Protein, protein and more proteins: This seems to be the latest health and wellness trend on social media. And some TikTok creators have found the next best thing: adding more protein to people’s diets.
TikTokers are baking cottage cheese in the oven.
Search for ‘grilled cottage cheese’ on social media apps and hundreds of videos will pop up as users try out the new trend for themselves.
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People essentially spread their favorite brand of cottage cheese onto a baking sheet (usually parchment lined) and place it in the oven.
Victoria Minell is a TikTok creator from Sydney, Australia who has shared her basic baked cottage cheese how-to video with her audience of over 1.2 million followers.
After a few minutes in the oven, the cottage cheese will become crispy and firm. (Victoria Minnell)
She told Fox News Digital that this protein hack is “a great option that’s very versatile, high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and gluten-free.”
Minell showed her online audience how to make the bread substitute and turn it into a prosciutto and tomato wrap, which garnered nearly 11 million views.
Fox News Digital also spoke with Ashley McCrary, known on social media as Healthy Little Peach. Her TikTok video baking cottage cheese currently has over 2.5 million views.
“People are always looking for delicious ways to increase their protein intake.”
The content creator from Springfield, Missouri, has been sharing recipes on the internet for seven years and said she loves the trend.
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“People are always looking for delicious ways to increase their protein intake, and cottage cheese has become incredibly popular recently,” she said.
Content creator Ashley McCrary, also known as Healthy Little Peach, makes cottage cheese flatbread with eggs and other ingredients. “Cottage cheese has become incredibly popular recently,” she told Fox News Digital. (Ashley McCreary)
McCrary, who has over 760,000 Instagram followers, shared with her audience a recipe for grilled cottage cheese that contains 37 grams of protein per serving.
“It’s versatile and delicious, so you can use it as a wrap or pizza crust. It’s also a great choice for those following a low-carb lifestyle,” she said.
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Her recipe, inspired by others, includes a few more ingredients: 1 cup cottage cheese, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning.
McCrary lines a baking pan with parchment paper and uses a blender or food processor to blend the ingredients before pouring the cheese evenly over the pan.
Spread the cottage cheese on the parchment paper and baking pan before putting it in the oven. (Victoria Minnell)
From there, she bakes it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes, providing a crunchy, protein-packed addition to your meal.
It’s best to check with a nutritionist or other professional first.
Tanya Freirich, a nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, told Fox News Digital that although cottage cheese is a high-protein food, the hack has some potential downsides.
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“Although low-carb diets have become popular in one form or another over the past few decades, carbohydrates are an essential part of a balanced diet,” she said.
“Is that possible with cottage cheese?!?”
She notes that if the people trying to create this new fad are very active and exercise a lot, excluding tortillas, breads, wraps and other carbohydrates from their diets can lead to people “overconsuming protein and lacking other nutrients.” I did.
Freirich also said that because cottage cheese is milk-based, she wouldn’t recommend the baked cottage cheese trend to people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy.
Cottage cheese is known to be low in calories and rich in protein. (iStock)
“I encourage everyone to discuss your potential nutritional needs with a registered dietitian to ensure your dietary choices best support your health goals,” she added.
Lauren Harris-Pincus, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in New York, also advises against baking cottage cheese for people who are sensitive to high amounts of sodium.
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“(A) potential drawbacks include high sodium content, which amounts to more than one-third of the recommended daily intake,” she told Fox News Digital.
Harris-Pincus also notes that cottage cheese is low in fiber. Fiber can be found in whole grain bread and tortillas, which can be much more expensive than regular bread.
People are baking protein-rich cottage cheese in the oven instead of bread or tortillas. (iStock)
“Bread contains nutrients like iron and B vitamins like folic acid, which are very important for women of childbearing age,” she explained.
Online reactions were mixed. Some social media users said it was a “game changer” while others said they “hate cottage cheese”.
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One user commented on Minell’s TikTok video: “Shut the front door!!! Can you do that with cottage cheese?!”
A new TikTok trend shows people baking cottage cheese for an extra protein alternative to their diet. (Victoria Minnell/iStock)
Another wrote: “The way I immediately got up and threw the cottage cheese in the oven!”
Some users are shaking their heads at this idea. One user said: “I absolutely hate cottage cheese. I keep it in the fridge until it goes in the bin.”
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