Newbie needing help

[BronwynMendoza]

Hiya, BronwynMendoza, and congrats on going vegan!
I gave myself three years after going vegan to test out the cheese subs. I was totally addicted to cheese and it was the one thing that kept me from going vegan for years. That said, once I gave it up, I really didn't miss it, which sounds crazy, but it's true. I just exed it out in my mind as a food option. I use the Daiya shreds and slices and have been pretty happy with them so far. The cheddar slices are really tasty and go great with crackers.

Thankyou PTree15 [emoji4]
3 years no cheese! [emoji47] You are made of braver stuff than I! What vegan cheese did you try first? Cheese was holding me back also (that and chocolate) to the point that I was craving it all the time. I was going to go the way you did and what I was advised by friends to cut it out and essentially 'detox' from it. But then I was introduced to the vegan substitutes and found them a lot more palletable than I thought they would be! Its quite scary when you think what a hold dairy has on people...
I need to try this Daiya I hear so much about [emoji39]

 

[AeryFairy]

I was mad on cheese once upon a time. Then I cut dairy out of my diet for three months on a health kick (pre-veganism), and when I tried to go back I realised I'd become lactose intolerant. The cheese addict in me continued to eat it anyway for a while, but it just wasn't worth it in the end, so I cut dairy back out about a year before going vegan. It's been about five years dairy free now.

Luckily, it's a lot easier these days - for starters, as people have said, tesco have some great, reasonably affordable options. They have their blocks of hard cheese, which are good for sandwiches as well as melting onto stuff like pizza. They also have cream cheeses, which I really like because in addition to spreading them on stuff, you can melt them down and add some soy cream, making a quick cheese sauce for pasta etc.

There's lots of other options available too - Holland and Barrett tend to stock tofutt and cheezly (tofutti have slices which are basically identical to the American singles slices you'd have in a cheap burger), and most other health food stores will stock some variety (vegusto, sheese, and vio life are all pretty good - the tesco cheeses are made by sheese, but there are some varieties tesco don't stock, such as the sheese blue cheese which is totally amazing IMO). It's best to just try a few and see which ones you like best

 

[BronwynMendoza]

I was mad on cheese once upon a time. Then I cut dairy out of my diet for three months on a health kick (pre-veganism), and when I tried to go back I realised I'd become lactose intolerant. The cheese addict in me continued to eat it anyway for a while, but it just wasn't worth it in the end, so I cut dairy back out about a year before going vegan. It's been about five years dairy free now.

Luckily, it's a lot easier these days - for starters, as people have said, tesco have some great, reasonably affordable options. They have their blocks of hard cheese, which are good for sandwiches as well as melting onto stuff like pizza. They also have cream cheeses, which I really like because in addition to spreading them on stuff, you can melt them down and add some soy cream, making a quick cheese sauce for pasta etc.

There's lots of other options available too - Holland and Barrett tend to stock tofutt and cheezly (tofutti have slices which are basically identical to the American singles slices you'd have in a cheap burger), and most other health food stores will stock some variety (vegusto, sheese, and vio life are all pretty good - the tesco cheeses are made by sheese, but there are some varieties tesco don't stock, such as the sheese blue cheese which is totally amazing IMO). It's best to just try a few and see which ones you like best

Wow! So much information on cheese -thank you!!
It's amazing the variety that is available and I'm not ashamed to admit that I will probably seek out and try them all! It's also great to think that even cheese sauce isn't out of reach *delighted*

Im sorry to hear that you became lactose intolerant AeryFairy - quite a painful condition I've been told Did cutting out cheese help you make the decision to go vegan or do you think you would have ended up going down that road anyway?

Can't wait to go to the city and shamelessly empty the contents of Holland and Barrett, Tesco's free from section and Inverness Health food shop into my shabby Volvo Woohoo!!

 

[AeryFairy]

Wow! So much information on cheese -thank you!!
It's amazing the variety that is available and I'm not ashamed to admit that I will probably seek out and try them all! It's also great to think that even cheese sauce isn't out of reach *delighted*

Im sorry to hear that you became lactose intolerant AeryFairy - quite a painful condition I've been told Did cutting out cheese help you make the decision to go vegan or do you think you would have ended up going down that road anyway?

