"good" vs "bad" cheese

[alexandrafrench]

With a little french heritage, cheese and wine are in my veins. I can moderate my wine intake but cheese is my all-time guilty pleasure. So which to choose? There are hundreds of types available at my local grocer.  I know the basics. Good source of protein. High in fat. Kraft american singles-OUT. Velveeta-OUT.  cream cheese=bad, cottage cheese=good. Less processed is good but which types of cheese are less processed. Goat cheese is better than Cow cheese?  Is hard or soft cheese better for you? I know Raw cheese is best but impossible to find. And what about portion sizes?  Someone please help this poor cheese lover.

[fleaf]

A "portion" of cheese is considered 1 ounce or the size of a pair of dice, in the same way that a serving of meat, poultry or fish is considered at 3 ounces (the size of the palm of hand or a deck of cards). 

As for the rest, it is a question of trial and error.  Some people can tolerate aged, hard cheeses and some people can't.  Experiment.  Soft cheeses tend to be less processed, but as you know, they offer less distinctive flavors and textures. 

Moderation in all things, including moderation.  Don't eat so much cheese that you make yourself sick.  Eat slowly and savor the cheese you do eat and you will be more likely to eat less at one time.  For people who have difficulty digesting cow dairy, sometimes goat and sheep cheese is better tolerated, but again, it is something to observe for oneself more than a mandate.

If one's health is compromised, and/or one already knows that one is sensitive to mold, for instance, it will be better to avoid blue cheeses, for example, which by their nature contain more mold. 

Bon appétit...

Fern