Earth Balance spread (like margarine) is very edible. It melts well and is flavorful. Daiya cheeses too. Vegenaise actually tastes better than mayonaise. Of course, all of these are processed foods, and while I don't think they're harmful, niether are they especially nutritious. But for flavor, and helping to transition, they're pretty good. I've used them for years, and my overall health has steadily improved, from when I was eating the "real" stuff.
Any suggestions for a new Vegan?
Hey guys. So, I've been veggie for about 1 and a fourth years :/ over the course of a few months, I've quit eggs and am waning from milk. I love soy milk, but I'm having trouble adjusting from cheese and butter. Is there any vegan margarine out there? Is it safe to eat? What about vegan cheese? I see it on the shelf but I'm reluctant to buy it. Can you guys shed some wisdom down here? Please? Any tips would be helpful, any at all? 
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Earth Balance spread (like margarine) is very edible. It melts well and is flavorful. Daiya cheeses too. Vegenaise actually tastes better than mayonaise. Of course, all of these are processed foods, and while I don't think they're harmful, niether are they especially nutritious. But for flavor, and helping to transition, they're pretty good. I've used them for years, and my overall health has steadily improved, from when I was eating the "real" stuff.
Thank you friend. I appreciate your wisdom. I hope to lead a happier, healthier lifestyle while benefiting my planet. ^_^ :/ I can find daiya and vegenaise easily, but I'm afraid I've yet to find earth balance. ;-; Thank you for the tips anyway ^_^The Earth Balance spread in my grocery store is kept right beside the dairy butter instead of with the other veg substitute foods. I overlooked it several times before I found it.
I wish I could find daiya here!
Have you tried nutritional yeast for cheese? Or making cashew cheese sauce?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I wish I could find daiya here!
Have you tried nutritional yeast for cheese? Or making cashew cheese sauce?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I've never heard of cashew cheese sauce! That sounds amazing! I need to try itThe Earth Balance spread in my grocery store is kept right beside the dairy butter instead of with the other veg substitute foods. I overlooked it several times before I found it.
I wish I could find daiya here!
Have you tried nutritional yeast for cheese? Or making cashew cheese sauce?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
If you have a grocer that carries Daiya and Vegenaise, but not Earth Balance, you might simply ask them if they'll begin to stock it too. Grocers like to sell things. And how will they learn, unless we teach them? :up: BTW, I lived in Gulfport during the summer of '92.
If you have a grocer that carries Daiya and Vegenaise, but not Earth Balance, you might simply ask them if they'll begin to stock it too. Grocers like to sell things. And how will they learn, unless we teach them? :up: BTW, I lived in Gulfport during the summer of '92.
OMIGOSH a fellow Coastian!! ^_^ Nice to meet you! 
Earth balance is definitely great as a butter replacement. It comes in a tub and in sticks, which are great for baking. For a lot of cooking applications, oils are direct substitutes also.
Vegan cheeses are hit and miss. Some of them are really good, and some of them taste like plastic. So if you decide to try one (or a few), and don't like it (or them), don't give up on vegan cheese. They don't taste exactly like cheese (some do taste good though), so I recommend on trying it out in something like a burrito where there are other flavors present too.
Like people said before, veganaise is pretty good. It reminds me more of miracle whip than of mayo, but if you are a fan of creamy pasta salads it is indispensable. There are other brands of vegan mayo also, and I haven't disliked any of them that I have had the opportunity to try.
A lot of people here are huge fans of cashew creams, which you can make yourself (it looks pretty easy), but I can't find raw cashews here so I haven't tried it myself.
Nutritional yeast is awesome! It has it's own unique flavor, definitely a bit reminiscent of cheese. You can use it in almost anything if you treat it like a spice, and there are a lot of vegan "cheese" and "cheesy" pasta recipes that call for it, so if you want to play around with recipes like those you might consider getting a thing of it.
Across the board with vegan substitutes, it's really important to keep in mind that a lot of the things don't taste quite exactly like their non-vegan counterpart. That doesn't mean they are bad, but if you expect them to taste identical you might end up disappointed. So approach things with an open mind, and don't be afraid to try something new just because you haven't read a review on it. You never know, it could be a new favorite!
