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Your Favorite Cheeses, Ranked By Calorie Count

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at U Mich chapter.

It’s hard to live without cheese—especially when you’re a college student and eat pizza every night. And because all cheese is delicious, you might as well choose the cheese with the least calories. So here is a ranking of your favorite cheeses, ranked from least calories to most calories per ounce: 

1. Feta Cheese

At a mere 74 calories per ounce, feta wins with the lowest number of calories. Those Greeks know how to pick both healthy and delicious food. Try using feta to spice up orzo using this Spinach, Feta, and Orzo Recipe

2. Goat Cheese

peach recipes salad cheese
Kiara Lee

Coming up next is one of my favorites—goat cheese. Losing to feta by just one calorie, goat cheese comes in at a cool 74 calories per ounce. Take your favorite salad to the next level by crumbling it on top. That extra creamy, tangy bite makes eating your greens a breeze

3. Mozzarella Cheese

Chicken nuggets chicken meat
Isabella Neuberg

With 84 calories per ounce, mozzarella is not too bad for you in terms of calories—that is until you coat it in bread bread crumbs and deep fry it. But hey, it’s the thought that counts. Make your own mozzarella sticks using this recipe

4. Brie Cheese – 94 Calories

baked brie cheese milk
Kaitlin Wheeler

Up next is brie cheese, which clocks in at 94 calories per ounce. It’s another one of my personal favorites, especially when it’s wrapped in pastry dough and stuffed with jam. The flaky pastry is the perfect complement for the creamy, melty cheese.

5. Blue Cheese – 99 Calories

best cheeses for mac and cheese cheddar dairy
Amanda Shulman

At 99 calories per ounce, blue cheese is smack dab in the middle in terms of calorie count—could be better, could be worse. Luckily, I’m not a fan of blue cheese, so I’ll be avoiding it no matter how many calories it has.

6. Cream Cheese – 100 Calories

food-related things at the claremont colleges bagel cheese
Elizabeth Budd

Although regular cream cheese has more calories per ounce than some other cheeses, 99 to be exact, if you opt for a light cream cheese, you can cut down on some of those calories. So continue eating your daily bagel and light cream cheese in the morning.

7. American Cheese

High School Musical bacon cheese
Paige Stickevers

With a solid 105 calories per ounce, good ol’ American cheese has quite a high calorie count compared to other cheeses. But if you’re eating already eating a burger, what’s a few extra calories?

8. Swiss Cheese

Caramelize the onions cake
Amanda Shulman

Swiss Cheese comes in at number eight with a total of 106 calories per ounce. Not the worst, but definitely not the best—just like its taste.

9. Cheddar Cheese

cheese cheese
Linzie Gienau

Cheddar Cheese is second to last in terms of calorie count. Each serving packs in a hefty 113 calories per ounce. Sad. Sorry cheddar, but I think I might opt for a different cheese next time.

10. Parmesan Cheese – 122 Calories

mu dairy product cheese
Amy Le

Sadly, in last place, is parmesan cheese with a calorie count of 122 calories per ounce. As a huge pasta fan, I was not too happy about this one. But you have to treat yourself once in a while, so don’t worry parmesan—I’ll still be eating you. 

Since many people crave cheese, it is helpful to know which cheeses have the least amount of calories. And hopefully this guide will come in handy when you dig into the cheese platter at your next party.

Emily Coplan

U Mich '19

Emily Coplan graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2019. Emily LOVES marshmallows and can easily take down a whole bag by herself. She thinks waffles smell a lot better than they taste and could eat four Chipotle burritos if she had a gun to her head. She dislikes creamy sauces and sports, but loves Kanye and anything covered in buttercream.