Can't wait to go to the city and shamelessly empty the contents of Holland and Barrett, Tesco's free from section and Inverness Health food shop into my shabby Volvo Woohoo!!

No problem - I could ramble on about vegan products foreeeeeeeever

Case in point - holland and Barrett are great for other stuff too - they stock a lot of fry's, redwoods/veg deli, and vegout products. Fake meat chunks, pies and pasties, burgers and sausages, chicken nuggets, fish fingers... And they regularly heavily reduce the chilled products if they're about to go out of date. The products freeze just fine, so I like to clear them out when they do that. Also keep an eye out for shelved products - jelly, tinned fake duck, biscuits and chocolate... I'll stop now There's a load more recommendations in the UK forum product thread

I think I would've ended up vegan either way, I was already experimenting with vegan food & products when I cut the dairy out, and I probably thought a little too long about making the switch. But being lactose intolerant definitely helped, it was actually a good thing in a weird way - I got used to checking for dairy in foods, and having to be fussier than just 'vegetarian' when eating out. And it made it seem like a much smallest transition too.

 

[BronwynMendoza]

No problem - I could ramble on about vegan products foreeeeeeeever

Case in point - holland and Barrett are great for other stuff too - they stock a lot of fry's, redwoods/veg deli, and vegout products. Fake meat chunks, pies and pasties, burgers and sausages, chicken nuggets, fish fingers... And they regularly heavily reduce the chilled products if they're about to go out of date. The products freeze just fine, so I like to clear them out when they do that. Also keep an eye out for shelved products - jelly, tinned fake duck, biscuits and chocolate... I'll stop now There's a load more recommendations in the UK forum product thread

I think I would've ended up vegan either way, I was already experimenting with vegan food & products when I cut the dairy out, and I probably thought a little too long about making the switch. But being lactose intolerant definitely helped, it was actually a good thing in a weird way - I got used to checking for dairy in foods, and having to be fussier than just 'vegetarian' when eating out. And it made it seem like a much smallest transition too.

Haha groovy I never tire of hearing about vegan creations and I will check out that uk thread in more depth soon! Even before I jumped from veggie to vegan I thought it was so clever and imaginative how the dairy and egg free products are made and what ingredients were used.

Holland and Barrett always made me think of an Aladdin's Cave of unknown goodies - tinned fake duck!? This I have to see! Wish it was next Saturday already!

So your lactose intolerance was a kind of blessing in disguise it's nice to think that nature gave you a wee hand

 

[BronwynMendoza]

Also "mmmm jelly" !!
Never thought I'd see that on the menu again

 

[PTree15]

Thankyou PTree15 [emoji4]
3 years no cheese! [emoji47] You are made of braver stuff than I! What vegan cheese did you try first? Cheese was holding me back also (that and chocolate) to the point that I was craving it all the time. I was going to go the way you did and what I was advised by friends to cut it out and essentially 'detox' from it. But then I was introduced to the vegan substitutes and found them a lot more palletable than I thought they would be! Its quite scary when you think what a hold dairy has on people...
I need to try this Daiya I hear so much about [emoji39]

It's great that you are liking the subs already. I was afraid I would be really disappointed, so I just didn't try the subs right away. I am very glad I finally tried the Daiya. That's about the only brand I use, save a few artisan vegan cheeses from a shop about an hour from me that features lots of homemade vegan creations. I am lucky it's not far.

 

[Oasis]

Do you have a favourite one Oasis?

Believe it or not, I haven't actually tried one yet! There are less options where I live though. The stores only carry Daiya (and not every store either mind you, I only know a couple) and there's also a newer brand called Go Veggie! that makes a vegan parmesan as well as slices. I'm interested in trying out the Daiya cheese, and the Go Veggie! parmesan, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

I was actually one of the oddballs that wasn't really big on cheese pre-vegan. For me, the big hurdle that was extremely difficult to give up -- it was the one thing that was actually heart breaking to think I'd never eat again -- was honey of all things. Usually the least priority for most people, haha. I pined for it at first, but it just doesn't have a place in my diet anymore, so I don't miss it anymore

 

[BronwynMendoza]

Believe it or not, I haven't actually tried one yet! There are less options where I live though. The stores only carry Daiya (and not every store either mind you, I only know a couple) and there's also a newer brand called Go Veggie! that makes a vegan parmesan as well as slices. I'm interested in trying out the Daiya cheese, and the Go Veggie! parmesan, but I just haven't gotten around to it.

