Cheese & Dairy
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I hit the Irish Jackpot last week I won Gaby’s Give Away for Kerrygold products.
It was St. Paddy’s Day last week, and I guess I had the luck of the Irish on my side because there was:
Cheese galore
And an amazing cookbook. It’s a beautiful, hardcover, book with great photos and recipes inside.
I was seriously blown away by the generosity of Kerrygold’s “prize pack”. They overnight, refrigerated shipped everything to me in California. I have won a fair number of give aways over the past couple years blogging and have hosted at least 75 give aways for my readers on my own site, and this give away was definitely top shelf.
Thanks, Gaby and Kerrygold!
With all that cheese, I think I can make some Vegan Fajitas with Sweet Ginger Lime Dipping Sauce. Obviously they won’t be vegan if I add cheese with dairy, but you could always add vegan cheeze, too.
These fajitas use mushrooms. But feel free to use tofu. I just recently had ‘shroom cravings so am all about them lately.From my last post about my rainy day coffee meetup with Amber, and cookies vs. cookie dough, it seems most of you love your cookie dough. If we all love cookie dough so much, why do we even bother baking the cookies? Because lots of you said you do enjoy the baked cookies, too. Not just dough.
Questions:
1. Do you like cheese?
I loved cheese before I stopped eating it about 7-8 years ago. I used to eat any and all types of cheese.
I’m pretty sure Triscuits + Cheese + Wine was dinner at least twice a week in my early 20s. And honestly, those were great “dinners” and memories.
2. If you don’t like or eat cheese, why not?
For most of my life, I have eaten a largely plant-based diet. Vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian. I dislike labels and since we are all on our own journey, and life ebbs, flows, evolves, and changes, we ought to be present and aware of what will work for us as life and our needs and desires change.
Growing up, even as a small child, I never liked or ate red meat or pork. I ate very limited amounts of poultry and did enjoy fish. However, I have food allergies, including anaphalactic reactions to shellfish that came on out of no where when I was 24.
Around that time I also felt like dairy was also a culprit and I eliminated dairy, including cheese, from my diet.
However, in recent years, it seems that dairy in trace/smaller amounts such as in butterscotch chips or in white chocolate in desserts or in cream in coffee, I don’t seem to have any issues or reactions. I haven’t tried eating cheese though.
No issues with the butterscotch chips in No Bake GF Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars with Chocolate Frosting
Maybe in small amounts, my body is ok with dairy?
3. If you’re dairy free or vegan, do you miss cheese? Do you miss dairy? Would you miss dairy if you were to give it up?
Many people say they could never go vegan because they’d miss dairy, cheese, yogurt, and such. I’ve said before I really don’t miss cheese or dairy (aside from the traces that I have in recipes). Until I open my refrigerator and see all the cheese I just won.
Or walk around my neighborhood and see people drinking wine and eating cheese. I guess perhaps I miss the memories.
I know we don’t “need” dairy. I did a post on it. Dairy FAQ’s, Calcium, Myths, Recipes. But I do think I “need” white chocolate in my life.
I love nutritional yeast for all it’s cheezy vegan-ness. I have a nooch recipes post with about 15 cheezy recipe ideas but let’s face it, cheeze is not cheese.
Do you eat cheese? Or dairy? Would you miss it if you didn’t eat it?
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106 Comments on “Cheese & Dairy”
Britney is a raging moron who doesn’t understand how lucky she is to have made it this far with no talent
your blog sure does rank high in bing for some keyphrases,thats how i got here and i must say it deserves the rankings.really liked this post.
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omgosh! i am totally jealous! that cheese would be eaten in like a week at my house!! i love it!
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Congrats on the cheese! I know you’ll put it to good use, even if you have to freeze a lot of it.
I avoid dairy for the most part, because I generally look and feel better with keeping it (mostly) out of my diet. That being said, I definitely enjoy some every now and then. It’s all about staying flexible and continuously curious about works for us at any given time. For example:
One thing I’ve observed is that like another commenter said above, trace amounts, like what’s in some dark chocolates, don’t seem to bother me.
So I’ll continue to monitor the situation and let things evolve.
