Getting a slimmer waistline should not be the only reason to eat the right stuff; you should also eat right to improve your cardiovascular health. Cream cheese is one such items that you would want to avoid to maintain your cardiovascular health. It can clog up your arteries. Unfortunately, most people do not understand how harmful cream cheese can be, and they do not mind having it as an addition to English muffins, bagels, and even toast. If you are concerned about your cardiovascular health and do not want to load your body up with unnecessary fat and calories, you may look for a substitute for cream cheese.

Substitute for Cream Cheese: What and How

Most people are not aware of it but there are a number of good alternatives to try. Select a cream cheese substitute from the following list to stay healthy.

1.        Neufchatel

It is a soft cheese with a French origin but is now made in the United States as well. This un-ripened cheese is made from cow's milk and usually has a sharper and rather pungent taste when aged – it is just perfect when young. Its texture and taste is quite similar to low-fat cream cheese, so you can always use it in place of cream cheese in your recipes. Simply replace 1 cup of cream cheese with 1 cup of Neufchatel for impressive taste.

2.        Petit-Suisse

If you need a cup of cream cheese in a recipe, you can use 1 1oz pack of Petit-Suisse with honey in place of it. Made from cow's milk, this smooth, creamy, and unsalted cheese taste great in desserts. Just keep in mind that Petit-Suisse also has a high fat content of 40%, so use it carefully.

3.        Kefir and Organic Chia Seeds

The combination of kefir and organic chia seeds is one perfect cream cheese substitute that you can use in all your recipes. Mix ¼ cup of chia seeds in a bowl of kefir to replace a bowl of cream cheese. You should mix the seeds in kefir and leave it for a while until the seeds absorb all the water from the yogurt. It may take about half an hour, so be patient and do not agitate the arrangement.

Using this combination is great for your health because it prevents variant allergies, gastrointestinal issues, atherosclerosis, and candidiasis. Chia seeds contain omega-3s, which are vital for your health. It is a great substitute to cream cheese, but you should avoid using it in dishes that require heating.

4.        Cottage Cheese

In place of cream cheese, you can always use cottage cheese. 8.82oz of cream cheese can be replaced with 8.82oz of cottage cheese by pouring it in a mixer and then chilling in the freezer. This will contain about 180 calories, but there is almost no saturated fat in it. It contains loads of essential vitamins as well as potassium, sodium, folate, calcium, and copper. Use it in recipes where you would use cream cheese with other ingredients.

5.        Greek Yogurt

If you love the texture and flavor of cream cheese, you will also love Greek yogurt. An even better idea is to drain your yogurt before use. You can do it by placing it in dry, clean cheesecloth and then placing it over a large bowl. Simply spoon the yogurt and leave it overnight to have thicker Greek yogurt in the morning. It is possible to add shallots, chopped onions, and carrots to make it taste more like garden cream cheese.

6.        Hummus

Hummus is another great cream cheese substitute, even though it does not taste exactly the same as cream cheese. Still, it works great when you use it on English muffins or warm bagels. The best thing is that hummus is very healthy, especially compared to cream cheese, which is loaded with fat and calories. Made usually from pinto beans, hummus contains protein with little fat, which is healthy fat and helps prevent heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

7.        Tofu, Margarine, and Lemon Juice

If you need a cup of cream cheese, you need ¾ cup of tofu, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and ¼ cup of margarine. Simply mix all the ingredients until you have smooth paste. Keep pushing the tofu bits towards the central blade to get the desired texture. Place the mixture in your refrigerator to get a perfect substitute to cream cheese.

8.        Ricotta

You can also opt for part-skim ricotta to replace cream cheese in recipes. To ensure it works exactly like cream cheese in your recipes, you should first drain it and puree it in a blender until smooth. To replace a cup of cream cheese, you should use a cup of ricotta.

9.       Gervais Cheese

Gervais cheese is another cream cheese substitute you can go for. In order to replace a cup of cream cheese, you simply need a cup of Gervais cheese. It is a better choice as compared to cream cheese because it tastes great and is healthy too. It has a sweet and tangy taste but contain up to 75% of milk fat. You can always opt for super flavorful French cheese for serving as a dessert cheese or as an appetizer with crackers.