To ask how to reintroduce cheese to my diet?

[polkadotdinosaur]

I haven’t had any form of dairy product for about 5 years. Well, I imagine the occasional cross contamination with no reaction. I was vegan previously but thinking about reverting to vegetarian.

How do I reintroduce cheese? If I just have some after so long without, would it cause me stomach upset? I have had no indications of ever being allergic to it in the past and I used to eat a lot of it. We have some halloumi in the fridge so I was going to start with that but not sure if I should do it slowly. Any guidance appreciated.

What did you like to eat before? Could try a little of that.
A friend was vegan for many years and added dairy without consequence.

I had to avoid dairy for medical reasons and began with a gorgeous cannelloni! No adverse affects. I still remember how great that first taste was!

If you haven't had dairy for a long while you may lose the ability to process lactose so well as you used to

So start with hard cheeses like cheddar before softer ones, before yogurt or milk

Just do it slowly. Eat a small amount, give it a couple of days, try another one. As long as you don't massively overindulge you should be fine if you were fine before.

Can you work your way up the milk ladder as if you were allergic?

Follow the lactose ladder.

You need to do the lactose ladder. Google and it will come up. Careful though as it’s different to the milk ladder (used with young children with a dairy allergy).

Have you been having milk yet?
If so, I'd go for the simpler of cheese, like paneer thays basically split milk. And just start small. Ricotta is another good idea.

Although every time I've gone from vegan back to veggie, it was manchego that seduced me.

I'm not a scientist, but I had to work on reintroducing dairy to a family member's diet.

I would start with one product at a time, in relatively low quantities, and then move up. Start with the things lower in lactose, and maybe things that are less processed (so cheese by itself rather than pizza and chocolate). Only try things you think you'll like!

Butter, especially ghee, is a good starting point. If you want an additional baby step, try using butter in a baked product (you have an excuse to make cookies or a cake, if you've already reintroduced eggs!)

Fermented dairy products

Full-fat Greek yoghurt

Non-cows' milk hard cheese

Cows' milk hard, mature, cheese (mature cheddar, parmesan ...). Start with it baked if you like, as that reduces lactose (I think).

Then move on to the higher lactose content - soft cheeses, cream cheese etc.

IMO it should be fine. Good cheese is worth it!