Frozen Archives – Choosing Nutrition

Cheesecake is one of the most delectable desserts. Far from the plain, yellowish-white originally created, the flavors of cheesecake available today are plenty. Whether you want your cheesecake New York style, or the light and fluffy Italian version, there are many packaged brands you can choose from. Sara Lee, The Cheesecake Factory, Costco, and Trader Joe’s are just a few of the most popular frozen cheesecake varieties available in stores. These brands offer the no-frills original classic cheesecake to strawberry, chocolate, and even pumpkin cheesecake. The best healthier frozen cheesecake are Enlightened Keto Cheesecake and Daiya Dairy-Free Vegan New York Frozen Cheezecake. In this article, we’ll take a look at these frozen brands. They may have some dietary restrictions, so we’ll offer alternatives for those who follow specific diet guidelines. We’ll also discover the history behind cheesecake and explain the difference between New York and Italian cheesecake. The history of cheesecake Cheesecake, although not the delectable dessert we know today, could have first been created as early as 2000 BC. Cheese molds were found on a Greek island, and there is evidence that the Greeks gave cheese cakes to their Olympic athletes for added energy. These cakes were made with flour, wheat, honey and cheese, a much simpler version of today’s cheesecake. The first recipe for a cheese cake dates back to 230 A.D. In this recipe, the maker would pound the cheese until smooth and pasty, mix it with honey and wheat flour, heat it “in one mass” and then cool it before serving. Once the Romans conquered the Greeks, they also conquered cheese cake. Adding crushed cheese and eggs, they baked their cheesecake and then served it warm. Their cake was known as “libuma” and served only for special occasions. How did cheesecake find its way to the Americas? During the 18th century, the cheesecake versions from years past found their way to the Americas. Beaten eggs instead of yeast were used, making cheesecake now taste more like a dessert than a bread. In this same century, around 1872, a dairy farmer in New York was trying to recreate the French cheese, Neufchâtel. He added cream to the process for making this cheese, and instead developed a richer, creamier version he called “cream cheese.” Supposedly, Arnold Reuben, the man known for creating those amazing Reuben sandwiches, was having a dinner party which included a cheese pie. He experimented with this dish and ended up creating what is now known as the New York Style Cheesecake -- no frills, no fruit, no syrups, just a sweet, smooth dessert which is made by adding extra egg yolks into the cream filling. Brands of frozen cheesecake 1. Sara Lee Sara Lee Classic Cheesecake The original frozen cheesecake, Sara Lee’s smooth and creamy texture and great taste make it the #1 selling frozen cheesecake brand. With some less-than-healthy ingredients, such as modified corn starch, palm oil, and modified cellulose, it’s not a dessert you want to consume on a regular basis. Ingredients: Cream cheese (pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, carob bean gum) Sugar Cultured sour cream (cultured milk and cream, nonfat milk, modified corn starch, carob bean Gum, carrageenan, xanthan gum, potassium chloride, vitamin a palmitate) Water Eggs Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) Corn syrup Vegetable oil (palm, soybean) Contains 2% or less: graham flour Modified corn starch Whey (milk) Skim milk Molasses Milk protein concentrate Salt Honey Dextrose Leavening (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate) Natural flavors Xanthan gum Carrageenan Modified cellulose Citric acid Cinnamon Guar gum Konjac flour Sodium caseinate (milk) Agar Caramel (color) Propylene glycol Sodium sulfite (preservative) Nutrition facts (per 4.25 oz serving): 330 Calories 17 g Total Fat 10 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g Trans Fat 250 mg Sodium 37 g Total Carbohydrates Less than 1 gram Dietary Fiber 25 g Sugars 7 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 8% DV Vitamin A 8% DV Calcium 6% DV Iron Sara Lee Classic Strawberry Cheesecake With 49 grams of total carbohydrates the Sara Lee Strawberry Cheesecake is not suitable for many restrictive diets. And with such a high sugar content (64% of the RDA), this dessert, while tasty, is not a healthy one. Ingredients: Strawberries Cream cheese (pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, carob bean gum) Sugar Cultured sour cream (cultured milk and cream, nonfat