[ericdb007]

My cheese cravings are getting annoyingly out of control. Ive been veg for 4 years and they just get worse all the time. i fantasize about cheese more than sex. I go on organic valleys site and drool and daydream about making a pizza with provolone, mozzerella and parm topped really thick and the glorious chewy stretchy texture. Making pizzas with daiyas weirdly way too white mozz that never fully melts is just making it worse. I have a confession this jan i was drinking and opened my friends fridge and totally destroyed her stuffed shells. I was like a train barrelling off the tracks, whats crazy is that i dont want animals to suffer and have been so dedicated but it tasted so heavenly i hardly felt bad. Awful, i know. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> i really dont know what to do, ive strongly considered vegetarianism for cheese alone. My problem is i miss pizza the most. It was always my favorite and its sorely lacking with soy cheeses and daiya. I feel incredibly deprived without it. Ive watched videos of dairy farms an dhave been doubling up reading about how cruel dairy production is but its not squashing the cravings. I really neded to vent about this, any comments are appreciated. Please dont judge me.

 

[SkepticalVegan]

Im not sure what to tell you other than breaking just for cheese and only cheese would be better than giving up completely but there is no real NEED to so i cant really recommend that.<br><br>
The best i can say i try every vegan cheese you can get your hands on or make. Maybe one will be a hit. I highly recommend trying the new daiya wedge if you havnt, its different than the shreds

 

[SkepticalVegan]

Also vegan pizza for me wasnt that great until i discovered Galaxy brand vegan Parmesan, now i cant have pizza without it

 

[ericdb007]

Oh i have no desire to eat meat. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> that i can say im fully over. Honestly quitting meat was easy. Ive tried follow your heart, tease, daiya, the galaxy stuff (im surprised u like the parm i thought it tasted like ground up chalk lol) and no go. I really dont like eating soy, it makes me feel off so that eliminates all of them but daiya. Im thinking i may go veg after a lot of thought but honestly the majority of vegan eating im fine with. Ill try the daiya wedge though, thanks for the tip wasnt aware they had that! I will def try that. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Demosthenes]

It sounds like you are addicted to cheese. The only real way to get yourself off of it is to not eat it. Your cravings will subside, especially if you don't give into them. Reading some literature or watching films about how cruel it is to produce cheese may also help.<br><br>
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.<br>
Mahatma Gandhi

 

[ericdb007]

Demo i appreciate what youre saying but its been 4 years and its not getting easier. Its getting worse. I educate myself on dairy production and its not making a difference. Im thinking i may go back to vegetarian for a month and see how it goes, but carefully with organic rennet free cheese (not even all organic valley is veg). Fyi im an ex smoker and smoked my first cigarette in 2 years this jan. When i was done i was like wtf why did i do that? Im not back to smoking, it may remind me why i went vegan. Either way my cravings are so awful that i cant take it. To be honest i wish i could get krishna cheese so there was no cruelty involved.

 

[rvp]

ericdb007: Please see the following, they may help. Be sure to watch all of them.<br><br>
This one may require you to sign in:<br><a href="http://bit.ly/IuAme8" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/IuAme8</a><br><br>
This one has a section for different animals and there is one for dairy. Watch all of it, it's a very good reminder:<br><a href="http://bit.ly/wP8dFB" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/wP8dFB</a><br><br>
Nothing new here for you but check it out anyway:<br><a href="http://bit.ly/InLxp9" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/InLxp9</a><br><br>
I love milk, always did ever since I can remember. I love it so much that I found out that I was consuming about a gallon and a half per week. I used to use it in a lot of things - Breakfast cereal, oats, tea, tea made mostly out of milk, just milk with raw-meal powder, .... I finally quit, overnight, sometime in March this year.<br><br>
What you maybe craving is what is in cheese. Try a substitute that has similar ingredients; sorry, I can't give you examples, I don't know of any. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can help you out with it.<br><br>
Good luck.

 

[rvp]

Here're some more that may help. Go thro' all of them.<br><br><a href="http://on.fb.me/IVpEfj" target="_blank">http://on.fb.me/IVpEfj</a><br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/I3zxMh" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/I3zxMh</a><br><br><a href="http://on.fb.me/I5OZ67" target="_blank">http://on.fb.me/I5OZ67</a><br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/JdPl8D" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/JdPl8D</a><br><br><a href="http://bit.ly/gxApxH" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/gxApxH</a><br><br><a href="http://on.fb.me/IfA1Pd" target="_blank">http://on.fb.me/IfA1Pd</a><br><br>
It's not worth going back to it. Good luck.

 

[Move of Ten]

I've heard it can be easier to break an addiction if you replace it with another one. You could try taking up smoking or oxycontin or something.

 

[runnerveggie]

Things that have helped me overcome my love of cheese:<br><br>
Daiya pepperjack<br>
Follow your heart mozzarella<br>
Galaxy vegan pepperjack and cheddar slices<br>
Avocados/guacamole<br>
Kalamata olives<br>
Hummus<br>
Wasabi soy almonds<br>
Homemade cashew cheese sauce<br>
Homemade silken tofu cheese sauce<br>
Peanut butter<br>
Jane's crazy mixed up salt and nutritional yeast on top of everything

 

[vegansarawr]

Not just the pepper jack, any daiya will help kick the cheese cravings. Unfortunately I think it's only sold in north america, unless you order online, which seems ridiculously expensive from what I've seen. But at the same time you said it didn't, maybe try a different recipe other than pizza?<br>
Also the cravings could be resulting from a lack of nutrients, are you getting enough protein / calcium and/or saturated fats? Cheese is fairly high in all these things.

