From vegetarian to vegan. (basically giving up cheese)... HOW?

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

The only thing standing in my way now is cheese. I don't drink milk or eat chocolate/things with gelatin in them, so I don't have much else to get rid of to go vegan.

It's just cheese. You'd think it wouldn't be that hard.

How do I get over this last hurdle?

[smbolisnch]

1. Well there are several faux cheeses. :)

If you go to a health food market or a major supermarket, they should have a health food section. If you look through, there are soy cheeses. Be careful though and make sure you read the ingredients carefully. Some things say "veggie cheese" but that doesn't mean that it's vegan!

Most importantly, I recommend being creative with your cooking and don't be afraid to try new things! A lot of vegan recipes have such great flavors from spices and fresh ingredients that you'll never miss cheese.

Good luck! You won't regret going vegan.....there are so many great benefits! :D

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

2. Thank you

It's an easier switch for me than for a normal person, I think. I don't use products with animal testing and all that, so there's nothing to give up there. I don't wear leather or eat much dairy (sans the cheese), so there's another hurdle out of the way. I've been eating soy products forever, so that's no big deal.

I just watched "Supersize Me" tonight, and though I don't eat out at fast food places ever, the comment about cheese having certain addictive ingredients stuck with me.

Thanks for your suggestions, after this big snowstorm, I will be planning to investigate in my grocery store. :)

[Elad]

3. Giving up cheese is very hard

Cheese is highly addictive, it's probably the one thing I still crave on a regular basis.

One thing I found that helped was switching from dairy based cheeses to soy based cheeses before I went vegan. Soyco and Soymage make the "Veggie Shreds" and "Veggie Slices" brand soy cheeses, which are soy-based, but not vegan. They add a milk-protein called casein back in that makes them melt/taste like real cheese. They're very realistic.

If you switch to using those, gradually, and let your body adjust to not having to digest dairy cheese for awhile, you'll find when you do eat dairy cheese that your body is sending you clear signals it no longer wants that junk, and it becomes easier to avoid it.

Vegan cheese has come a long way, but there is still no perfect substitute. There is a new product out called Vegan Gourmet Cheese by the wonderful makers of Vegenaise, which is the closest I've found to actual cheese. Tofutti makes slices that are passable on sandwiches, as well.

But my advice is to go in steps - start by slowly replacing dairy cheese with the non-vegan soy cheeses, little by little, until you eat mostly soy cheeses. Once your body adjusts to the higher quality cheeses and adjusts to not having dairy ingested constantly, you'll find it easier and easier to avoid dairy cheese. :)

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

4. Thanks, elad!

I just saw Supersize Me (I know, watching it a little late in the game, didn't think it'd be a big deal since I don't eat fast food anyway - I don't need the shock!), and was really struck by the guy's comment about cheese being highly addictive. I'd never known that about cheese, and I like to think I'm somewhat of a know-it-all when it comes to different foods. Guess not!

I have seen the Veggie Slices you're referring to in the grocery store. Next time I am there, I will pick up a package or two.

Also, what is the difference between non-vegan soy cheeses and vegan soy cheeses? :shrug:

[Elad]

6. Most soy based cheeses use casein

which is a protein found in milk. They add the casein because it is what gives the cheese the melty affect and texture of real cheese. Therefore, those cheeses aren't 100% vegan, but they're a great step in the right direction and are wonderful for easing yourself off of dairy cheese.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

7. thanks!

I just re-read your first post and realized you had already clarified that... At 2 in the morning, it's easy to have one of those "duh" moments!

[justiceischeap]

5. That was the hardest for me to give up as well

I loved me some cheese but I just went cold turkey (sorry for the turkey reference). Of course, I was dating a vegan at the time who demanded I be vegan as well, so I had incentive. I stay away from the faux cheeses 'cause I haven't found any I really like.

Other than casein, look out for whey as well. Check out this site too for help, it lists foods that are vegan and we didn't even know it.

http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/">I Cant Believe Its Vegan!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

8. Wow!

I had no idea all of those foods were vegan. That's crazy.