I was actually one of the oddballs that wasn't really big on cheese pre-vegan. For me, the big hurdle that was extremely difficult to give up -- it was the one thing that was actually heart breaking to think I'd never eat again -- was honey of all things. Usually the least priority for most people, haha. I pined for it at first, but it just doesn't have a place in my diet anymore, so I don't miss it anymore

Do you like Agave Nectar? I thought it would be rather bland but on trying it for the first time last week I was pleasantly surprised

I wish I was more like yourself in that respect and not been that keen on cheese to begin with, I'd never let myself give in and have some but the craving is lurking there a lot! It's almost like when I gave up smoking!! haha

 

[Bite Size Vegan]

Hello all you lovely vegan people Im in a bit of a mess and would really appreciate any help you can give me. I have very recently jumped ship from vegetarian to vegan and having a few problems (probably all of which you'll have all heard before)

awesome to hear you're making the switch!!

1. I think I'm addicted to cheese :-0 honestly I've been dreaming about it and I'm shocked at how much I miss it. Is cheese addictive or am I just being a cry-baby?

You are not a cry-baby- there are very real addictive properties to cheese akin to opiates. I will be doing a video on this sometime soonish- been meaning to for a while. Will try to remember to find you and let you know.

2. Would you recommend any specific vegan cheese or is it better if I just push through and allow cheese out of my life?

Vegan cheeses can be great for helping with this! There are a lot of brands, I've heard Diaya to be the best thus far. You can also make your own. Try out:
These 10 Vegan Cheeses Will Make You Quit Dairy Forever | One Green Planet
8 Amazing Vegan “Cheese” Recipes
14 Vegan Cheeses That Will Make You Forget About The Real Thing

3. If a product like a cosmetic or toiletries always say if they aren't tested on animals? Or will I have to look up everything individually online? And does it stop at that, are kitchen products tested on animals?

usually they will say if they aren't but some may not- you can always check online or cal. kitchen products are also tested as well, sadly. but don't get too overwhelmed- one step at a time! Check out How Do I Shop Cruelty Free? Look for the Leaping Bunny : LeapingBunny.org for a guide to shopping. Also try out VeganEssentials.com everything there is guaranteed vegan so no need to check.

4. Are bees stressed and hurt when made to make honey? What is the truth as I've heard so much on both sides?

yes they are- I see someone has already linked to my video so thanks for that guys!

5. I have a rather damaged tongue due to some past stuff and it hurts really bad to eat spicy food, as a vegan am I doomed?

No! I don't eat anything spicy Spiciness is not at all a requirement!

Thankyou so much for taking the time to read all my questions x

sure thing! hope this helped!

 

[BronwynMendoza]

awesome to hear you're making the switch!!



You are not a cry-baby- there are very real addictive properties to cheese akin to opiates. I will be doing a video on this sometime soonish- been meaning to for a while. Will try to remember to find you and let you know.



Vegan cheeses can be great for helping with this! There are a lot of brands, I've heard Diaya to be the best thus far. You can also make your own. Try out:
These 10 Vegan Cheeses Will Make You Quit Dairy Forever | One Green Planet
8 Amazing Vegan “Cheese” Recipes
14 Vegan Cheeses That Will Make You Forget About The Real Thing



usually they will say if they aren't but some may not- you can always check online or cal. kitchen products are also tested as well, sadly. but don't get too overwhelmed- one step at a time! Check out How Do I Shop Cruelty Free? Look for the Leaping Bunny : LeapingBunny.org for a guide to shopping. Also try out VeganEssentials.com everything there is guaranteed vegan so no need to check.



yes they are- I see someone has already linked to my video so thanks for that guys!



No! I don't eat anything spicy Spiciness is not at all a requirement!



sure thing! hope this helped!

Thankyou so much for all that information Emily and for all the amazing videos you post on YouTube, very much enjoying them! Also can't wait to learn more about addictive cheese x