Cheese, Mexican blend, reduced fat
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a convenient, pre-shredded blend of cheeses like Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla, and Asadero, designed for melting. It offers a mild, creamy, and slightly tangy flavor with a smooth, stringy texture when heated. Nutritionally, it's a dense source of protein and fat, with minimal carbohydrates.
Calorie split: 34% protein · 5% carbs · 61% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its ultimate melting ability and balanced, crowd-pleasing flavor that's milder than sharp cheddar but more flavorful than plain Monterey Jack. It's the go-to shortcut for authentic Tex-Mex and Mexican-American comfort food.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The reduced-fat version can sometimes have a slightly rubbery texture when melted and may lack the rich mouthfeel of full-fat cheese. It's also high in sodium and contains common dairy allergens. To counteract, use it in dishes with other flavorful ingredients (like salsa or spices) to compensate for texture, and always check labels for sodium content. Pairing it with high-fiber foods like beans or vegetables can help balance a meal.
Key benefits
- High-quality complete protein source
- Rich in calcium for bone health
- Provides conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
- Convenient, pre-shredded for quick use
- Low in carbohydrates and sugar
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'reduced fat' designation typically means it contains at least 25% less fat than the regular version, but it often achieves this by blending in cheeses with lower fat content, like Queso Quesadilla, which is naturally lower in fat than aged Cheddar.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 48.2 g |
| Energy | 282 kcal |
| Protein | 24.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 19.4 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 3.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.56 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 1146 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.13 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 35.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 583 mg |
| Potassium, K | 93.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 776 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 4.3 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 15.5 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.03 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.30 mg |
| Niacin | 0.06 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.08 mg |
| Folate, total | 20.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 20.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 20.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 13.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.7 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 155 ug |
| Retinol | 151 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 50.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.17 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.6 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 11.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.72 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.42 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.24 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.52 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.56 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 1.9 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 5.0 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 2.2 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.0 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 4.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.04 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.75 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.57 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 62.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Crackers, cheese, sandwich-type with cheese filling — USDA does not publish this profile for Cheese.
| Tryptophan | 0.11 g |
| Threonine | 0.33 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.36 g |
| Leucine | 0.64 g |
| Lysine | 0.39 g |
| Methionine | 0.15 g |
| Cystine | 0.15 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.35 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.25 g |
| Valine | 0.38 g |
| Arginine | 0.29 g |
| Histidine | 0.17 g |
| Alanine | 0.30 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.52 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.24 g |
| Proline | 0.77 g |
| Serine | 0.40 g |
FAQ
Is reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese as good for melting as regular?
It melts well but can sometimes have a slightly less creamy, more elastic texture due to lower fat content. It's perfect for casual dishes like nachos and quesadillas, but for a ultra-smooth sauce, you might notice a difference.
Can I use this in a salad?
Yes, its mild flavor works well crumbled over taco salads or southwestern chopped salads. Its pre-shredded format saves time, though fresh crumbling might offer better texture.
What's the main difference between this and a 'Mexican' or 'Chihuahua' cheese?
This is a standardized American blend for convenience and consistent melting. Traditional Mexican cheeses like Chihuahua (or Queso Menonita) are specific, often fresher cheeses with distinct regional flavors and textures.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.82 kcal/g · 35% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.6 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 8.34 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.