I mainly want to eliminate dairy right now. I just didn't want to use soy as a substitute. So I'm not too concerned with the hidden soy in things at this point. Like I said, my main concern is finding something to sub for all the cheese I eat. I love cheese. I eat it by itself as a snack to get in extra protein. I don't want to use soy-based cheeses or yogurts (I don't eat yogurt, anyway, but do like to use it in place of mayo) as a sub for the dairy based ones. I hadn't even thought about butter. I use regular butter instead of margarine to avoid trans-fats. If that Earth Balance is an oil-based margarine (what else could it be if it's dairy and soy free?), I don't really want to use it.
Oh how I hear you on this. I've been vegetarian for at least 13 years and cheese is a big protein source for me. Yogurt also. I hate to write this because it isn't something I like to hear myself....you just have to accept there is no *true* replacement for cheese and instead look for other protein sources. You can replace it in a mental way but that doesn't get you the same protein. You are talking about needing the protein and needing it quick and easy. We are eliminating dairy to see how that affects my son and it is sooooo hard for me and I've already been cooking vegan (very little obvious soy) for many years. When you have a main food it is so hard to suddenly have it gone! Anyway, we are a pretty nut heavy house so what I'm doing won't work for you. But you may be surprised at how much protein you are already getting. I had to track protein for a week when we took Bradley classes and was surprised at how much protein I was getting and where it was coming from. Finding a list of protein sources would be a great place to start and then just figure out what would work for you. We like to eat chickpeas as a snack. That is the only quick, non-nut thing that I can think of at the moment that we do here, most of our protein comes from meals and our snacks give us other things. I was trying to "replace" yogurt at first and I gave that idea up too, realizing there is just no true replacement for it. So now I'm trying to replace what it provided nutritionally but for me my yogurt was a comfort food, it just can't be mentally replaced and I feel very hungry without it. Vegan cooking doesn't have to use obvious soy. I've been avoiding it for years and it we have fallen back on some of it recently but only because with a 5 month old and almost 4 year old, it is still hard to cook...well if my hubby didn't work so much it would be easier to cook that is the real problem. I'm juggling babe now so have to go, wasn't able to read all the replies so hopefully I'm not saying what has already been said. Oh only other thing, I don't know what the Daiya cheese is made from, but I think the taste is subjective. I've heard that some love it and can't tell the difference and same haaaate it with a passion. I was excited when I saw the previous poster state she couldn't tell the difference until I saw that she also felt that way about the Amy's mac n' cheese which I could tolerate while eating but it made me feel queasy after, and I thought the coconut yogurts were tolerable at best. Everyone's tastes are so unique, it makes it tough when you are just starting out on a new eating plan. I'm still going to try the Daiya but I've come to the realization that any cheese substitute I use is just to ease the mental missing of cheese, I look for the nutritional needs elsewhere...much cheaper that way too! ha!
i wish i could eat it because everyone raves about it.
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