally contains one third unsaturated ‘good’ fat, and two thirds saturated. When people dine out, they’re often looking for something a little more lavish than the kind of food they have at home, but if guests are watching what they eat, one of the lighter versions of the following Bel cheeses – Mini Babybel®, The Laughing Cow® and Leerdammer® – can provide a happy solution with no compromise on the great taste of the original versions.
At Bel, we have always been concerned about diet and nutrition, which is why we were one of the first companies to introduce lighter, lower fat versions of our cheeses in the 1980s. Health & wellbeing is about choice and balance. We strive to give choice to our customers and give them as much help as possible in controlling their food intake. As world leader in the branded cheese portion category, all our brands are available in small portion size, convenient with long shelf lives. Incidentally, one of the many benefits of single servings is that it’s easy for people to judge how much of their Recommended Daily Allowance (30g for cheese) they have consumed in an individually wrapped cheese portion.
A healthy balanced diet depends on the individual, and in order for chefs and consumers to make their own choices, we provide clear, simple nutritional information on our packs, in our literature and on our web pages.
If you would like more information, please email us or call on 01622 774 800.
