By: Sammy Griffith, RD, LDN
The first time I was introduced to nutritional yeast was during my dietetic internship. I was teaching a 2nd grade class about healthy eating and was tasked with bringing in a nutritious snack that would excite a bunch of 8-year-olds. Rather than bringing something boring like celery and peanut butter, I wanted to surprise the kids with something they might not expect. I decided to bring in popcorn topped with “Nooch” (nutritional yeast). 
Why? Dietitians know it is high protein and has an unexpected cheesy flavor. Plus, I knew if I called it “Nooch”, it would inevitably crack a few smiles!
The snack was a great success, and many kids wanted to bring the recipe home to share with their family. While nutritional yeast is a great topper on popcorn, it can really find its way into any recipe. Nutritional yeast can be easily used in mac and cheese, lasagna and pizza to boost protein while enhancing those dishes’ “cheese” flavor.
Another great benefit of using nutritional yeast is its high content of B-vitamins. We have spoken about how vital B-vitamins are in previous RD kitchen posts. Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Pyridoxine are all essential vitamins for converting our food to energy throughout the day.
For this week’s RD kitchen taste test, I will bring in the same “cheesy” popcorn that my 2nd grade class enjoyed so much. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