I absolutely adore cheese. I could give up all other dairy no problem … but not cheese!!
So will Scott and Skylar be eating a lot of cheese in the next while? :-)
Congrats on your win–what a very generous haul!
It’ll be really interesting to see how you feel with some cheese: since it seems like you have good memories associated with it, and a positive attitude about it, I bet you’ll be fine.
I actually really dislike cheese and butter–and pretty much always have–there’s something really unpleasant to me in the taste and smell. When I lived in HI and was around goats, I enjoyed goat cheese, though, so maybe it’s just something about the cow…
I have a funky diet now, pretty much vegan with fish. I went off dairy since I determined that was the cause of my gassy, bloated cramping stomach, and I can tell when I eat it now. Supposedly I am slightly intolerant to casein, but I find I feel the best just not eating it. Yes, I do miss cheese, but I find other things to supplement my craving. Sorbet=Ice cream, hummus=sour cream, almond milk=skim milk, TJ chocolate=chocolate, and the list goes on. It’s not a perfect science for me, but I usually can find something that will fix the craving. Thanks to Averie I have used the PB cups which REALLY do it for me, and so many other recipes she has posted.
i just gave up cheese in january, and aside from a few slip-ups (nachos are my favorite food EVER! ugh!) I have pretty much stuck to it My body has felt TONS better in doing so, and after my few slip-ups I noticed I was feeling icky, gassy and bloated. Obviously the no-cheese is working so I’m sticking to it. :)
I never thought I could give up dairy. After reading the China Study I did and about 2 months later the thought of eating cheese or any dairy turned my stomach. It has been almost 3 years and I don’t ever see myself going back. Just the smell of dairy makes my stomach feel funny. Strange how your body changes and is more sensitive to things.
I very occasionally eat yogurt and cheese…but if it’s unfermented (milk, ice cream, etc), it will give me a stomach ache!
It’s been years since I’ve had any dairy and probably 20 years since I’ve had any actual cow’s milk. I don’t miss it at all! I was never a big fan of cheese to begin with so it wasn’t difficult to eliminate it, and as far as milk for smoothies or recipes, I use almond milk. Every now and then I miss frozen yogurt, but if I wanted it badly enough, I’d have some. With a side of lactaid. ;)
that collection of cheese looks aaamazing!! congrats girl!!
i LOVE cheese! but i’m lactose intolerant! LOL luckily a couple bites of cheese here and there don’t kill me. wheww. i do love goat cheese too! i eat that more often than cow cheese. i can’t drink milk at all. but loving my nut milk selection anyways. cow’s milk sounds so weird to me and it has funk smell.
that’s great that you can still eat bits of pieces of white chocolate!! :)
Cyclic food allergies (which account for 80-90% of them) are different than fixed allergies. Most of the time, allergenic foods can be reintroduced to people with food allergies after a period of elimination, and in smaller amounts they may not cause symptoms. It depends on a person’s overall toxic load (stress, environment, genetics, and dietary toxins) and that determines whether or not they show symptoms. So the good news is, most people with allergies don’t have to give up the food they are allergic to forever if they don’t want to!
Intolerances are different than allergies because they don’t involve immune reactions and they have to do with a lack of enzymes. Digestive enzymes can help with this.
Anyway, sorry to regurgitate bits of info from school, but I find it interesting, and I know it is personally relevant for you as well. I’ve had problems with dairy my entire life, but now I can eat small amounts of goat cheese (which I LOVE), goat yogurt, and kefir. The body’s ability to heal itself is really quite fascinating. Not trying to encourage anyone to start eating anything they don’t want to or have bad reactions to…just thought it might be of interest :)
Hayley, awesome comment.
Allergies vs intolerances. I knew most of what you wrote; you just stated it very succinctly and thanks for the refresher :)
Don’t eat it, don’t miss it.
I never used to have reactions to dairy in my pregan days but one day I got a soy latte from Starbucks and they, for some reason, but whipped cream on top. I scooped it off the top because I didn’t want to act like a priss but I got sick after, and I’m sure it’s because of the trace amount of whipped cream.
