Are you trying to be vegan but something is holding you back? If you are vegan, was there ever that one last thing that held you back from becoming vegan years ago? Mine was definitely cheese. A lot of people have also told me they aren’t vegan yet because of cheese. Believe me, I was there for YEARS. Six years to be exact, after deciding to be vegetarian.
Recently, I became vegan. I ventured out to find vegan alternatives to literally all of the cheeses until I found GOOD substitutes for shredded cheese, pizza, sliced cheese, cream cheese, and blocked cheese. Pizza was also a huge factor in not becoming fully vegan. Keep reading to learn about how I now eat vegan pizza while on a budget and the best vegan cheeses that will help you become fully vegan.
Top 5 Dairy-Free Cheeses That Will Help You Become Vegan
First I want to start off by saying that not all vegan cheeses are good. Some taste like straight cardboard if you ask me, and they have no melting capabilities. However, don’t judge all vegan cheeses based on one awful one, because these 5 are AMAZING and totally worth trying vegan cheese again.
Pamela Creamery has hands-down some of the best shredded vegan cheeses on the market. The mozzarella cheese tastes wildly similar to dairy mozzarella and it melts extremely well. I mostly use this cheese for pizza, which I’ll get to later.
2. Parmela Creamery Cheddar Cheese
This vegan cheese is delicious. It tastes exactly like dairy cheddar, and again, it melts super well. I use this for quesadillas, pizza, tacos and baked potatoes. The best part I love about Pamela Creamery cheeses is that it feels, looks and melts just like dairy cheese and you really can’t tell the difference. If you’ve ever enjoyed taking a handful of shredded cheese out of the bag and eating it (I’ll admit I’ve done it), I’m happy to tell you that you can also do that with this cheese and feel equally satisfied. Some vegan cheeses aren’t melty and they get kind of a weird slimy feel, but these do not at all. The consistency to dairy cheese is almost identical.
If you’re looking for a vegan sliced cheese for sandwiches, quesadillas, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, etc, Chao Cheese by Field Roast is my FAVE. I’m all about consistency here, and it is extremely similar to Kraft’s singles, except it tastes better. I can eat these slices on their own at times, but they taste a lot better melted on a Boca burger or with Tofurkey slices. Melted is my absolute favorite way to eat these because they become gooey, flavorful and just exquisite. They seriously make the BEST grilled cheeses.
When Tofutti says it’s better than cream cheese, they aren’t lying. Their vegan cream cheese is fluffy, has the same look and feel, and tastes phenomenal. It’s perfect for a bagel breakfast, grilled cheese, or any recipe that calls for cream cheese. This is a great option if cream cheese is part of your current diet.
5. Follow Your Heart Sharp Cheddar Block Cheese
Follow Your Heart has four flavors of their vegan block cheese, and they also have vegan shredded cheese. I’ve only tried their cheddar block cheese, but it is amazing! It has the same texture and taste as american dairy cheese and it has the melting capabilities we all want in a cheese. It’s tough enough that you can also use this against a shredder if you prefer that, you can melt it on something, and I personally love eating this cheese on crackers.
What if my city is not vegan-friendly and doesn’t sell vegan cheese?
I am in a very small city where eating vegetarian or vegan is basically the most outcast thing a person could do. Meat and dairy is everywhere here. But, if I can eat vegan in my town, I have faith that you can in yours too! I found a tiny health food store in my area that sells Field Roast, Tofutti, Follow Your Heart and Pamela Creamery. They also sell many other dairy and meat alternatives. I suggest searching for a health foods store in your area to see if that could be a possibility for you.
Another option is Target. Even in my small town of hunters and dairy farmers, I was EXTREMELY surprised to see that my Target carried some dairy alternatives as well, such as Kite Hill yogurt, Tofutti, and Field Roast. Heck, even my Walmart has Tofurkey and Field Roast – another thing I was super shocked by. Your department stores may surprise you.
If all else fails, and your city is literally out to get you, you can resort to shopping online. It’s obviously not the ideal case, but I do still shop for some vegan food items online. The best two places are Mylk Guys and Vegan Essentials. They have literally anything you need for meat and dairy alternatives. You can find all of these cheeses between both websites, and much more. Each website ships nationwide.
What vegan cheeses are not so good?
Go Veggie and Daiya, in my opinion, are not very good. They don’t have the right consistency, texture, or taste to qualify them as a true cheese alternative. They try, but the options above are much better.
How to Eat Pizza and Still Be Vegan
Now that I’ve told you how to overcome eating cheese to be vegan, let’s talk about pizza. I feel your pain on trying to be vegan but also craving that easy, quick meal for kids, or for yourself on days you just don’t feel like cooking. I have found the solution. Below are the exact food items that I use to make a vegan pizza and pop it in the oven for a total time of under 20 minutes. That’s less time than what it takes to cook a frozen pizza!
Ingredients:
- Simple Truth Organic Classic Thin and Crispy Vegan Pizza Crusts (2 in a pack) $4.99
- Classico Traditional Pizza Sauce $1.89
- Pamela Creamery Mozzarella Shredded Cheese $5.99
Together these make 2 pizzas. That’s less than $6.50 per pizza! I can find the crust and pizza sauce at my local grocery store.
The prep time is under 5 minutes to add all the toppings to the crust, and it requires a 9-11 minute bake time, depending on your oven. Also, because I have the freedom to make my own pizza now, I don’t have to resort to just plain cheese. I add additional toppings to make it even more flavorful, filling and nutritious!
You can use any toppings you’d like, but this is what I typically add on top:
- Yves Veggie Pizza Pepperoni $3.49
- Quartered Artichoke Hearts $1.76
- Baby Spinach $2.96
The Yves Veggie Pizza Pepperoni could be found in your local health foods store or on Mylk Guys and Vegan Essentials. They taste almost exactly like a meat pepperoni (except better because it’s vegan).
Well guys, that’s my secret. That’s how I overcame being unable to give up cheese and pizza so I could have a vegan diet. It’s very weird to think that I’m vegan now, because I never thought it could be possible while living in such a meat- and dairy-prominent area. If I can do it, you can too!
If you need any further vegan food recommendations, let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to help! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest as well as subscribe to our newsletter for the latest cruelty-free updates.
XO, Stephanie
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