For a variety of reasons I have decided to switch to a vegan diet. The meats won't be an issue for me but dairy is going to be difficult. Does anyone have any great dairy-free alternatives for things such as sour cream and cheese? We already drink almond milk in lieu of cow's milk so that won't be an issue but I have quite the obsession with sour cream :) Also does anyone do a vegan diet with their children? I would love tips for vegan options for them also but still things that are minimally processed... I would like them to get used to eating "naturally" at a young age :) Thanks!
Pimento cashew cheese. Google it, its a common vegan cheese sauce with cashews, pimento, water, and brewers yeast blended. You can use it in enchiladas, lasagnas, nachos.....Its awesome.
Toffuti makes the best vegan sour cream and cheese IMO. I am mostly vegan and I do make vegan foods for my kids but they are not vegan. There's a cookbook out there called The Vegan Lunchbox. It has a lot of great kid-friendly recipes and what I like most about it is that it doesn't rely on a lot of soy or processed foods. You should check it out when you get a chance.
Good luck on your new adventure. I know, for me, my body feels and reacts best when I am meat and dairy-free. I hope that you reap the same rewards.
There is a soy version of sour cream that is okay. I never found any soy versions of cheese that I liked, though. My kids love black bean (but not other ones unless I puree white beans and use as a cheese substitute in baked dishes like mac and cheese or pizza), and tofu. I also try to make sure they get the fat they need from things like olives and avocados. I cook with olive oil too. Good luck.
Tofutti products do taste good, but are made with hydrogenated oils. ewww! Plus, it is VERY processed. Switching to a vegan diet can be difficult but it's definitely worth it. It's really important to have good tools in your kitchen, vitamix blender, food processor, that way you can make a lot more varieties of foods. Soaking nuts and then processing them is a great cheese alternative, add a little salt or garlic for extra flavor. Cashews work great, they don't need to soak as long, also macadamia nuts make a great nut cheese too. Good luck!
1. Talk to your kids doc about them going vegan. Kids need certain things that a vegan diet may not be able to provide without certain supplements.
2. Robin Robertson http://www.globalvegankitchen.com/ has great cookbooks. I like slowcooker and 30 minute meals. I have a few others and they are all great.
3. Look into nutritional yeast and the respective recipes. Adding it to salads and also I make mac-n-chz out of it.
4. Get some good vegan cookbooks.
When you go to the whole foods or whatever store you shop at, ask the sales personnel for the best choices on substitutes for 'real' sour cream, cheeses, etc. They are a great resource.
While I agree with the Diana about the kitchen tools, Vitamixers are very expensive ($350+). I have one and a food processor. I have nearly every tool there is actually. But, you can use a food mill, stick blender and a food processor ($100+) if the vitamixer is not within your budget. A good hand blender is really indispensable for me ($25). Vitamixers are fabulous if its in your budget but you can use a food processor to do a lot of things.
Have fun and explore.
Hello Robyn, I don't have an idea to share with you about sour cream, but in case you are worried about how to add protein intake to your family's diet here is a link you can check out:
http://waytoagreenandhealthylife.myshaklee.com/us/en/cate...
Good luck in finding a sour cream substitute! :)