I do agree with you on “missing the memories”. I don’t eat dairy or other animal products, and my families diet is heavy in these foods. They are total foodies, and appreciate the good stuff (my dad would go crazy for all those cheeses you acquired) but because of that there’s definately a bit of a boundary when they’re chowing down on some filet or the classic cheese, grapes, and crackers, and i’m munching on a veggies. It’s definately the unifying tradition that I miss rather than the food itself. Although sometimes, (I can’t lie) some smoked gouda or brie looks sooooo good to me. Enjoy!
Oh. My. GOD. !!!! :shock: You did hit the jackpot!! That’s an amazing prize!! Intolerance or not, I’m be ALL over that, LOL. I’m naughty!
I’ve heard that people that give up gluten can often introduce dairy back into their diet after 6 months or so. Maybe you can tolerate it now that your tummy is healed?
I didn’t know that Kerrygold made cheese until recently. Now I’m on a mission to find it. Of course, I am probably dairy-intolerant, too. I’m probably just prolonging the inevitable. Sigh.
Healing thy gut, moderation, probiotics, time, yes…all are factors into being able to handle some trace dairy for me without going into reaction hell!
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I love how you reminded us not to be defined by labels in our diets. Amen. I have also noticed that food reactions/intolerances may vary with whatever is going on inside our body at the time. I’m super sensitive to soy products, but it has waned over the past year or so. IMO due to a reduction in stress and inflammation. I’m still pretty careful about my intake, but if I accidentally ingest something with soy it’s not a huge crisis anymore. Sure do miss Chinese food though! xoxo
Ah, I’m so jealous! I actually just applied to work in the cheese section at whole foods because I love trying new kinds. We actually have some kerrygold cheddar in our fridge right now — we grated it onto our stir-fry last night. enjoy your cheesiness!
Omg, Kerrigold cheese is amaaaaazing. I love love love cheese. As far as I can tell it doesn’t affect me much (if it all), but I don’t eat it all the time, so it’s more of a treat for me!
Unfortunately, I love cheese. I limit how much of it I eat, but have never been able to completely eliminate it from my diet.
Jack pot! That’s an awesome prize pack!
I haven’t had any dairy for almost 2 months and really do miss cheese. It’s so tasty and fun to eat. There’s nothing else like cheese tasting.
I’ll be adding it back very soon though!
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Cheese is the hardest thing for me ever when it comes to being vegan. I was a chef at a wine bar for a while and I totally fell off the vegan wagon and ate cheese ever single day that I worked there. I’ve heard it’s addictive and I believe it!
it IS addictive. in my Dairy FAQ’s post that i linked in this post, i discussed casomorphin addiction whereby the dairy proteins have an opiod-like effect on people and render them…addicted to dairy. For real.
good cheese is definitely part of my diet – but i always eat it with something or on top of something else. but that’s not always been the case – i did try having it out of my diet, but i think a little bit in moderation is better than none at all!
I think that cheese is definitely one of my favorite foods, so I know I’d have a hard time giving it up!
Thanks for saying hi, Deborah :)
I blogged about your groc card win here
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/03/free-grocery-money.html
Wow! That is one hell of a prize!!!! Congrats :)
I love cheese! i could probably give up everything else except cheese!!
I am totally the person who says “I could be vegan with the exception of giving up cheese!” But I grew up in Wisconsin, having cheese and crackers for snacks every night so I blame it on my DNA. ;) I do try to limit dairy, and I save it all for cheese!
I grew up in MN. Same difference :)
I hardly eat cheese, but I often joke that I’m borderline vegan because I only eat goat cheese and greek yogurt when it comes to dairy. Cheese, eggs…never been my thing!
I love cheese, although it tends to give me gas. Greek yogurt doesn’t so I enjoy that daily. And I dislike milk (all milks) with a passion. But I don’t mind them if I use them in baking. So I tend to use alterna-milks like almond milk for that.
