Americans love cheese, consuming a whopping 40 pounds per adult each year, an amount that continues to climb despite the known health risks of the fatty — and undeniably delicious — protein source. Plant-based cheeses are increasingly available at the corner store, so all your cheesy cravings are about to be met in a more healthful way, right?
It turns out, many vegan cheeses are mostly — you guessed it — fat. But there are reasons to give them a try, and different ways to fit vegan cheese into a healthy diet.
What You Need To Know
The main reason to try vegan cheese is if you are vegan or vegan-curious. Vegans choose not to eat foods made with animal products, for reasons both environmental and ethical, so by definition vegan cheese contains no such substances. But if you’re thinking about trying vegan products for reasons like improving cholesterol, heart health or managing diabetes, there are pros and cons to vegan cheese that you need to be aware of.
Good News, Bad News
One of the main benefits of vegan cheese is its lack of natural cholesterol, which comes mostly from animal products, especially animal fats. But many vegan cheeses are made with coconut oil and other saturated fats that do affect cholesterol — and switching up one saturated fat for another isn’t likely to result in a healthier lifestyle. It’s important to consider all food intake in the context of a balanced diet that includes fiber and essential and non-essential minerals and vitamins.
Other drawbacks:
- A lot of vegan cheese has little or no protein, just fat and starch.
- Those that do have protein tend to taste the least like traditional cheeses.
- Vegan cheese is expensive — those made from nuts, peas or other nutrient-dense foods can run as much as $10 for a small cube.
Taste Test
Just as with traditional cheese, vegan cheeses have unique flavors that can satisfy those who eat them in reasonable amounts. And greater consumer interest in the market is yielding better-tasting vegan cheeses.
One fun way to explore these new offerings — before you commit to a bulk buy or use them in a recipe — is to purchase a few types and invite curious friends for an at-home taste test.
A variety of vegan cheeses are available at supermarkets, and health-food stores and vegan markets will offer even more choices.
D.I.Y. Cheese!
One of the best things about vegan cheese: You can make it yourself, from products you may have on hand, like nuts and non-dairy milk. Nut-based cheeses also have the benefit of being good sources of vitamin E and fiber.
To make cashew or nut cheese at home, soak the nuts overnight, then blend in a food processor with your favorite herbs and spices — or even finely chopped dried fruit — and a little non-dairy milk or water (it will look like nacho cheese, depending on proportions). You can use any nut — walnuts, cashews, pistachios and more. Experiment until you find what you like.
Treat It Like Butter
The bottom line on vegan cheese? If you like it, eat it, but treat it like butter — as a treat to be consumed in limited quantities as part of an overall healthy diet. Remember to keep portion sizes small, about 2 ounces, which is about a three-finger pinch for shredded cheese. And always read the label; many mass-produced vegan cheeses need additives to keep them shelf-stable and improve their ability to bind or melt.
FAQs
Plant-based cheese is almost 10% saltier than regular cheddar and equally high in saturated fat, despite its perceived “health halo”, Action on Salt has warned. The organisation found that plant-based cheeses have the highest salt levels, containing an average of 1.91g per 100g.
What is the point of vegan cheese? ›
One of the main benefits of vegan cheese is its lack of natural cholesterol, which comes mostly from animal products, especially animal fats.
Does vegan cheese have less cholesterol than regular cheese? ›
Not only is vegan cheese much more healthy for animals– as it doesn't require an animal hooked up to machine to produce– our cheeses benefit from lower saturated fat, zero cholesterol, and more. The Lower %DV of the Nutrition Stats, Between Each Dairy Vs.
Does vegan cheese melt like real cheese? ›
Does dairy-free cheese melt? Of course it does! But not the same way as its moo moo counterpart. The first thing you might notice when melting dairy-free cheese is that it doesn't brown like traditional cheese.
Is vegan cheese environmentally friendly? ›
Look no further than vegan cheese! Not only is it a delicious and nutritious option, but it's also a sustainable choice that's better for the planet.
Will vegan cheese ever taste good? ›
Shredded Cheeses
Chao Creamery Vegan Shreds: This is our go-to vegan cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches. The shreds melt great and have a nice mellow, neutral cheesy flavor with no weird aftertaste. Parmela Creamery Shreds: This aged shredded cheddar-style cheese is made from cashew milk and melts well.
Why does vegan cheese make me gassy? ›
Vegan cheeses often contain unhealthy starches and vegetable oils that the body converts to sugar, causing weight gain and uncomfortable bloating – the exact symptoms we are trying to avoid!
What are the cons of vegan cheese? ›
The downside of vegan cheese
There isn't currently a ton of conclusive evidence that coconut oil affects heart disease, but it certainly boosts the fat content of the vegan brands that use it. The Daiya slice contains 4.5 grams of saturated fat while the Cabot slice contains 3 grams of saturated fat.
Is it OK to eat vegan cheese everyday? ›
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.
Is vegan cheese inflammatory? ›
Is vegan cheese inflammatory? The vegan cheeses produced on a large scale that we are most likely to find in grocery stores are processed foods. As is the case with all processed foods, they can cause some inflammation in some consumers.
Babybel® Plant-Based is a dairy free cheese alternative made without milk. The smooth & creamy texture is replicated using coconut oil and each Babybel® offers a good source of calcium and Vitamin B12.
Does Daiya or Violife melt better? ›
UPDATED Daiya Foods (3.5/5 rating, NEW formula = 4.2/5) – The NEW Oat Milk formula (green bag above) is new and improved and we like it even better! Better melt and flavor and very close second to Violife. Decent in all areas for taste, texture, and melt and accessible to us as it's sold locally at Winco and Walmart .
Is vegan cheese bad for cholesterol? ›
Unlike traditional cheeses, vegan cheeses contain no cholesterol. They are an excellent option if you want to appreciate the great taste of cheese without causing your cholesterol levels to rise! And even better, plant-based cheeses are known for their high content of phytosterols (or plant sterols).
What the heck is vegan cheese? ›
Vegan cheeses are 100% animal-free and made using vegetable proteins. Usually, they're made from soy; nuts, such as cashews and macadamias; and vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. You can also find cheeses that derive from agar, tapioca, peas and arrowroot.
Is Babybel ethical? ›
In the US, Mini Babybel® only sources from farms that adhere to The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management program (FARM), assuring the highest standards in Animal Welfare.
Why is cheese addictive vegan? ›
The protein found in milk — human or animal — is called casein, and when it breaks down in your body, it produces molecules called casomorphins. These strings of amino acids have the same effect in your brain as opiates do. Yep, it works kind of the same as heroin does in your brain.
Why is vegan cheese so creamy? ›
Nut milk or finely ground nuts are inoculated with cultures to kickstart fermentation (a key step that lends flavor, complexity, and character), and then the nutcheese is aged anywhere from a few days to a few months. Cashew is the most common nut in nutcheese because of its creamy mouthfeel and neutral flavor.
Why is vegan cheese so expensive? ›
Here are some reasons why vegan cheeses may be relatively more expensive: Ingredient Costs: The ingredients used in vegan cheeses, such as nuts, seeds, and plant-based proteins, can be more expensive than the ingredients used in traditional dairy cheese.
Does vegan mean you can't eat cheese? ›
Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.