milk, modified corn starch, carob bean gum, carrageenan, xanthan gum, potassium chloride, vitamin a palmitate) Water Eggs Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) Corn syrup Vegetable oil (palm, soybean) Contains 2% or less: Graham flour Brown sugar Molasses Salt Honey Leavening (sodium pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, monocalcium phosphate) Cinnamon Whey (milk) Milk protein concentrate Modified corn starch Corn starch Dextrose Citric acid Natural flavors Red radish extract (color) Caramel (color) Xanthan gum Carrageenan gum Locust bean gum Modified cellulose Konjac flour Propylene glycol Sodium alginate Preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) Nutrition facts (per 135 gram serving): 330 Calories 14 g Total Fat 7 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g Trans Fat 400 mg Sodium 49 g Total Carbohydrates 2 g Dietary Fiber 36 g Sugars Includes 32 g added sugars 4 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 4% DV Calcium 6% DV Iron 2% DV Potassium 2. The Cheesecake Factory Image Credit: Cornershop The Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake The Cheesecake Factory got its start in the 1940s when a Detroit housewife decided to make and sell her cheesecake to local businesses. After success with this, she and her husband moved to Los Angeles, where The Cheesecake Factory was formed. The frozen cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory is actually the same quality as the slice you get fresh in their restaurant. With a high saturated fat content, (70% of the recommended daily allowance), and the high sugar amount, (54% of the recommended daily allowance,) this dessert is better as a once-in-a-great-while treat. Ingredients: Cream cheese (pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, stabilizers [carob bean and/or xanthan and/or guar gums]) Sugar Sour Cream (pasteurized grade A cultured milk, cream, nonfat milk solids, enzymes) Whole Eggs Graham Crumb (wheat flour, whole wheat flour, cane sugar, palm oil, honey, sodium bicarbonate, salt) Vanilla Crumb (wheat flour, cane sugar, palm oil, whey [milk], salt, sodium bicarbonate, natural butter vanilla flavor) Margarine (palm oil, palm fractions, water, salt, emulsifiers [soya lecithin, distilled monoglycerides], natural butter flavor, citric acid [as antioxidant], vitamin A & beta-carotene) Artificial Vanilla Flavor Cinnamon Nutrition facts (per 120 gram serving): 390 Calories 24 g Total Fat 14 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g Trans Fat 105 g Cholesterol 330 mg Sodium 39 g Total Carbohydrates 1 g Dietary Fiber 28 g Sugars - Includes 27 g added sugars 6 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 6% DV Calcium 6% DV Iron 2% DV Potassium The Cheesecake Factory Strawberry Topped Original Cheesecake Another high calorie, high fat, and high cholesterol variety, the strawberry-topped cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory may taste divine, but it can leave its mark on your waistline, so enjoy it in moderation. Ingredients: Cream cheese (pasteurized milk and cream, cheese culture, salt, stabilizers [carob bean and/or xanthan and/or guar gums]) Sugar Sour Cream (pasteurized grade A cultured milk, cream, nonfat milk solids, enzymes) Strawberry Filling (strawberries, sugar, water, modified corn starch, natural flavor, citric acid, potassium sorbate & sodium benzoate [preservatives], salt, agar, F.D. & C. Red No. 40, F.D. & C. Yellow No. 5) Whole Eggs Cream (nonfat milk, carrageenan, mono and diglycerides, polysorbate 80) Graham Crumb (wheat flour, whole wheat flour, cane sugar, palm oil, honey, sodium bicarbonate, salt) Vanilla Crumb (wheat flour, cane sugar, palm oil, whey [milk], salt, sodium bicarbonate, natural butter vanilla flavor) Margarine (palm oil, palm fractions, water, salt, emulsifiers [soya lecithin, distilled monoglycerides], natural butter flavor, citric acid [as antioxidant], vitamin A & beta-carotene) Artificial Vanilla Flavor Powdered Sugar Cinnamon Nutrition facts (per 120 gram serving): 410 Calories 25 g Total Fat 15 g Saturated Fat 1 g Trans Fat 115 g Cholesterol 310 mg Sodium 41 g Total Carbohydrates 1 g Dietary Fiber 31 g Sugars 6 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 8% DV Vitamin A 4% DV Vitamin C 8% DV Calcium 4% DV Iron Healthier brands of frozen cheesecake alternatives 3. Daiya Image Credit: Daiya Daiya Dairy-Free Gluten Free Vegan New York Frozen Cheezecake The Daiya brand of cheesecakes does not contain any of the 8 major allergens. Plant-based, gluten-free, Non-GMO, and