Vegan cheeses are hit and miss. Some of them are really good, and some of them taste like plastic. So if you decide to try one (or a few), and don't like it (or them), don't give up on vegan cheese. They don't taste exactly like cheese (some do taste good though), so I recommend on trying it out in something like a burrito where there are other flavors present too.
Like people said before, veganaise is pretty good. It reminds me more of miracle whip than of mayo, but if you are a fan of creamy pasta salads it is indispensable. There are other brands of vegan mayo also, and I haven't disliked any of them that I have had the opportunity to try.
A lot of people here are huge fans of cashew creams, which you can make yourself (it looks pretty easy), but I can't find raw cashews here so I haven't tried it myself.
Nutritional yeast is awesome! It has it's own unique flavor, definitely a bit reminiscent of cheese. You can use it in almost anything if you treat it like a spice, and there are a lot of vegan "cheese" and "cheesy" pasta recipes that call for it, so if you want to play around with recipes like those you might consider getting a thing of it.
Across the board with vegan substitutes, it's really important to keep in mind that a lot of the things don't taste quite exactly like their non-vegan counterpart. That doesn't mean they are bad, but if you expect them to taste identical you might end up disappointed. So approach things with an open mind, and don't be afraid to try something new just because you haven't read a review on it. You never know, it could be a new favorite!
I will add one note to the Vegan cheese debate - some Vegan cheeses work better in certain "applications" than others. For instance, Daiya mozzarella style is great on a pizza - fantastic in fact. But I find it's not as good when used in a tofu quiche, or just sprinkling on salad, the way standard mozzarella would be. (Note, I'm talking about the Americanized mozzarella cheese, not the traditional mozzarella you would get in Italy, which I have never had.) The Daiya cheddar is excellent in nearly any kind of Mexican food, though I think it seems to pack more "punch" in quesadillas or as a topping for tofu scramble than in a bean burrito. I have not tried the other Daiya cheeses.
So far, I have not tried a Vegan cheese that was very good to just eat in cubes, the way you might with real cheese.
In all the years I have eschewed dairy, Daiya is probably the best on-the-market Vegan cheese I've had - though the Scottish Sheese was not far behind (but at 2-3 times the cost and extremely limited availability, it wasn't worth it to try to use, and I'm not sure if it is still available??). When Follow Your Heart came out, everyone seemed to worship the stuff except me - I hated it.
I think you kind of have to experiment with the cheeses, myself. Also remember that it really is an individual thing - one man's cheese treasure is another man's cheese trash. If you buy a package of Vegan cheese, I suggest you have 2-3 ideas or recipes in mind of how you want to try it. THis will give you a far better idea of whether you want to buy it again.
So far, I have not tried a Vegan cheese that was very good to just eat in cubes, the way you might with real cheese.
In all the years I have eschewed dairy, Daiya is probably the best on-the-market Vegan cheese I've had - though the Scottish Sheese was not far behind (but at 2-3 times the cost and extremely limited availability, it wasn't worth it to try to use, and I'm not sure if it is still available??). When Follow Your Heart came out, everyone seemed to worship the stuff except me - I hated it.
I think you kind of have to experiment with the cheeses, myself. Also remember that it really is an individual thing - one man's cheese treasure is another man's cheese trash. If you buy a package of Vegan cheese, I suggest you have 2-3 ideas or recipes in mind of how you want to try it. THis will give you a far better idea of whether you want to buy it again.
I completely agree with this.I will add one note to the Vegan cheese debate - some Vegan cheeses work better in certain "applications" than others. For instance, Daiya mozzarella style is great on a pizza - fantastic in fact. But I find it's not as good when used in a tofu quiche, or just sprinkling on salad, the way standard mozzarella would be. (Note, I'm talking about the Americanized mozzarella cheese, not the traditional mozzarella you would get in Italy, which I have never had.) The Daiya cheddar is excellent in nearly any kind of Mexican food, though I think it seems to pack more "punch" in quesadillas or as a topping for tofu scramble than in a bean burrito. I have not tried the other Daiya cheeses.
