Dairy-free Alternatives

I have been asked by many friends who are interested in moving towards a vegan lifestyle what the best dairy alternatives are, so I decided to create a preliminary dairy-free guide to retail purchase and recipe books. Amidst the growing awareness of how dairy is obtained – and the insufferable ethical implications, people have been abandoning dairy products in droves.  As ground-breaking documentaries, such as Forks Over Knives and What The Health have revealed the harmful effects of consuming animal products, just as many are going plant-based for their health and to feel better.

Cheese is addictive, and in most cases, it’s the one thing people can’t imagine giving up. Luckily, the plant-based food space is in a renaissance period – and the products coming out are stunningly good. So once you know what’s available, it’s simply switching the (animal-based) products out for the plant-based ones.

So, why is cheese so addictive?  Scientists discovered traces of the chemical morphine, a highly addictive opiate, in cheese; which naturally exists to enhance the maternal bond between a cow and her calf.  Researchers also discovered the protein casein in dairy.  When casein is digested, it breaks into casomorphins, which also produces opiate effects. Casein is concentrated in cheese, and therefore so is the level of casomorphins. So, if you are eating dairy cheese, you are probably hooked on the high without even realizing it.

Dairy is also packed with saturated animal fat, cholesterol, estrogen, cortisol and other hormones – and it is highly inflammatory to the human body, which can cause a wide range of health-related issues.  After all, milk is designed to make a calf grow 600-800 pounds in his/her first year of life.  Nature intended for bovine milk to serve as baby cow growth fluid – not as a weaned-human beverage or pizza topping. The human body doesn’t really understand how to efficiently break it down.  Many consumers are lactose intolerant – or – at least, sensitive, and will use antacids or lactase products to mask their symptoms discomfort, rather than face a life without cheese and ice cream.  That is where all the dairy alternatives come in to play!  You can leave dairy behind for good! There are plant-based cheeses produced in the style of camembert, le chèvre, brie, cheddar, provolone, parmesan, mozzarella…sliced, shredded, spreadable, block; in every form imaginable. You can find cream cheese, creamer, countless delightful milks derived from nuts, seeds and legumes, mayonnaise, butters, ice cream, desserts…endless possibilities!  And to those who are determined to come up with their own culinary masterpieces, there are plenty of artisan vegan cheese cookbooks to provide a foundation.

And now, without further ado, lets get to the good stuff.  In alphabetical order by brand:

Ben & Jerry’s now has almond based, certified vegan ice creams! They are just heaven! https://www.benjerry.com/flavors/non-dairy

Califa Farms offers up some tasty Almond-based milks, creamers, cold-brew coffees and other animal-free beverages.  Their distribution has expanded quite a bit, so you can find them in most grocery stores.  For a full listing of their products: https://www.califiafarms.com

Daiya has been around for a long time.  This brand is one of my least favorites, but it is readily available everywhere.  Their block cheeses are decent and their cheesecake (frozen) is excellent. https://daiyafoods.com

Earth Balance makes an excellent butter alternative.  They also have scrumptious (yet highly addictive) snacks that replace some of our childhood favorites such as cheeze crackers and cheeze popcorn. Available in your local grocery store. https://earthbalancenatural.com

Elmhurst makes some very rich and gourmet nut milks: walnut, cashew, almond and hazelnut.  Formerly a diary that switched to plant-based.  http://www.elmhurst1925.com

Field Roast Chao makes one of the best sliced cheeses. Chao Original and Tomato Cayenne are my favorites.  Great on sandwiches and makes excellent grilled cheese (melts nicely, too!)  They also have a new Mac n’ Cheese line.  Available online and in stores.  http://fieldroast.com/product/chao

Follow Your Heart is extremely versatile in their product offerings. Their shredded mozzarella is really good on pizza, lasagne and casseroles. Their sliced cheeses are phenomenal, and definitely comparable to Field Roast Chao.  (Flavors:  American, Provolone,  Mozzarella, Monterey Jack and Smoked Gouda). For some reason, their block cheeses don’t hold up to the same standard and I do NOT recommend the blocks. They also have a new shredded parmesan in the tub that is perfect and melts like a dream.  Follow Your Heart also offers a great sour cream, mayonnaise, and salad dressings. Most recently, they created a vegan “egg” mix that is fantastic in baking and making pancakes, quiches, waffles, or any dish normally requiring egg. https://followyourheart.com

Go Veggie! (Vegan) Parmesan Style Topping tastes absolutely perfect sprinkled on pasta and Italian dishes. Make sure it’s the vegan one.  They have some products that are casein free but not vegan.  ALL of their other vegan products taste pretty awful, so I only recommend the vegan parmesan 🙁

Haagen-Dazs has a decadent dairy-free ice cream line too: https://www.haagendazs.us/products/non-dairy

Hampton Creek  (otherwise known as Just.) makes my favorite vegan mayo.  They are usually available at Whole Foods, Walmart, Publix and other grocery stores (https://www.eatjust.com/en-us/find-us).  They also have salad dressings like ranch and caesar. Their latest addition is vegan cookie dough (peanut or chocolate chip).  The cookies come out insanely delicious. They just announced that they are launching a vegan “egg” so stay tuned on that! https://www.eatjust.com/

Heidi Ho has a “goat-cheese style” spread that is truly AMAZING!!! They also have a“Chia Cheeze” product that is great for mac and cheese. They are available online and at Whole Foods. http://www.heidiho.com

Kite Hill has the best cream cheese ever. They also have some incredible brie and ricotta style cheeses and delicious yogurt.  They recently added ravioli to their list of products too. They are available at Publix and at Whole Foods. Find Your Nearest Location.  http://www.kite-hill.com

Miyoko’s Kitchen (one of my personal favorites) makes phenomenal Artisan cheese. She also makes fantastic vegan “butter”that is also palm-oil-free.  You can purchase online and it ships 2-day cold pack from California. They have expanded their distribution and can also be purchased at Select In-Store Retail Locations, including many Whole Foods locations. http://www.miyokoskitchen.com

Violife has incredible shredded cheeses, sliced cheeses, cream cheese, parmesan-style block cheese and a feta-style cheese (which seems more like a chevre to me). All free of of dairy, gluten, soy and nuts.