vegan, this indulgence is the perfect dessert to enjoy on your own, or share with friends. Ingredients: Filling (Filtered Water, Creamed Coconut, Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Tapioca Starch, Expeller Pressed: Canola And/Or Safflower Oil, Potato Starch, Pea Protein, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Alginate, Lactic Acid (Vegan), Tricalcium Phosphate, Vegan Natural Flavors, Cultured Sugar, Vegan Enzyme) Gluten-Free Crust (Tapioca Starch, Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Brown Rice Flour, White Whole Grain Sorghum Flour, Potato Starch, Water, Expeller Pressed: Canola And/Or Safflower Oil, Blackstrap Molasses, Vanilla Extract, Milled Flax Seed, Psyllium, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Xanthan Gum Nutrition facts (per 133 gram serving): 480 Calories 31 g Total Fat 21 g Saturated Fat 0 g Trans Fat 0 g Cholesterol 530 mg Sodium 47 g Total Carbohydrates 3 g Dietary Fiber 22 g Sugars Includes 21 g added sugars 3 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 15% DV Calcium 6% DV Iron 4% DV Potassium 4. Enlightened Keto Cheesecakes Image Credit: Enlightened Enlightened Keto Cheesecake, Classic A cheesecake without added sugar?! It doesn’t seem possible, but the Enlightened brand of cheesecake has made it happen. Low-carb and kosher, this creamy filling with a vanilla almond crust adds an indulgent end to any meal. Ingredients: Cream Milk Erythritol Eggs Allulose Almonds Butter Coconut Whey protein concentrate Natural flavor Modified corn starch Carob bean gum Guar gum Carrageenan Cellulose gel Cellulose gum Xanthan gum Salt Cheese culture Sodium citrate Bacterial culture Nutrition facts (per 120 gram serving): 210 Calories 20 g Total Fat 11 g Saturated Fat 0 g Trans Fat 90 g Cholesterol 180 mg Sodium 18 g Total Carbohydrates 1 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 4 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 20% DV Vitamin D 4% DV Vitamin C 4% DV Calcium 3% DV Iron 4% DV Potassium 5. Fat Bombs Image Credit: Extraordinary Bites Fat Bombs Chocolate Cheesecake Keto Snack Bites Adding chocolate to cheesecake is one of the food world’s best creations. These two flavors pair together well, and for the Fat Bombs brand to create a keto-friendly version is a real plus! Ingredients: Cream Cheese (Pasteurized Milk And Cream, Cheese Culture, Salt, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum) Almond Flour Chickpea Flour Sugar-Free Dark Chocolaty Coating (Palm Oil, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Powder Processed With Alkali, Stevia [Sweetener], Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Extract) Coconut Oil Cocoa Powder Artificial Vanilla Flavor Palm Oil Salt Stevia Nutrition facts (per 28 gram serving): 110 Calories 9 g Total Fat 6 g Saturated Fat 0 g Trans Fat 5 g Cholesterol 50 mg Sodium 7 g Total Carbohydrates 1 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 3 g Protein Additional vitamins and minerals: 20% DV Vitamin D 4% DV Vitamin C 2% DV Calcium 6% DV Iron 2% DV Potassium Final Thoughts Trying to make your own cheesecake at home can be time consuming, since you have to make a crust, filling, then bake and cool. The next time you want to impress your friends, you could serve a frozen cheesecake from Sara Lee or The Cheesecake Factory. Or, you could provide your guests with a healthier alternative, like Enlightened and Daiya, and help those with dietary restrictions enjoy dessert while not experiencing any adverse effects. Related Questions Is cheesecake healthy for you? Cheesecake is a very decadent dessert, with a high content of fat, sugar, carbs, and cholesterol. While there are some brands which have tried to make a healthier version, overall, cheesecake should be enjoyed in moderation, considering its lack of nutritional value. What is the difference between New York style and Italian cheesecake? New York style cheesecake is made with cream cheese, while Italian style is made with ricotta cheese. This makes for a lighter and dryer dessert, and often has more of a cake-like texture. Is cheesecake actually a pie? According to Alton Brown, cheesecake is actually a pie. Moreover, he actually considers it a custard pie. With its filling on top of a crust, this makes perfect sense to think of it as more of a pie than a cake. But if it’s called cheese pie, then people may confuse it with the Arabic dish, which is made with a type of pizza dough and feta or akkawi cheese. Related Guides Best Biscotti Brands Top Wafer Cookies Brands Is Cream Cheese Gluten Free?