 

[Blobbenstein]

I know what you mean OP, about pizza.......pizza has sort of become like the magic food....but I think maybe one day they will make some decent vegan cheese that melts properly, so you could just put your hopes in that....in the mean time I have tried hummus on pizza, and that is pretty good...lots of thick fatty, proteinie hummus.

 

[delicioso]

Before you give up on veganism entirely, maybe you could compromise and have a cheese pizza once a month or something. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
Spoiling myself with other treats helped me give up cheese. My salads and sandwiches don't miss cheese (much) because I use lots of other great stuff in them.<br><br>
I'm lucky in that I happen to like Daiya on pizza. I always brown it at the end, for 2 minutes under the broiler and I think it helps.

 

[Demosthenes]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Blobbenstein</strong> <a href="/forum/post/3147971"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I know what you mean OP, about pizza.......pizza has sort of become like the magic food....but I think maybe one day they will make some decent vegan cheese that melts properly, so you could just put your hopes in that....in the mean time I have tried hummus on pizza, and that is pretty good...lots of thick fatty, proteinie hummus.</div>
</div>
<br>
I recently discovered the hummus/pizza combo. Soooo good. I get pizza with soy cheese and hummus so its rich, gooey, and oh-so-fattening.

 

[GingerFoxx]

Maybe you could find some recipes online and consider making your own cashew cheese or other vegan cheeses. I have not done this myself, but often food tastes better just when you know you made it yourself and it's fresh.

 

[luvourmother]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>ericdb007</strong> <a href="/forum/post/3147803"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
I go on organic valleys site and drool and daydream about making a pizza with provolone, mozzerella and parm topped really thick and the glorious chewy ........I have a confession this jan i was drinking and opened my friends fridge and totally destroyed her stuffed shells. I was like a train barrelling off the tracks, whats crazy is that i dont want animals to suffer and have been so dedicated but it tasted so heavenly i hardly felt bad. Awful, i know. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> i really dont know what to do, ive strongly considered vegetarianism for cheese alone. My problem is i miss pizza the most. It was always my favorite and its sorely lacking with soy cheeses and daiya.</div>
</div>
<br>
Have u made pizza w no cheese? It my favorite way, ( hate daiya myself) yummy crust loaded with veggies , can put pesto or hummus too. Some pizza places will make cheese less pizza too, which I find are good for cravings bc u still get that certain take-out pizza flavor.<br><br>
The stuffed shells had cheese right? Did u feel bad at anytime after eating them? How about physically ( upset tummy etc...)? After not eating dairy for a while it is sometimes difficult to digest.<br><br>
Its easier to give into cravings during times of stress. Try to recognize if u are under any pressures and realize this may be the cause of cravings and relapse.<br><br>
Cheese is unhealthy. That's the main reason that keeps me from eating it. Even if it is organic, humanely sourced blah blah blah, it's still not good for our bodies. If u re invested in health at all, maybe remind yourself how cheese is not healthy.<br><br><br>
Don't go on organic valleys website anymore, don't look at cheese porn! I would say to avoid the cheese aisle in the market too. It is an addiction, looking at it can enhance your cravings big time.

 

[RichieFruitbat]

Hey Eric,<br><br>
I know exactly what you are experiencing as I've been through it myself. I have been vegan for a fairly long time, but in the past I did cave in to cravings for non vegan items like cheese and also regular chocolate. I know how tough it is to have to compromise on what you know is right because your body seems to be crying out for something. If you've been vegan for 4 years, then I think it's fair to say that cheese addiction is not the reason for your strong cravings<br><br>
I returned to veganism 2 years ago and have been totally craving free. I don't even want those things anymore. My secret is actually something really simple. Eat enough calories for your daily needs! When you are hungry, the mind seeks out the most dense calorie sources it can find. When humans get hungry enough, they will eat wallpaper paste, leather shoes, even human children. This has been documented. It's the survival mechanism kicking in.<br>
My advice is for you to load up on huge portions of healthy vegan wholefoods, rice, potatoes, gluten free pasta, fruit, whatever works for you! Just keep the fat content low so that you don't start expanding, and watch those cheesy cravings disappear!<br><br>
Hope that helps!

 

[jessickah]

And I thought I had food problems (lawllzzz sorryyy)<br>
Anyways, It's just food...it's just taste.<br>
I do really enjoy daiya though.

 

[Wolfie]

Sometimes pizza sounds completely gross to me, but other times I still crave cheese pizza even after all these years without it. And actually it's not just any cheese pizza I miss. There is a local place that was always my favorite and sometimes it still sounds so good. Count me among those not impressed by Daiya. But at least it was edible, which is more than I can say for any other vegan cheese I've tried. What will usually get me over the craving is something protein and fat filled. I wish I could be totally grossed out by the thought of cheese pizza like I am by meat, but it doesn't seem to work that way. I don't miss cheese in any other form, but pizza has been hard.

 

[Shyvas]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Wolfie</strong> <a href="/forum/post/3149214"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Sometimes pizza sounds completely gross to me, but other times <b>I still crave cheese pizza</b> even after all these years without it. And actually it's not just any cheese pizza I miss. There is a local place that was always my favorite and sometimes it still sounds so good. Count me among those not impressed by Daiya. But at least it was edible, which is more than I can say for any other vegan cheese I've tried. What will usually get me over the craving is something protein and fat filled. I wish I could be totally grossed out by the thought of cheese pizza like I am by meat, but it doesn't seem to work that way. I don't miss cheese in any other form, but pizza has been hard.</div>
</div>
<br>
Same here. I would say that the perfect descrption of pizza is ; wholewheat pizza base with a tomato, cheese topping with a few black olives and a sprinkle of oregano. A drizzle of evo when it comes out of the oven.Mmmmm !!!<br><br>
I have had no luck with the few vegan cheeses that I have purchase on-line and have even binned them. I can't buy daiyla overhere but will check it out when I'm in the US.