I love dairy and I eat several servings a day. I am starting to wonder if this is too much and have started investigating the idea of cutting back or perhaps even out. My love affair with dairy is just part of the journey and I do see changes in the future.
nothing compares to cooking in butter; stir fryes, eggs, you name it. It’s so satisfying for me, and I love love love full fat plain yogurt. I find when I include higher fat dairy I have much more energy, clearer skin, and am satiated quite easily. I’ll never return to my days of low fat which reeked havoc on my body and mood. Thanks for opening up the discussion to hearing what different things work for everyone, because there is no way we could all thrive off of the exact same style of eating. And it feels good when you find the one that truly feels right in your gut (literally!)
-kate
thanks kate for the great comment and for appreciating the discussion and everyone’s diff needs, bodies, etc.
I like cheese well enough but can’t eat much of it. If a delivery like that wound up on my doorstep, I think my family would faint. See, I can put cheese on anything and they’ll eat it!! LOL
Kerrygold!! I tried my first bite of Kerrygold cheese last year when I was at a hotel in Ireland touring the Ring of Kerry. Absolute bliss. Thanks for reminding me of such a great memory :)
Well I’m both vegan and lactose intolerant. I used to be a complete dairy addict and never imagined how people could avoid eating dairy! I do find that I miss cheese sometimes, but I think I agree with you that its really about the memories. All of the dairy memories…
omg do I love cheese? YES!!! haha all that cheese looks amazing!!!
Sweet prize pack, wow!
1. It’s okay, but it’s not something I really miss since going vegan with so many great vegan alternatives. But the stuff is like crack for my mom for some reason, she swears it’s the only reason she could never go totally vegan.
2. Because I’ve converted to a vegan diet and find overall I have more energy and less intestinal dysfunction since dropping dairy products.
Congratulations! the pictures look so yummy =) I love cheese so much..
More power to you. Eat some for me, kay? :D
I just went to a doctor for fatigiue, anxiety and depression and tested me for several deficiences, imbalances and allergies that could cause those things, and it looks like I have a dairy intolerance. I love yogurt, cheese and cheesecake, so I threw myself a quick pity party but decided to move on and see if I could live without them. I haven’t had dairy for a couple days and my energy is much better and I haven’t had any headaches or cravings (well, a few. But nothing like they were before.) I swear this only developed in the last couple of years too. I’m so glad I read blogs like yours, they’re very inspiring and help me stay on track with habits that help me stay healthy.
Hi Averie! I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and love it! I’m delurking just because i’m so curious … what are you going to do with all that cheese being that you are a mostly dairy-free household?!
have a wine and cheese party, eat it perhaps, cook with it…who knows!
dont be a lurker anymore :)
Wow–that is such a generous prize pack! I like cheese, but I definitely try to stay away from it! Every once in a while I have goat cheese or mozz on pizza, but other than that no cheese for me! :)
thanks for saying hi stefanie :)
I don’t eat 100% dairy free, but I don’t eat much of it at all — definitely no milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, cottage cheese, etc. I do miss yogurt though :(
I can handle it in small doses — a piece of cheese every couple of days doesn’t hurt — just larger amounts or “pure” dairy sources are hard on me. A little bit of milk in mashed potatoes isn’t bad, but a glass of milk is.
I never had problems with dairy until I met Jason, who can’t have dairy (or only extreme small amounts) — so I cut it out. By cutting it out I wonder if I have developed some sort of intolerance? Because now I react to it. So strange!
That is an awesome prize pack! I am super jealous.
i love kerrygold cheese almost as much as i love dogs. since you don’t eat it, you can go right ahead and send it on over ;)
Cheese is ridiculously tasty, but I don’t use it when I cook for myself (which is most of the time). Sometimes it’s unavoidable though if I’m at an Italian restaurant…and don’t want a house salad, ya know? :) And I reeeeaally appreciate it when I do have it. :)
About the shellfish thing, my sister had that reaction when after one time she got sick from shellfish when she was pregnant. It’s been two years now and she can’t have shellfish anymore! Bummer. Hers isn’t as sensitive as yours though, she still dabbles in sushi. :) I’ve heard that roughly every 7 years (and when you’re pregnant) your body chemistry changes – you’ll see changes in your hair (curly vs. straight), skin, and reactions to food….Interesting huh.
that sucks about your sister’s rxns. If there is one thing i CANNOT “cheat” with…it’s shellfish. I could die b/c my airway could close on me!
wow that is a giveaway jackpot! i don’t eat too much cheese but if a bunch of it landed on my front porch i would!
