vegan cheeses

[strawberry]

Can anyone recommend a non-dairy cheese that makes a nice cheese sauce? Or one that is nice on sandwiches? I am trying a dairy-free diet for DS (2 year old) to improve constant runny nose and ears! Will goats milk also cause these symptoms?

[Portree]

Strawberry, I'm looking for alternatives to dairy products too. My ds is a bit younger than yours at 7.5 mos but he's dairy sensitive. I've done a little bit of research but haven't tried any products yet. I'm told that there are soya cheeses available - healthfood stores, Sainsburys Free-from range. I haven't tried to buy any yet as we are avoiding soya too. Someone told me Jewish food shops sell dairy alternatives, one of which is a sweet whipping cream. Again, haven't tried.

I'm not sure about the goats milk stuff. I know ds reacts less to goatsmilk formula but he still reacts. I'm by no means an expert but have read, and a nutritionist told me, that the proteins in goats, cow's, sheeps milk are similar. Doesn't mean that he'll react to them all. If I find out anymore, I'll post. There must be a vegan society of some kind perhaps? What about just a white sauce made with rice milk or soy milk and dairy free spread? Bit bland possibly .... I'm going to try that for ds and see how it goes.

[strawberry]

Thanks for your message portree. DS hated soya milk but seems ok with rice milk and cheese. BUT I have just noticed that the cheese packaging says contains caesin. I don't know if the problem is just lactose or also caesin - it's a minefield! Luckily DS is not actually allergic - we are just trying to reduce his symptoms. Top tip from a friend was to make a white sauce using soya milk and mustard and this goes well with fish and chicken. Rice milk seems good as it has added calcium but no sugar unlike soya.

[PamT]

I've just discovered 'Free and Easy' Dairy Free cheese flavour sauce mix, I found it on the free from aisle at Morrisons. It comes in a yellow tub - 130g and not too expensive - it goes a long way too. You mix it with either milk or water and bring to the boil to thicken. Ingredients include rice flour, cornstarch, non dairy cheese flavour, veg bouillon powder, powdered onion, potato flakes, salt & pepper. It isn't particularly cheesey but when it's all you can have it is better than nothing. I've managed to eat cauliflower cheese with it, so it can't be that bad but it is definitely better made with milk than water.

Vegan cheeses are pretty bad though IMO, Cheezly is supposed to be ok for mixing into a sauce when grated, but it isn't very nice on its own (mozzarella is supposed to be better than cheddar style and they have recently introduced melting versions). I use tofutti slices to top pizzas and lasagne, but again they don't taste great. SCheese tastes very much like Cheezly, Veggie Kaas is supposed to melt but didn't for me, was very greasy and not very tasty, Vegerella is like an austrian processed cheese and also ended up in the bin here. Parmezano is worth keeping in the fridge as a substitute for Parmesan and children might find Tofutti spread ok (like philadelphia).

Watch out for vegetarian cheese as this often still contains casein, as oposed to vegan cheese which is completely dairy free.

[strawberry]

Thanks PamT - that's just the info I needed!