Vegan Cheeses: 3 Good Reasons to Adopt Them - Plant Ahead (2024)

FAQs

Vegan Cheeses: 3 Good Reasons to Adopt Them - Plant Ahead? ›

Containing oilseed and plant milk, vegan cheeses are rich in minerals (magnesium) and antioxidants, and they possess anti-inflammatory properties, all of which protect against damage caused by free radicals. Vegan cheese are also very good for intestinal flora and digestion.

The environmental cost of vegan cheese is not clear, but nuts and soya milk or tofu, common vegan cheese ingredients, have a lower carbon footprint than dairy cheese.

Vegan cheese is a non-dairy alternative to cheese, usually made from plant-based proteins and fats. Most vegan cheeses you'll find on the market or on vegan recipe blogs are typically made from some combination of: Soy.

This cheese is free from common allergens like nuts, dairy, soy, eggs, and wheat. Some of the top ingredients in the GOOD PLANeT cheeses are potato starch, coconut oil, and chickpea protein. To me, this makes for a much more cheesy consistency than nuts.

Some of the more processed types of vegan cheese contain large amounts of refined oils, preservatives, color additives and sodium while being mostly void of substantial nutritional value. In general, foods like this should be consumed minimally, if at all.

Plant-based dairy alternatives, such as almond milk and soy milk, are typically lower in fat and calories than traditional dairy products. This makes dairy alternatives a popular choice for those who are looking to reduce their overall caloric intake or manage their weight.

Some Vegan Cheeses Will Last For Months

If you like the dry vegan cheeses, the paremsan alternatives in jars or even nutritional yeast, you're in luck. As these vegan cheese types will last months and months on a shelf or even the side of your kitchen without any issues and will be shelf stable until you require them.

The analysis found that plant-based diets produce 75 percent less heat-trapping gas, generate 75 percent less water pollution, and use 75 percent less land than meat-rich diets — those that include at least 100 grams of meat daily, the equivalent of one steak around the size of a deck of cards.

Explore cheeses made from alternative milk sources such as sheep, goat, or buffalo milk. These options often require fewer resources and have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional cow's milk cheese. Plus, they add diversity to your cheese palate.

Nuts, such as cashews or almonds, are often used as they contain a lot of natural fat that gives a creamy texture once blended. Many brands also use a vegan lactic acid to add the tang and umami that gives that quintessential cheese flavour.

What is vegan cheese used for? ›

The creamy texture of soft vegan cheese makes it deliciously spreadable on crackers and crusty bread, but it's also great for melting into sauces and sprinkling on top of fresh salads.

A resounding yes, it sure does, not all of it, but vegan cheese does melt and melt well. Just like non-vegan cheese, there will be some that aren't created to melt, nor do it well, it's just the same. Make sure to cook vegan cheeses on a lower heat than you would normally and keep an eye on them.

The dietary fiber and polyphenols in whole plant foods are known to reduce gut inflammation, so a plant-based diet based on whole foods that includes moderate amounts of vegan cheese will likely be overwhelmingly anti-inflammatory.

Plant-based cheese is typically made using plant-based ingredients, such as nuts, seeds, and legumes, as well as various starches and thickeners. The most common ingredients used to make plant-based cheese include almonds, cashews, coconut oil, and soy.

Better for gut health: Since there is no lactose or casein in vegan cheese, there is no intestinal permeability associated with eating vegan cheese. Bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and abdomen pain are common for people who react poorly to lactose or gluten.

Plant-based milk offers a healthy alternative. Almond milk, for example, has a creamy texture that's similar to cow's milk and packs in healthy servings of vitamin E and calcium.