[justiceischeap]

9. Yeah, it's helpful! (eom)

[Maru Kitteh]

10. as a serious cheese addict myself, let me tell you

Vegan Gourmet Cheese by Follow Your Heart.... same people who make Veganaise................ R O C K S :bounce:

I LOVE THE STUFF............ Yummmmmmmmmmm......... yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy

Did I mention I like it?

You can buy it online too.

http://shop1.laservers.com/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=FYH&Category_Code=G

http://www.imearthkind.com/

Make yourself a pizza, immediately, when it arrives.

Edited to add: It is TOTALLY VEGAN - no animal product or byproducts or proteins whatsoever. Yummy and guilt free, what else do you want?

[kayell]

11. Motivation, Rewards

If you are mainly motivated by health, read Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, MD

If you are mainly motivated by animal or environmental issues, read The Food Revolution by John Robbins.

Then clear out the house of anything that will tempt you.

Then lay in some other foods you really, really love. Things you think of as indulgences. Mine were watercress, asparagus, chipotle tabasco and some hazelnuts. (not combined :scared: ) Think of how wonderful these are to be able to eat whenever you are tempted by cheese, and that they don't harm you, the animals, or the environment.

At least this is working for me.
kayell, back on the vegan program

[smurfygirl]

12. cheese wasn't hard for me when I found out

what it is. PUS.

But, to answer your question, there is nutritional yeast that tastes very cheesy. I have several recipes on mac and cheese, cheesy sauce, etc. Once you learn how to make it you'll wonder why anyone eats cheese. It's really easy. I will post my recipes in the recipe thread later today for you. Nutritional yeast can be found at most health food stores. Whole foods carries it in the bulk food section. I prefer flakes but powder works too.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

13. thanksss

I know what cheese is too, but it still hasn't deterred me, oddly enough.

[AlienGirl]

14. Miso! And this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0913990426/102-6805485-6572161

Miso and other fermented products can help overcome the craving for cheese. The Uncheese Cookbook has a ton of good recipes (the vegan "Welsh rarebit" is awesome).

Tucker

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

15. Thanks, Tucker!

Everyone's been great here! I went to the supermarket today and bought some of the stuff people have suggested. Hopefully this will be enough to get me motivated!

[CrispyQ]

16. Avocados.

I began by substituting avocados for cheese on all my sandwiches. Yum! No more feeling of 'missing something.'

Also, like others have said, the Vegan Gourmet cheese is very good. The Uncheese Cookbook that was mentioned has some great recipes. Also there is a powdered mix called Chreese that is very decent, too.

Vegan Gourmet cheese: http://www.imearthkind.com/what's%20new.htm

Chreese: http://www.chreese.com/

Uncheese Cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0913990426/qid=1106928033/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/002-9401096-9257634

BTW, Gorgonzola cheese was my beast to tame. I still crave it. Good luck! You can do it & you will feel so much better for it.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

18. I love you! Thanks

you guys are so helpful...

I'm ordering the vegan gourmet cheese asap, right now I'm still on the "Veggie Slices"... even though they aren't totally vegan, my body is thanking me already. It's so much easier to digest!

[Stuckinthebush]

17. The desire for cheese still haunts me

But there are some pretty good soy cheeses out there. There are these veggie slices with jalapeno that are great with a Boca burger.

[liberalmuse]

19. It was my last hurdle, too.

Even when it started grossing me out, I still would use it. But then I started cooking vegan dishes (except for that damned shredded cheese I had to put in everything) and noticed the cheese would 'gum up' my dishes and drown out the unique flavors of the new recipes I was trying. After that, it was easy to give up cheese.

There's always nutritional yeast if you get the cheese craving, and it's SO much better for you. I'm finding there's many other ways to enhance food instead of glopping cheese in it. I won't even put vegan cheese in my veggie burritos anymore, much preferring sunflower nuts and the salsa verde my friend's mom makes for me.

If you still love cheese, drop it down a notch and get those veggie slices they sell in the supermarkets by the vegetarian meats in the produce section--they are very good, and though they have caseinate in them, they're probably 98% dairy free (and they melt pretty good, too).

On edit: Oops! Sorry. I just discovered this little haven at DU and should have read all the posts before jumping in.