I loved cheese before going vegan almost a year and a half ago, but I still crave it from time to time. In fact, just last week I broke down and got some, and it was very tasty. I think I am likely to continue avoiding dairy, but there may be those sinful moments of indulgence time and again as long as it’s good quality cheese! If I ever go back and travel about Europe, I think I’ll probably drop my anti-dairy for the trip because European cheese is soo good.
I was a big cheese eater in my pre-gan days, but when I gave it up I didn’t really miss it (after the first month or two). My boyfriend eats cheese, so there is usually some in my fridge, but the smell of it puts me off now — it’s just salty and … cloying? I don’t know, it smells like fat to me, if that makes sense. lol. I suppose tastes just change over time.
The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice.
Those disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory, sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them.
Wow! That really is a nice package. It really looks top notch. I’m sure you’re family will enjoy all the good things you’ll make from it!
So much cheese! Giving up cheese was the hardest thing for me when I went vegan 2.5 years ago, but once I got it out of my system, I craved it less. I miss the fancy cheese plates in gourmet restaurants, and every once in a while I have a little bit of raw goat cheese. But even with that, the longer I go without it, the less I crave it.
I have been eating cheeseless pizza, but I have to admit that finding Daiya has been a game changer for me.
Real cheese def taste amazing, but I am lactose intolerant. I can handle a little dairy in moderation, but not too much. Cheese is the one thing that makes me sick the worst. I miss it sometimes, but I know I feel alot better when I don’t eat it :)
Hi averie, congratulations on all that! Sooo jealous!
Kerrygold is great especially the butter because it has the higher fat content (european style)and is made from the cream of the grassfed animal during the grass growing season which maximizes the nutrients. If I don’t get raw or local butter, KG is my next fav. choice and ghee is another wonderful choice for butter uses without milk solids, Pure foods is great for ghee. Use all this healthy butter fat liberally to maximize uptake of the fat soluble vitamins in your food. And its YUM! :)
did I mention I was jealous? Are you planning a cheese and butter tasting? ;)
-sahara
haha! i would love to have a wine + cheese party. If only i wasnt working so much, I’d have you over :) Hope you’re doing well, honey!!!!
xoxo
i used to have a hard time giving up cheese and dairy. until one day i decided i was just going to do it for good. i’ve been vegan for a few months now and feel great, and i don’t miss dairy or eggs. ok sometimes i miss eggs. but definitely not dairy. though i know if i won a cheese giveaway i’d probably be craving some of it, just because it was there ;)
Excellent job! I found your blog using google. I am going to tell my wife about your blog later.
I’m not a big cheese person, mainly because I think the majority of it in the US sucks. Yes, total snob over here, but the only kinds I can’t resist are things like amazing brie, roquefort, camembert…the stuff my mom fed us growing up. I mean, cheddar and American still taste good to me, obviously, but I never crave it and have no problem saving it for the really good stuff!!
I still eat some dairy, so I never really miss it. It’s not a part of my every day life, but if I want ice cream or frosting, I eat it! There’s no intolerance, it’s just an ethical, taste and health thing, so I let myself have it when it’s calling my name :)
Kerrygold is supposed to be the best, I’ve heard–but I’ve never tried it.
Wow, congrats on your prize! You really must have the luck of the Irish! ;)
I am going through a vegan phase after reading Crazy Sexy Diet. Soo…..I have given up dairy–however, I think my chocolate chips DID have dairy that I through in my no bake cookie dough balls yesterday. So I guess I’ve given it up in large amounts. I don’t really miss it though. I have found alternatives that are just fine, like nooch, nut milks, etc. I do miss cream cheese sometimes though. ;)
I’ve never really cared much about cheese so I had no problem giving that up, but I’ve been drawn back into eating real butter and I don’t think I’ll ever turn away from it again. That would not last long near me; they just make brownies taste that much better.
