Feeling torn. Anyone know of any "guilt free" cheese?

[OrangeMoon]

Okay, so we are a mostly vegan family, exceptions being a little honey and fish oil supplements. Things are going really really well, we don't miss anything, have found great substitutes, etc. but lately my almost three year old son has been asking for cheese a lot. On the one hand I know how horrific the dairy industry is, but on the other I don't want to force him into a lifestyle where he feels deprived. We've found some okay cheese substitutes but I don't think it's the same for him. I also feel guilty because while I grew up vegetarian, the first 20 YEARS of my life I ate a ton of cheese and loved it at the time. So I feel bad, kind of hypocritical I guess. Anyway, I guess my question is if anyone knows of any cheese companies where no cows die, grass fed, etc. Maybe that's just a pipe dream but I thought I'd at least ask. I asked a local cheese maker what happens to the baby boy cows and of course she said slaughter, and even though everything else sounded great, I just can't stomach that. Why isn't there breast milk cheese yet??? lol. Anyway, anyone else in this kind of situation?

ETA: DS isn't verbal enough to understand the reasons why we don't eat cheese so that's out.

[kitchensqueen]

Have you tried the Soya Kaas line of soy cheeses? We're not vegan, but a lactose intolerant household, and I swear - you wouldn't know this stuff wasn't real cheese unless someone told you. Texture and flavor are spot on. Our favorite is the mozzarella. It's the only fake cheese I can eat just plain. It's also great shredded on pizzas - it melts just like real cheese. 

Unfortunately, there aren't any dairy operations that I know of (including small, ethically run dairies) where male calves don't get slaughtered. That's part of domestic dairy agriculture. Now - if you find a great local farm that treats their animals exceptionally well, free ranges, no routine antibiotics, and they have good lives until their death - that would be the best way to go if you want to give your child real dairy. But, that's a very personal choice for you and your family. It all depends on what you can live with. It seems you have made an allowance for fish dying in order to provide you with a form of sustenance, so perhaps you can spend some time thinking about making a similar decision regarding that and how dairy cows could or could not fit into your daily lives. If all fails, Soya Kass is great! 

[catnip]

SoyaKaas's website is sort of misleading. Most of their cheese is not dairy-free.

[MrsSlocombe]

I don't think it's really possible for a dairy farm to be profitable while caring for all the males for their natural lives, with good conditions and no slaughter.  The most popular vegan cheese right now is Daiya, and it comes in mozzarella, cheddar, and monterey jack shreds.  I think it also comes in huge blocks for those in the restaurant industry, but home cooks get the shreds.  I like Daiya a lot.

Another good one I've tried, but can't get at my local store, is Shreese.  It comes in more flavors, and is not shredded - at least, not the kinds I tried.

I'm interested in trying Dr. Cow's cheeses, as well.  They are nut-based and supposedly quite gourmet.  If you're willing to pay for a deluxe, ethical dairy (if you were able to find one), then maybe you would splurge on having something like this shipped...?

If your son is so very young, I really think he would forget about cheese if you just gave him other good foods for a month or so.  Just smile and say, "We don't have that, but we have this...," and offer something good.  Don't dwell on it with him.  Just give him a simple answer and change the subject.  There are significant health reasons to avoid dairy, as well as the ethical ones.  I actually think the health arguments against milk are stronger than those against meat, though I personally eat neither.

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by catnip 

SoyaKaas's website is sort of misleading. Most of their cheese is not dairy-free.

Yeah, they do only have two truly vegan cheeses. But it is good stuff. 

[OrangeMoon]

Thanks for the rec! I haven't tried it so I'll try and find it around here.
 

Originally Posted by kitchensqueen 

Yeah, they do only have two truly vegan cheeses. But it is good stuff. 

I think part of the issue is time. Like, I don't like daiya cheese just melted on something, but I love it in Amy's vegan mac n cheese where it's combined with other ingredients, so I'm sure if I had the time to recreate that I might be able to teak that and make a pizza DS really likes, yk? 
 

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by MrsSlocombe 

If your son is so very young, I really think he would forget about cheese if you just gave him other good foods for a month or so.  Just smile and say, "We don't have that, but we have this...," and offer something good.  Don't dwell on it with him.  Just give him a simple answer and change the subject.  There are significant health reasons to avoid dairy, as well as the ethical ones.  I actually think the health arguments against milk are stronger than those against meat, though I personally eat neither.

I agree. My daughter is 3 and can't have dairy (and a lot of other foods) for health reasons. Although I can tell her, "That will give you icky poops," it's not so easy with my son who is almost 6. I wish I'd gone dairy free with him when he was younger. Gluten free as well. I do allow him some cheese and wheat because he is so old and the eating habits are so ingrained. For the most part, though, I just tell him, "We're not buying that today," when we're at the grocery store or I tell him we don't have it if he asks for it when we're home. Most of his asking has gone away. He has learned, for the most part, a totally new way of eating. And it's so much healthier than it was before. (For both him and the cows.)

[Neera]

I think part of the issue is time. Like, I don't like daiya cheese just melted on something, but I love it in Amy's vegan mac n cheese where it's combined with other ingredients, so I'm sure if I had the time to recreate that I might be able to teak that and make a pizza DS really likes, yk? 
 

Just wondering you said, you don't like Daiya. Have you tried it melted or unmelted in a sandwich and let your son taste it? We love Daiya's mozarella on pizza with WF's rice base.

[mole]

I make cashew cheese and I like it much better than the commercial vegan cheeses. 1) Soak cashews overnight. 2) drain them 3) blend them with fresh water, sea salt, and a probiotic (I use this one: http://www.giprohealth.com/yogurtstarter.aspx also when I make soy yogurt) until super creamy. 4) Hang it in a nut milk bag (or something like that) for 24 hours to drain. (I used the drained "whey" in a curry- you can find a use for it) 5) wrap cheese in cooking paper with something yummy on the bottom- cracked pepper, paprika, herbs- whatever you like, tape it up, leave in fridge one month to ferment and harden. This makes a dense spreadable cheese.   

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by mole 

I make cashew cheese and I like it much better than the commercial vegan cheeses. 1) Soak cashews overnight. 2) drain them 3) blend them with fresh water, sea salt, and a probiotic (I use this one: http://www.giprohealth.com/yogurtstarter.aspx also when I make soy yogurt) until super creamy. 4) Hang it in a nut milk bag (or something like that) for 24 hours to drain. (I used the drained "whey" in a curry- you can find a use for it) 5) wrap cheese in cooking paper with something yummy on the bottom- cracked pepper, paprika, herbs- whatever you like, tape it up, leave in fridge one month to ferment and harden. This makes a dense spreadable cheese.   

Sounds good. I will try this. So many vegan cheeses use nutritional yeast which is essentially msg.

[SundayCrepes]

My questions about this recipe are:

Can you use pretty much any probiotic? I looked up the one you recommended. It's $35. Since I would just be experimenting with the recipe I'd like to get one local for a lot less. I have a Whole Foods and Sunflower nearby so could shop there.

When you say cooking paper, do you mean parchment paper?

How is this without the something yummy on the bottom? Since I am just experimenting I don't know what I want to use. My first thought is some sort of garlic, but would it go bad during the month of fermenting and how would it taste with garlic?

I am quite intrigued by this recipe, just a bit daunted.

[yellow73]

I wonder if you could find a local farmer who raises goats?  We have neighbors that we get raw goat milk from, and they make their own yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.  They sell male goats, but I am not aware of them being killed, just used for breeding, and of course the all important poop that organic farmers need to fertilize gardens.

[dovey]

Here's another similar uncheese recipe, but without the fermentation.  It uses lemon juice to provide the sour flavor.  http://www.food.com/recipe/almond-feta-cheese-spread-with-herb-oil-vegan-364732

It isn't a melty cheese, but it tastes very similar to how I remember feta cheese (but without the goaty undertones.)  It's kind of time consuming to peel all the almonds, so if you don't want to do that, you can also make it with cashews, pumpkin seeds or those slivered almonds that don't have the skins on. 

It's really yummy on greek salad or french bread.  Also it's tasty on lentils and rice with carmelized onions. 

[allnaturalmom]

I just made a spreadable 'cheese' last night for the first time with cashews... very similar to the one just posted. No fermenting or anything involved (not that it wouldn't be good that way), it is just made in the food processor or blender. It turned out fabulous and I could season it with whatever I wanted.

Good luck on your cheese mission!