To eat cheese as a vegan?

[Sparksi]

I’ve been vegan for 5 years. I’m 8 weeks pregnant and craving cheese triangles. There isn’t a vegan equivalent anywhere. Vegan cheese is not the same. I haven’t had any dairy for years and read somewhere you can develop a bit of an intolerance to it if you’ve not had it for a while - if this is true it would be silly to succumb to the craving if it’s only going to upset my stomach.

I do feel a bit icky if I think about the morals as to why I have been vegan for so long, and definitely wouldn’t be making any permanent changes. I am wondering if it’s my body telling me I need something, though!

WIBU to have it or should I find something else?

Your body craves what it needs during pregnancy. That why people with low minerals eat coal etc. Just eat it and don't worry

Oh no, that’s no use then sorry!

Honestly I agree that you shouldn’t get hung up on it - get the real ones, have one (or half one if you’re worried about tummy upset) - might be that’s enough for you either because you’ve scratched the itch, or you realise it wasn’t really all that after all? Then you can be vegan again tomorrow, or if not then once baby arrives.

Edible vegan cheese is really the holy grail, isn't it, for some clever food inventor and marketeer.

I finally watched the Apprentice episode where the candidates made 'truffle' and 'curry' vegan cheese. The truffle one actually got some theoretical orders, which I honestly believe would not have been made in RL.

If you eat the cheese, nothing bad will happen (except maybe a bit of a tummy ache).

You're punishing yourself.

Nourish yourself and your baby. Enjoy your food.

Go back to super-ethical eating at a later date.

Goodness, who knew vegans were so obsessed with labels. “Eat what you like but I don’t you DARE call yourself a vegan” 🚨

Of course, it's up to you what you eat. But remember that even vegetarians who aren't vegan won't eat many kinds of cheese owing to the use of calf rennet in its production: see "Is it vegetarian?" at https://spoonfulapp.com/products/dairylea-cheese-slices-original/OTM1MjA0MjAwMTY4NA== or https://spoonfulapp.com/products/dairylea-cheddar/OTM1MjA0MjAwMTYwOA==

Lactase persistence (the ability to digest lactose beyond the weaning stage) is genetically determined. If you express the gene for lactase, you will continue to express it. However, there might be epigenetic factors (including influence of diet) that cause fluctuations (Kuchay, 2020). It's unlikely that reduced ability to digest lactose following a period of non-consumption would persist for very long if milk is reintroduced to the diet.

My DSis has been vegan for decades, and I said a few years ago "I would love to be vegan, but I love the post-Christmas dinner fondue night we always do, and vegan cheese just doesn't taste or smell the same." I expected her response would be to tell me off, but she was like "Fine, do that then. Be vegan except for a plateful of cheese twice a year. You would be harming far, far less animals than if you stayed an omnivore and only occasionally ate vegan." So I have been nominally vegan for 6 years but will very occasionally eat veggie. My DH eats vegan dinners nearly every night, but I can really see what she means because if he were "vegan except" for a meat meal on his birthday and Christmas and the occasional cheese plate, he would be harming far, far less animals and the planet would be better for it.

Mature cheddar, parmesan, swiss cheeses, stilton, brie and camembert are all very low lactose and suggested for lactose intolerant diets. Hard cheeses in the main and aged cheeses are the way to go....as a possibly lactose intolerant vegetarian (but not vegan). x

Do a Phoebe and get someone else to give up cheese for you so you can eat it.🤣
TBH I would just be vegetarian for the pregnancy then see if you fancy veganism again afterwards! It’s not really a big deal.

Eat cheese but please don't call yourself vegan this is why people assume vegetarians eat fish because they have "a friend that's vegetarian but eats fish" so yes it IS annoying when you are given fish as a vegetarian because people aren't aware vegetarians don't eat fish

You may be vegan but the baby apparently isn’t so keen 😂

You can still hold vegan beliefs without hypocrisy in this case.

I think you can still call yourself a vegan with a little explanation for anyone who cares, “I’ve been vegan for years but the pregnancy is making me crave cheese and I don’t want my baby to miss out on any nutrition it needs”.

Spoiler: it will literally never come up in conversation. It’s not like you go out to a restaurant and get Dairylea triangles on the menu!

Maybe just have half a triangle to take the edge off and if there are no intolerances go back for more.

@PrincessFionaCharming

yes, because 'labels' exist for a reason. When people say they're 'vegan' and then eat non vegan food (around others) it makes people think 'vegan eat xyz' when they don't.

@Sparksi

Do what feels right for you.

ignore the ignorant posters saying a vegan diet isn't good enough when you're pregnant. Of course it is. You don't need dairy, if your body wants something, it's there in nature in a vegan way. Your craving for that specific item is just because it's what you know. It's just as available in vegan form.

Having a small amount of cheese isn't going to change the dairy industry so try not to worry about that.

However, when I first ate cheese after 5 years of being vegan it really upset my stomach and I'd only had a small amount.

Do it at home alone & don't tell anyone, it's just not worth it, keep it your & baby's secret 😊

I say eat the cheese triangle!!

yes, because 'labels' exist for a reason. When people say they're 'vegan' and then eat non vegan food (around others) it makes people think 'vegan eat xyz' when they don't

oh what a load of rubbish 😂😂

Baby’s daddy loves cheese, so that’s probably why! I might just get them and get DH to eat the rest if I’m not feeling up to it

Parmesan isn't even vegetarian so you might want to avoid that one

how about violife? decent reviews (not triangles though)

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/285363243

tbh though @Sparksi growing a human entitles you to everything your heart (and stomach) desires 😊

Congratulations

Go for it and enjoy! And count yourself lucky you haven't developed cravings for a nice juicy wagyu burger 😁

wingslikeeagles
It's definitely your body telling you something! (Disclaimer - I'm not a medical professional at all.)

But what I wanted to say is that this lactose free soft cheese is lovely: www.arlafoods.co.uk/products-overview/arla-lactofree-soft-cheese-200g-625/ even if it doesn't come in triangles.

This isn't vegan either though.

@saradika no of course not! I literally said that her body was telling her something - I.e. eat dairy.

This, I'd go for a low lactose cheese. My cats happily eat a bit of extra mature cheddar without issues.

Actually I think ignorant vegans can be more of a problem (I was one).
It's really, really easy to think you're doing everything great and you've done tons of research until you find things aren't so great...
No way would I take the risk when pregnant without proper advice.

I fancy a cheese triangle now too and I've not eaten one for decades! Not because I'm vegan though.

I think it's wise to eat dairy in pregnancy anyway. It's an excellent source of calcium for you and your baby.

PS I should have added I ate dairy like it was going out of fashion in pregnancy- yoghurt, cheese, milk. Tried to buy free range organic where I could. The cravings were so so strong I couldn't have denied them -- I'd have been miserable for 9 months!

I craved cream when pregnant. Never liked it previously but do now (not vegan). Growing a child changes your tastes