(Image:prom dresses)
Okay, so you’ve decided to ditch dairy. Good for you! Your body will thank
you in a myriad of ways, not to mention your conscience. Believe it or not,
giving up dairy products is one of the very best things you can do to
demonstrate your commitment to living gently on this planet, as well as
protecting your own health for the years ahead.
Now what do you do about that pesky little problem called cheese? If you’re
like many people, giving up cheese can be a daunting thought, especially if
you’re used to relying on it when there don’t seem to be any other “vegetarian“
options.
But there’s no reason this should have to be the case. Sure, it’s true that
once upon a time, giving up dairy meant giving up cheese, but in today’s world,
the range of vegan cheeses seems to be growing all the time.
With so many to choose from, how do you know which one to try? Well hey, why
stop at one? In fact, the most sensible thing is to test out different cheeses
until you find one that really suits your taste preferences. From soy to
tapioca, to almond, macadamia and hazelnut, vegan cheeses are all very different
to each other, so don’t be fooled into believing that you’re out of options just
because a particular brand doesn’t float your boat.
Choosing the right vegan cheese depends largely on what you intend to use it
for. There are many cheese dishes you can create in your own home, including
simple sauces made using tofu, nutritional yeast, tahini, and a few simple
seasonings. This same basic formula can be used to create cheesy pasta dishes, a
topping for lasagna, or fresh ricotta to have on crackers.
With a simple Google search for recipes, you’ll find that there is no
shortage of inspiration for the aspiring vegan cheese chef. In fact, there are
entire books devoted to explaining the fine art of dairy-free cheese making,
proving that an intrepid adventurer can hand-make vegan goodies from gouda to
brie to mozzarella.
And don’t be discouraged if you’re allergic to soy, as there are plenty of
soy-free options. Daiya cheeses (wedges, slices, shreds and spreads) are all
soy-free and tapioca-based, and there are plenty of soy-free nut cheeses, such
as Treeline and Dr. Cow.
If you’re craving pizza with cheese that melts and stretches, Daiya shreds
may well be your best option.
Daiya shreds also work really well for enchiladas, paninis and nachos, but
another good bet is Vegan Gourmet by Follow Your Heart. Although it doesn’t have
the stretch of Daiya, it also melts and seems to have a more neutral flavor.
Longing for a morning bagel with cream cheese? Check out Follow Your Heart,
Galaxy Foods or Sheese. As well as plain (great for cheesecakes!) vegan
spreadable cheeses are available in different flavors including cheddar, chive
and sweet chilli.
If you want to do a vegan wine and cheese tasting, you might want to look
into some of the new artisan cheeses, such as Treeline or Dr Cow.
Seeking queso for your corn chips? Food for Lovers, Nacheez and Nacho Mom’s
can all fulfill that craving.
If you like a little parmesan sprinkled on your pasta, there are a few
different brands out there, including a completely raw one called Parma, as well
as Parmela, GoVeggie and my own favorite, Bellissimo (made in New Zealand by
Angel Foods.)
Have a hankering for Mac ‘n’ Cheese? Well honestly, you can easily make it
yourself without any store-bought cheese at all (ask Google!), but there are
also several powdered sauce mixes to make it easy, including Road’s End Organics
and the cashew-based Beyond Better. And if you’re looking for really a quick
fix, Amy’s has a dairy-free frozen version of this classic comfort food, which
also happens to be gluten-free. Earth Balance also has two flavors of packaged
Mac ‘n’ Cheese, requiring nothing more than a little stove-cooking along with
vegan milk and butter.
Looking for a crunchy, cheesy snack? Beanfields have created an incredible
nacho-flavored corn chip that often leaves me wondering how on earth they did
it. And believe it or not, Earth Balance recently came out with Vegan Cheddar
Kettle Chips, Cheddar Squares and Aged White Cheddar Puffs and Popcorn!
And finally, if you want nothing more than a tasty cheese slice to go in
between two slices of bread with lettuce and tomato, and maybe even a little
vegan mayo (mmmmm), then I would recommend Daiya slices or wedges.
As you can see, the variety of vegan cheese alternatives on the market is far
from limited. And the options are even wider if you’re open to experimenting in
your own kitchen. With just a little culinary courage, you can open up a whole
world of vegan cheese-making using fresh, whole food ingredients.
When we make changes to our diet, one thing we find is that our tastes and
preferences change as our habits change. Flavors and aromas that were once
appealing can actually become quite the opposite as our bodies adjust to more
wholesome foods. I say this from experience. I was once a serious cheese eater,
enjoying everything from cheddar to camembert to blue cheese. Nowadays, just the
smell of dairy cheese has become quite a turn-off to me. So if you’re venturing
into the world of vegan food with trepidation about replacing familiar flavors
with new and different ones, rest assured that you will not feel the same way in
a month from now. In fact, since the cells in our taste buds renew themselves
every two weeks, there’s a good chance that your taste will catch up with your
convictions in no time!
And in the meantime, don’t be afraid to try something new! We now live in a
world where giving up dairy doesn’t mean giving up cheese… Now isn’t that
something to be grateful for?Read more here:
www.sheindress.co.uk/graduation-dresses
