SAY CHEESE…..
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n the US alone, each person consumes over 38 pounds of cheese, on average, per year. That’s a lot of cheese! Clearly, Americans have a love affair with cheese, making it one of the hardest foods to give up for many people switching to plant-based diets.
Thankfully to help with this transition, there are a variety of dairy-free options available that are much more palatable than the first non-dairy tofu-based cheeses introduced in the 1980’s.
Today, we have the choice of many different plant-based cheeses made from soy, nuts and seeds such as macadamia, cashews, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and even coconut, that come in a wide selection of flavors that easily rival their dairy counterparts, and styles – including artisan cheeses and cream cheese!
Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Provolone, Colby-Jack, American, Pepper-Jack, Mozzarella, Parmesan – even Feta crumbles are all available and can be used just like you would with dairy. So sprinkle plant-based parmesan on your favorite pasta, add a slice of Gouda or Provolone to a sandwich, make your lasagna – or pizza extra cheesy with mozzarella, dress up tacos and enchiladas with shredded American – or make a gooey, cheesy grilled cheese; and perk up a salad with feta! So many choices just waiting for you to give these delicious cheeses a try!
Follow Your Heart, Violife, Miyokos, Field Roast Chao cheese, 365, Parmela Creamery and Tofutti and Follow Your Heart for cream cheese are but a few of the many brands available out there. Click on each and read about these incredible plant-based products, find out if they are available in a store near you and try them.
It is important not to go into plant based-cheeses with the expectation that they are going to be identical to dairy cheeses in taste and texture because they aren’t. But they are delicious, and it is essential to shop around and taste test because out of the many available, you will find dairy-free-cheese that is pleasing to your palate.
Remember, by purchasing dairy-free cheeses not only are you saving the lives of cows, but you are supporting companies that value sustainability and the environment.
Make it stand out.