Heart Healthy Chicken Grilled Cheese

Many chicken sandwich recipes can be healthy, but making a grilled cheese sandwich healthy is not as easy. We lowered the calories and fat content by combining lean chicken breasts with reduced fat cheese. There’s enough cheese to give you the gooey consistency you crave without going overboard. Using whole wheat bread adds fiber and nutrients. We added grapes for a punch of unexpected sweetness, but you can also make healthy grilled cheese sandwiches more satisfying and higher in nutrients by adding vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, onion or peppers or fruits, like apples or pears. Using just a small amount of olive oil instead of butter to cook the sandwich also makes this sandwich healthier.

It’s pretty easy to make a grilled cheese chicken sandwich gluten free. Just make sure you use gluten free bread, which you can find in many grocery stores. Most cheeses are naturally gluten free, although some processed cheeses may contain gluten so always check the label. You can also include cooked chicken (without breading) and vegetables, as they’re naturally gluten free.

Cheese is typically high in fat, sodium and calories. But that doesn’t mean you can never eat cheese on a healthy diet. When eating cheese, do so in moderation. Opt for cheeses that are lower in fat and sodium, such as fresh mozzarella, feta, parmesan, Swiss and goat cheese, or use reduced-fat versions of your favorite cheese. One way to enjoy cheese on a heart-healthy diet is to add other ingredients to your recipe so you still get the flavor of the cheese without needing to use so much.