How to give up cheese and go vegan

Why don't vegans eat cheese?

Cheese is a product of the dairy industry. People often think that because the animal is not being slaughtered for meat, the dairy industry is a victimless way of getting food from animals.

Unfortunately this is not the case.

To produce milk, cows must have a baby, just like us. A cow will be impregnated, either artificially or through mating, around once a year. She will give birth to her calf - but will not get to keep them. Often within hours of the birth, her calf will be taken away from her.

As with any animal, the bond is strong between mother and baby, and this can be traumatic for them both. With a quick search online you’ll find many videos of mother cows following her calf as they are taken away, calling out in distress. She will have to go through this many times in her life to keep her producing milk.

Sadly, the young calf’s fate is also tragic. Females will be forced into the same cycle as their mothers. Male calves are of no use to the dairy industry as they don’t produce milk. They are either shot at birth or slaughtered for veal meat at just a few months old.

While they are experiencing loss over and over again, dairy cows are often living with health conditions which cause them pain. Bred to produce much more milk than is natural, and forced to live in conditions that cause them additional pain and injury, these gentle animals live lives full of suffering.

To find out more about the dairy industry, read our blog.

Why is it so hard to give up cheese?

I’ve heard it many times - ‘I’d love to go vegan but I couldn’t live without cheese’, or ‘I’m totally addicted to cheese.’

And I can completely understand this. Dairy contains casein, which releases casomorphins during digestion. In the natural world, casomorphins are produced by cows to keep the calf coming back to drink their mother’s milk and keep them healthy. Essentially, they are addictive. There’s even a book about it!

But if it’s a habit you really want to kick, for animals or for your health, it can be done. Experts generally recommend that if you can go without something for three weeks, it’ll be out of your system.

Consider the times where you have cheese and simply replace it with something else. Better still, make it fun. For example, try a new alternative sandwich filling or topping for your jacket potato. Be a bit experimental! For inspiration on plant-based sandwich fillings, check out our blog.

Why should I give up cheese?

If you’re on this page then you’re probably already thinking of giving up cheese. So if you need some extra persuasion, here are just a few reasons why you should go for it.

For the animals

As mentioned above, the dairy industry causes suffering for cows and their calves. They are born, torn away from their mother, and face either death or a life of pain and distress.

If you want to make a difference to animals raised for food, choosing to remove animal products from your diet is a great way to do it.

You can also join our Fast Action Network and take part in our campaigns to improve the lives of farmed animals.

For your health

For decades, people have promoted dairy products as a way to get calcium to grow strong bones and teeth. But more recently studies have shown that countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis are the ones where people drink the most milk.

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The connection between calcium consumption and bone health is actually very weak, and the connection between dairy consumption and bone health is almost non-existent.

- Amy Lanou Ph.D., nutrition director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in Washington, D.C.

So it seems the dairy industry’s marketing may be misleading its customers. It’s also worth remembering that cheese is full of saturated fats and salt which can lead to problems like heart disease.

If you’re still concerned about calcium, the best way to get it is through leafy greens like kale, fortified plant-based milks, tofu and beans like cannellini and black-eyed beans. These foods also contain iron and protein.

Surprisingly, 75% of the world’s adult population is lactose intolerant. While as babies we have enzymes that break down lactose in our mother’s milk, we lose this in adulthood. This would suggest that, from an evolutionary perspective, we have no need to drink milk for our health.

For the planet

From land for grazing, pollution through waste products and the food needed for the animals, animal agriculture is putting a huge strain on the world’s resources.

For more on how animal agriculture is affecting our planet, read our blog.

Are there good vegan cheeses?

There are lots of cheese substitutes you can try, and more coming out all the time. Most supermarkets now have their own alternatives, from mozzarella alternatives to spreadable, from hard Italian style cheese to halloumi. And of course cow-friendly cheddar swap outs.

Violife has a wide range of vegan cheese options including smoky and feta style. It’s available in most supermarkets.

Applewood vegan cheese is extremely popular, its smoky flavour working great in sandwiches, toasties and on baked potatoes.

On the more expensive end of the market, there are lots of artisan cheeses to try. These can be bought directly, like Honestly Tasty, or try The Vegan Kind Supermarket where you’ll find cheeses like Mouse’s favourite.

Or, why not try making your own? There are lots of recipes online and they are often made from nuts like cashews, which are creamy enough to give it that smooth, rich cheesiness.

My final tip is to try nutritional yeast (often called nooch). It sounds a bit weird, but many vegans swear by it as it tastes cheesy AND contains vitamin B12. Nooch can be stirred through pasta, sprinkled on beans on toast or mixed with silken tofu for an excellent scrambled egg alternative. For more on nooch, and other plant-based terms, check out our A-Z of vegan terminology.

What is the best vegan cheese to melt?

Making pizza and want a mozzarella alternative? Both Violife and Applewood cheese melt well and Violife can be bought pre-grated which makes it super easy, especially if you’re cooking with kids.

Supermarkets are now starting to sell their own mozzarella alternatives now as well so why not experiment? It’s a great excuse to eat lots of pizza!

What next?

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