So far, I have not tried a Vegan cheese that was very good to just eat in cubes, the way you might with real cheese.
In all the years I have eschewed dairy, Daiya is probably the best on-the-market Vegan cheese I've had - though the Scottish Sheese was not far behind (but at 2-3 times the cost and extremely limited availability, it wasn't worth it to try to use, and I'm not sure if it is still available??). When Follow Your Heart came out, everyone seemed to worship the stuff except me - I hated it.
I think you kind of have to experiment with the cheeses, myself. Also remember that it really is an individual thing - one man's cheese treasure is another man's cheese trash. If you buy a package of Vegan cheese, I suggest you have 2-3 ideas or recipes in mind of how you want to try it. THis will give you a far better idea of whether you want to buy it again.
In our regular grocery store the Earth Balance is with the organics - far from the other margarines. Sometimes I'll take a couple there just so they can be compared!
Smart Balance margarine is more common, and now non GMO. You DO have to be careful because there are many kinds. You want the one with flaxseed oil-here-
http://www.smartbalance.com/products/buttery-spread/smart-balance-light-original-buttery-spread-flax
I've had Earth Balance olive oil mayo- favorite
Vegenaisse with grapeseed oil- favorite but the priciest one they have
Just Mayo- new product. I like it, but think it's the most like real mayo. It is the cheapest I've found> I got a big jar for $2.50 on sale
Rocket is very right about vegan cheeses. Daiya does make a good grilled cheese, and it freezes very well. Just put it in a ziploc. They really should sell it in a zip bag.
I've made some very good nut cheeses but it takes playing around with flavors. For me lots of garlic, lemon juice, and not to forget a bit of olive oil
If you like foods like olives, mushrooms, onions, artichoke hearts, or even avocado these all fill in for cheese well
Vegan mayo with nutritional yeast sprinkled on top is very good.
Smart Balance margarine is more common, and now non GMO. You DO have to be careful because there are many kinds. You want the one with flaxseed oil-here-
http://www.smartbalance.com/products/buttery-spread/smart-balance-light-original-buttery-spread-flax
I've had Earth Balance olive oil mayo- favorite
Vegenaisse with grapeseed oil- favorite but the priciest one they have
Just Mayo- new product. I like it, but think it's the most like real mayo. It is the cheapest I've found> I got a big jar for $2.50 on sale
Rocket is very right about vegan cheeses. Daiya does make a good grilled cheese, and it freezes very well. Just put it in a ziploc. They really should sell it in a zip bag.
I've made some very good nut cheeses but it takes playing around with flavors. For me lots of garlic, lemon juice, and not to forget a bit of olive oil
If you like foods like olives, mushrooms, onions, artichoke hearts, or even avocado these all fill in for cheese well
Vegan mayo with nutritional yeast sprinkled on top is very good.
My advice is to enjoy the simple vegan foods which would be fresh fruits and vegetables. When I was a failed vegetarian I got too caught up in the fake meat product foods thinking I still needed the taste of meat in order to be successful. Also limit the snacks like chips, cookies etc. you will be vegan but you will not be healthy. Being a healthy vegan is the best vegan. You will have optimum health and will be a great ambassador to the lifestyle. Eating the junk constantly will make us no better than people toiling on the standard American diet.
www.danbukowski.com
www.danbukowski.com
What Dan said.......My advice is to enjoy the simple vegan foods which would be fresh fruits and vegetables. When I was a failed vegetarian I got too caught up in the fake meat product foods thinking I still needed the taste of meat in order to be successful. Also limit the snacks like chips, cookies etc. you will be vegan but you will not be healthy. Being a healthy vegan is the best vegan. You will have optimum health and will be a great ambassador to the lifestyle. Eating the junk constantly will make us no better than people toiling on the standard American diet.
www.danbukowski.com
Just Mayo is in my honest opinion better than vegenaise.
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