Plant-Based Cheese and Dairy Alternatives Your Family Will Love

plant-based milks

Do you want to help transition your family to eating less dairy? Read why and how you’ll feel better by Ditching-the-Dairy.

Want to know more about dairy-free alternatives?

I recently wrote a post called 6 Reasons Your Child Should Be Dairy Free Today. If you haven't checked it out yet, you’ll find full of easy-to-read evidence-based information about dairy and children. 

Today I want to showcase plant-based dairy alternatives to make your life easier and your meals more delicious.

You'll be happy to know you can still be plant-based and have your "dairy" too. When my family started our plant-based journey, we went "all in". We gave up all meat, eggs, dairy, fish, and nearly all processed foods for 30 days.

It was life-changing, and we never went back to our old way of eating. We started by following Dr. McDougall's The Starch Solution, which is a whole foods plant-based diet based on unprocessed, natural starches like potatoes, sweet potatoes,  whole grains and legumes and also includes other fruits, vegetables and minimally processed foods.

Although we will continue to remain forever plant-based, we are a little less strict about our diet these days.  Soy creamer has become a staple and we occasionally enjoy other dairy-free vegan treats (like yummy ice cream).

I have to say, at first we weren’t big fans of the vegan dairy we tried (which were only a few things). The texture and taste is different from the real thing. Our first experience with dairy-free cheese was at Mod Pizza. Mod Pizza is one a restaurant where you design your own personal pizza, and lucky us, they had a vegan cheese option Daiya Mozzarella Style Cheese Shreds.

The flavor of the cheese was pretty good, but I didn’t care for the texture on the pizza. Later I discovered that the taste and texture of Daiya Cheddar Style Cheese Shreds is great for melty things like quesadillas, veggie "cheeseburgers" and vegan mac-n-cheese. Just not on pizza. And my family approves.

Don't get me wrong, it took time to transition from dairy to a place where we truly like and enjoy plant-based dairy substitutes. But totally worth it!

Below are some plant-based dairy products my family now loves. And I’ll point you to some great resources if you like to try new recipes.If you're adventurous, you can even in dabble in making your own  gourmet, plant-based cheeses.

We love:   

Trader Joe's Cream Cheese and Tofutti Cream Cheese

Both are excellent, but my vegan friend Jodi, swears Trader Joe's cream cheese is the best. I would have to argue, because I love Tofutti cream cheese. It has the flavor and texture of cream cheese, and it doesn’t taste like tofu!

Try them both. Which do you like best?

Try this yummy 2-minute lunch:

Slice a plain or onion bagel, and spread with plant-based cream cheese. On top of the cream cheese, spread a thin  layer of pesto (Trader Joe's makes a yummy vegan pesto) and a slice of fresh tomato.  Sprinkle with nutritional yeast for shot of B vitamins and a pop of cheesy flavor. Add Trader Joe’s “Everything but the Bagel” sprinkles for extra deliciousness.

A couple tablespoons vegan cream cheese also elevates mashed potatoes to a velvety bliss.

Silk Unsweetened Soy or Almond Milk

We like these better than cow’s milk.   I always get the unsweetened kind so it can be added to savory or sweet dishes.  You definitely do not want sweetness or vanilla flavor in your mashed potatoes.

Daiya Cheddar Cheese Shreds

Great for mac-n-cheese, chili mac,  grilled cheese and quesadillas. Creamy. Melty. Gooey.

I’m not a fan of Daisy cheese for pizza. We prefer our pizza without any cheese at all. Or lately I’ve been making my own vegan cashew mozzarella by Vegan Richa, one of my all time favorite vegan recipe creators. OMG, this is so good!

Trader Joe’s Organic Soy Creamy Frozen Dessert

Here in Portland, Oregon there are some amazing locally handcrafted coconut milk-based ice creams. But my absolute favorite of the non-dairy ice creams is Trader Joe’s. The texture is smooth and creamy but not too rich. The flavor is on-point. It doesn't leave your mouth with a waxy coating like some high-fat coconut ice creams.

Do I sound like I know ice cream? One might even say I'm an ice cream connoisseur.  I used to be a die-hard lover of Haagen Dazs, but I don’t eat it anymore and I don’t care for Haagen Dazs dairy free version. If I’m not making ‘nice cream’ at home, Trader Joe’s satisfies my craving for good ice-cream!

Silk Soy Creamer

It might even be better than half-n-half. We like the original flavor, which is neutral.  But it also comes in other yummy flavors that will brighten up your morning joe.

Smart Balance and Earth Balance Buttery Spread

We don’t use a lot of it, haha, but when we do, it’s our go-to plant-based butter replacement.  It has the same fat ratio as butter, so you can cook and bake with it, too.

Nutritional Yeast

It's a cheesy flavored dried, inactivated yeast rich in vitamin B12 and protein. My kids shake it on popcorn, pasta, soup and salad.

Go Veggie Grated Parmesan Style Topping

It actually tastes like Parmesan cheese. Adds authenticity to you Italian meal creations.

Or, make your own plant-based parm. It’s sooo good!

Silk Soy or Almond Yogurt

These are the best I've tasted.  We don't eat much yogurt in our house, so I haven't tasted many brands. Please share your favorite plant-based yogurt in the comment section at the bottom so we can all try it!!

Make your own dairy-free everything!

If  you want to make your own plant-based “dairy” products you will find no shortage of  tasty recipes, from simple to gourmet,  in cookbooks, food blogs, Pinterest, and YouTube.This Cheese in Nuts is a new cookbook all about making delicious, vegan, nut-based cheeses at home. It's by Julie Piatt, a longtime vegan and yogi married to the fittest man on the planet, Rich Roll who is also plant-based and one of my favorite authors and podcasters.

Jenna Claiborne, a trained chef who is also a plant-based food Blogger at Sweet Potato Soul, makes some down-home, healthy, plant-based mac-n-cheese. You really have to try it!   I’ve made many of her recipes for my family and they’re always a hit.   

If you haven't yet tried the Forks Over Knives website or their App you are missing out!  I have the App on my iPhone, and as a busy working mom it's super helpful. I use it all the time. Forks Over Knives has their own version of plant-based mac-n-cheese and about a million more recipes that will keep your waistline trim and your family satisfied.  Their Spiked Sour Cream is a great substitute for the real thing, easy to make and delicious on mashed potatoes or burritos.

Have no fear if you're worried that you might be missing some of the nutrients found in real dairy.

Most plant-based milks are fortified with the same amount of Vitamin D as cow's milk. Vitamin D is not found naturally in cow's milk, it's added.And plant-based milks also have calcium and protein, so you won't be missing a thing--except for the saturated fat, casein, whey and lactose that can be problematic for many people.

Finally, remember that plant-based/vegan cheeses and creamy treats are high in fat and calories just like their dairy counterparts. So even though they won't clog up your arteries, they’re no friend to your waistline if you're trying to slim down.

Have fun experimenting and please share your thoughts and your favorite plant-based yogurts below.

Smiles,

Heidi