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National Grilled Cheese Day is a totally unofficial holiday, but we celebrate it with great enthusiasm every April 12th anyway. Grilled cheese is delicious, and it can be nutritious and great for your dental and overall health. Read on for all the details, and some amazing recipes – then let the celebration begin!
But first, a little history lesson…
Cheese has been around for almost forever, so has bread, and no doubt people were happily heating and eating these two favorite foods together since around the time that fire’s effect on food was discovered. But the gooey deliciousness that we now associate with a grilled cheese sandwich can be traced back to the 1920s, when Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented a bread slicer. Teamed with the processed cheese that had just been patented by James L. Kraft, and you had an easy and cheap recipe.
Back then, a grilled cheese was known as a “cheese melt” or “toasted cheese” and was typically served with the cheese melted on just one slice of bread. Recipes calling for a second piece of bread show up in cookbooks dating back to the late 1930s. The actual term “grilled cheese” doesn’t make an appearance in print until the 1960s.
And now, grilled cheese can be as simple or fancy as you want to make it. But is it good for your oral and overall health?
Say Cheese
Research indicates that cheese is your smile’s best food buddy. Cheese – especially aged cheese – contains natural cavity-fighting agents, as well as vitamins that strengthen teeth. The calcium and phosphate in cheese helps balance pH levels in the mouth, preserves tooth enamel, produces saliva, and kills bacteria that cause cavities and disease.
Cheese is a great way to end a meal, as it will help your teeth recover from whatever acidic and/or sweet foods you may have consumed. It’s also an excellent snack on its own. But is it still healthy when its melted between two slices of bread?
It depends.
Healthy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Most of the benefits of cheese are present in a grilled cheese sandwich, except for the increased saliva production that occurs when you munch on firmer foods like a chewy cube of cheddar or other semi-hard or hard cheese.
The type of bread you choose also has a huge impact on the healthiness (or not) of your grilled cheese sandwich. Overly processed foods like white packaged breads aren’t the best choice. Whole grain, minimally processed bread without added sugars is far better.
And consider how you’re “grilling” your cheese. If you’re slathering it in butter or mayonnaise – it’s probably not a meal you’d want to indulge in daily. If you’re grilling it under a broiler or using a sandwich press, it’s probably a healthier food choice.
Grilled Cheese Ideas
For some great ideas for grilled cheese sandwiches that you can happily eat often, check out the recipes here. You’ll also find an impressive number of grilled cheese options (some healthier than others) here.
No matter how you choose to make your grilled cheese, remember that eating healthy is just part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Getting your wellness and dental checkups is critical to your overall health, as well. If budget is a concern, consider a dental savigns plan, which can save plan members 10-60% on most dental procedures. Many plans also come with other wellness savings, such as discounts on prescription drugs, hearing, vision, and chiropractic care, as well as telehealth services.
See how you can lead a happier, healthier life one smile (and bite!) at a time. Learn more about dental savings plans here.