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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Dairy free cheese

39 replies

Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 10:27

My LO is almost 10mo and can't have dairy. He's great with eating spoon fed and finger foods. Only problem is, can anyone recommend a good plant based cheese that doesn't smell funky as the smell is what's stopping him picking it up. Any good ones you can think of please let me know. Thanks

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 18/07/2023 16:20

Which ones have you tried so far @Tiredjoanna?

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 16:25

The violife, pure and apple woods. All seriously stank🤣

OP posts:
Goosegoose21 · 18/07/2023 16:25

Dairy free here.
Apple wood is nice. And the garlic tesco soft cheese is okay in pasta.
The cathedral city is also not bad grated on things.

Annfr · 18/07/2023 16:28

Have you tried Violife original? It literally has no smell at all. It's MORE mozerrellary.

Annfr · 18/07/2023 16:29

Oh and my daughter is addicted to Tesco plant chef cream cheese. She will eat it with anything... Including dipping oranges in it...

Itisyourturntowashthebath · 18/07/2023 16:30

Dairy free cheese is mainly free from nutrients.
I like the Nush one, but it is almond based https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/nush-almond-chive-cream-cheese-150g

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 18/07/2023 16:30

Annfr · 18/07/2023 16:29

Oh and my daughter is addicted to Tesco plant chef cream cheese. She will eat it with anything... Including dipping oranges in it...

Dipping oranges in cheese? I think your DD has a bit of a cheese problem 🧀Grin

BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 16:43

I can't eat dairy cheese, and honestly I just avoid all the vegan ones too because I haven't found any which don't put me off instantly.

It's not that bad living without cheese. You can make a lot of cheesy things (lasagne, pizza, etc) by simply leaving the cheese out, and anything that relies on cheese to stick it together (toasties, quesadillas) egg is a good alternative (if not allergic!)

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 16:44

Thanks so much for replies. Think I'll try cathedral city one and the Tesco plant chef one. Hopefully I'll like it too as I've drank soya for 25 yes, not for dairy intolerance just as it made me feel better than cows milk. Also not having to buy 2 separate cheeses cuz it costs a fortune now🤣

OP posts:
CindersAgain · 18/07/2023 16:44

I’d try and avoid it and use something else instead. Eg hummus, peanut butter.

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 16:47

Love peanut butter but as me and dh eat lot of cheese dishes and I'm going to try giving LO what we are eating I kinda need cheese. Hopefully I find one because my sons face has been hilarious when he's smelled it🤣

OP posts:
eurochick · 18/07/2023 16:59

I'm lactose intolerant and haven't found a plant based cheese that isn't absolutely rank. Most go straight through me as well. Your baby is trusting his instincts!

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 17:22

eurochick · 18/07/2023 16:59

I'm lactose intolerant and haven't found a plant based cheese that isn't absolutely rank. Most go straight through me as well. Your baby is trusting his instincts!

Thanks for this, I've got a horrible feeling you might be right but will give 1 last shot just in case. Luckily he loves meat and eggs so still get his protein. It's so new to me doing everything completely dairy free. Is there anything you would recommend. He's almost 10mo so pretty good with soft lumps and chews toast quick as anything. Also he's good with all veg except butternut squash which I really don't blame him🤣

OP posts:
toastofthetown · 18/07/2023 17:28

Do you need dairy free cheese. A lot of dairy free cheese is basically just flavoured coconut oil, and so isn’t very nutritionally balanced. If you have a blender, cashew cheese might be an option.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 18/07/2023 17:51

If you're eating a lot of cheese based meals and you want baby to eat with you, the other alternative is that you eat less cheese Wink

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 17:59

🤣🤣🤣 but I really love cheese!!!

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 18/07/2023 19:10

Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 17:59

🤣🤣🤣 but I really love cheese!!!

Sorry didn't mean to leave without offering any alternative meal ideas

I'm the cook so we're pretty much a cheese free house.

Some things you can have that don't include cheese are:

Roast Dinner-DD loved chomping in Yorkshire Puddings and the veg at that age.

Fish Pie

Spanish Omelette

Spag Bol or Mushroom Bolognese. You can top your own with Cheese.

Cornish Style Pie

Baby Friendly Chicken Korma

If you're just going out at the weekend, you and DH could always have a cheese & wine evening once DS is in bed, if you're not BFing Wink

LeekPeachPlum · 18/07/2023 19:15

My daughter is dairy free and her dietician said to get dairy free cheese with added calcium- not all have it. I think cathedral city is good. My daughter will eat that despite rejecting others. I was just avoiding vegan cheese/yoghurt etc until the dietician told me they do need to have dairy substitutes when weaning.

LeekPeachPlum · 18/07/2023 19:16

I also find the vegan cheese much more bearable when melted!

Miscellaneousme · 18/07/2023 19:17

Bute farms sheeses are great.

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 19:22

LeekPeachPlum · 18/07/2023 19:15

My daughter is dairy free and her dietician said to get dairy free cheese with added calcium- not all have it. I think cathedral city is good. My daughter will eat that despite rejecting others. I was just avoiding vegan cheese/yoghurt etc until the dietician told me they do need to have dairy substitutes when weaning.

Yeah I give mine alpro yoghurt that's soya based and he loves it😁

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/07/2023 20:32

I wouldn't bother giving it as it's not nutritious you'd be better off with dairy free yoghurt

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 22:02

How's that? Tbh I'm glad he doesn't have dairy considering all the eostrogen in cows milk.

OP posts:
MoreHairyThanScary · 18/07/2023 22:03

Can he tolerate goats cheese? DH and DD's swear by st Helen's farm or arlo lacto free cheddar

Original poster
Tiredjoanna · 18/07/2023 22:20

I've never tried but worth a shot, it's not dairy so I'd think it should be fine. Thanks for that😊

OP posts: