Q: I have a 12 year old daughter
who wants to adopt a vegan diet. She likes cheese but
is looking for a substitute.
A:
There are a lot of cheese alternatives available. However,
many of them use casein, a milk protein. Technically,
they are not vegan. Soya Kaas, for example, makes a soy
based cheese with casein. When purchasing an alternative
cheese for a vegan diet be sure to read the label.
You may be wondering why a non-dairy cheese would include
a milk protein. When trying alternative cheeses many are
looking for something similar in texture and function
to a dairy cheese. The characteristic mouthful and melting
properties of cheese come from the behavior of milk specific
proteins. Soy cheese manufacturers sometimes use casein
to make their product look, feel, and melt more like dairy
cheese.
I would suggest Soy Mage. They make casein-free vegan
mozzarella and American singles as well as blocks of soy
cheddar, rice cheddar, and rice mozzarella. Tofutti makes
casein free soy cream cheese and sour cream.
Another company, Road’s End Organics, takes a different
approach. They make cheese sauces from a soy-free nutritional
yeast base. Road’s End Organics makes a variety
of macaroni and cheese products including an alfredo style
macaroni and cheese made with brown rice pasta. Their
products are fun for kids. The best part about nutritional
yeast cheese is that it supplies B-12, a vitamin often
lacking in a vegan diet. They also sell their cheese sauces
separately for making nachos or your own creations.
The only other thing to keep in mind is that dairy products
are a major source of calcium. It’s okay to exclude
them but be sure she eats plenty of calcium rich dark
greens like kale, collards, and broccoli. |
