Navigating Cheese Alternatives

What’s there not to like about cheese? Most cheese lovers enjoy the smooth or crumbly textures that provide various flavors from mild to strong and everything in between. Even though I personally love cheese in all forms, I recently challenged myself to find dairy-free alternatives and found ones that I enjoy eating. Several great options for non-dairy cheese alternatives include nut-based cheeses made from cashews or almonds, nutritional yeast, tofu-based cheeses, and even vegetable-based cheeses made from ingredients like potatoes and carrots. These alternatives can be just as delicious and satisfying as traditional cheese and are worth exploring for anyone looking to switch things up in the kitchen. The flavors include earthy, nutty, and salty with a vast range of gourmet options just like dairy cheese. 

Until the recent decade, many consumers in search of cheese alternatives found there was a lack of options that tasted good. Cheese alternatives have become increasingly popular in recent years, due to intolerance and allergen-related dietary restrictions or a desire to reduce dairy intake for other reasons. A growing number of manufacturers now produce more vegan cheese alternatives with improved taste and texture. According to Statista.com, specialty cheese and cheese alternative retail sales in the U.S. reached 4 billion dollars (about $12 per person in the US) in 2017.1 The use of ingredients like cashews and almonds in addition to modified food starch, coconut oil, and tapioca flour produce products that more closely mirror dairy-based cheese flavors and textures. The choice of consuming cheese alternatives may be health or preference related, but the decision to stick to adding plant-based alternatives will ultimately come down to what tastes good to your palette and doesn’t make you feel like you must sacrifice eating what you enjoy.

Here are 5 different dairy-free cheese options with appealing attributes that may suit your tastes:  

Lisanatti Almond Jalapeño Jack Chunks – smooth and slightly firm, medium spice flavor 

Babybel® Plant-Based – smooth and slightly spongy; mild flavor, a good source of calcium and B12 

Field Roast Creamy Original Chao Slices – coconut-based; good for shreds and melting

The Mansions Pantry: Vermont Vegan Cheddar – cultured cashew cheese, smooth and creamy, good for melts and shreds 

Vesuvius – smooth, dense, and creamy with a mildly earthy flavor 

Super Natural Almond Cheese – fresh vegan cheese, smooth, creamy with a light and fluffy texture, excellent for spreading 

The world of cheese alternatives is growing! What are some of the best ones you have tried?

Written By: Arlissa Sanders-Wilson

Arlissa Sanders-Wilson is a Dietetic Intern with Andrews University. She began her nutrition education journey at Texas Woman's University as a Post Baccalaureate student, then decided to transfer into the Master's program at the University of Alabama. She graduated with the MSCHN degree in August of 2023.