“My girlfriend and I are no longer eating dairy. Are there any healthy cheese alternatives that actually taste good?” – Simon
Great question! There are many reasons why people choose to stop eating dairy, including lactose intolerance, ethical and environmental concerns, choosing a paleo eating style, or even to help manage health conditions such as endometriosis, reproductive or breast cancers, asthma, or inflammatory bowel disease among many others.
Missing cheese is the most common challenge I hear from clients who have gone dairy-free or vegan. Most non-dairy cheeses found in the grocery store are usually either soy or rice based, full of inflammatory processed oils and refined starches, really don’t taste very good (at all), and are not healthy choices. Some even contain the milk protein casein, meaning they are not dairy-free or vegan as they claim to be.
Nutritional yeast is an option, which is a deactivated yeast high in B vitamins with a surprisingly cheesy, savory, umami-rich flavor. The only thing to be aware of is that nutritional yeast does contain a natural form of MSG (free glutamates) which can potentially trigger appetite, migraines, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and IC flare-ups among other possible symptoms in sensitive people. If one is sensitive to MSG it is usually a wise idea to also avoid nutritional yeast.
Another great option is to make your own raw nut cheese at home. I know it sounds weird, but as far as dairy-free cheeses go, it is your healthiest and best tasting option. It is quick and easy to do (all you need is a food processor or blender) and you can find countless variations online, ranging from soft spreadable cheese, crumbly cheese for salads, to hard “Parmesan” cheese. It is also a really smart way to use your nut pulp after making nut milk at home. One of my favorite blogs with loads of delicious nut cheese recipes is Nouveau Raw. Some larger gourmet health food stores also make raw nut cheese, which is usually available in the deli section.
What is your favorite homemade non-dairy cheese? Let me know in the comments below and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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