yeah im glad you’re cooking with real butter again too. makes the recipes look that much better :)
HOLY CHEESE! the only thing I have been craving during comp prep is CHEESE and bread! lots and lots of cheese…its the strangest thing! I thought I would want cookies or sweets but nope! just bring on the cheese and ill be a happy gal! :)
As far as dairly, whats strange is that I am becoming somewhat intolerant to dairy (I think) When I have dairy later in the day (past 3pm) I get extremely uncomfortable, bloated yadda yadda, but if I have it before say 12pm then Im okay! I know that enzymes are working harder in the morning in the stomach so maybe thast why its easier to digest? do you know anything about why this is?
if you followed the principles of food combining, there is definitely merit to time of day and ingesting certain foods. Also the ORDER of the foods, i.e. fruit first, don’t mix carbs and meat, there are tons of “rules” and it’s food for thought but i am not a “food combining” advocate per se.
I also think that the biorhythms of our bodies differ and at certain points in the day it can handle certain foods and other times….not so much.
recently ive been really into fajitas!
i have a love/hate relationship with cheese. sometimes i crave it, sometimes the thought of it makes my stomach churn. I’m so odd.
I was wondering who won that cheese – love the stuff. Not vegan over here. Soooo psyched to see you today. Still on yes??
The only dairy products I am really obsessed with are cottage cheese and yogurt. These are the reasons I could not be a vegan…
I LOVE cheese, but it does not love me back. My boys would have been in heaven with that jackpot! YUM! I am sure your crew will be loving you making so many treats with it!
that’s so cool that you are DF and your boys aren’t. I guess I “knew” it but everyone’s households and who eats what…i can’t keep everyone straight :)
Lately I’ve been trying to reduce dairy and eggs in my diet, to focus on more plant-based foods (for health/ethic reasons). Cheese is actually the only form of dairy I consume semi-regularly at the moment, exept for an occasional ice cream treat or traces in pre-made foods. I feel very lucky to live in Europe, where you have easy access to so many different kinds of awesome cheese. Having cheese only a few times per week makes me savour and apreciate it even more.
Ah, memories … like feasting on parmesan and fresh ciabatta bread on a mild night in Rome. Sigh!
I just recently bought a bag of nooch, not sure how to use it. I’ll re-read your post on it for inspiration!
Holy cheese heaven! Wow. I used to think I could never give up cheese. But it makes the hubs sick, so we rarely have real cheese. We did indulge in goat cheese last night (not even very much) and it felt so sinful, but oh so good.
After over 4 years of being very strict vegan I have in the last few weeks been including some cheese and eggs into my diet. I have said many times before that we don’t need these things in our diets- however in the last 6 months I have been feeling as though there is something missing from my diet. I was feeling extremely tired and a bit unhealthy. I really wanted to do what was best for my body because I’m an extremely active girl- and it seemed like the best way to go. Cheese is good- and I had always loved it! So for me eating a “vegan” diet rich in veggies, fruits and whole grains with these things is working :)
I eat and adore cheese! Feta is my staple- I use it on salads, in omelettes… you name it! :)
Amen to Tricuits + Cheese + Wine. Except replace Cheese with Hummus and Wine with Mixed Drinks and that was me. Sounds like you were classier :P
Kerrygold really hooked you up! I was wondering how they would go about shipping all that but you answered the question for me.
I never really thought I’d find myself where I am now in my “diet,” but I’ve just sort of phased out of dairy and animal products altogether. The longer I go without it the more it sort of…weirds me out, I guess. I still don’t consider myself vegan because it’s not like I try to avoid it at all costs (and honestly, I’m more likely to put the butter on the counter on my muffin or toast at night than I am to pull out my own Earth Balance, it’s in a hot cocoa mix I have and trace amounts in other products I’m sure, too) I’ve always been “I could take it or leave it” about cheese and my mom is the same. Blame her :P And milk? Always hated the stuff growing up! I’m kind of glad the vegan substitutes aren’t really all that similar to the real deal, haha.
Cheese is one of my #1 offenders, so I don’t touch it. Even the tiny bit of parm that was sprinkled on the broccoli dish I got at my mother’s birthday dinner the other day bothered me!!! But I have been considering going back to Greek yogurt. I don’t think I will, because ultimately dairy causes me to get more colds. Right now, I’m working on a post for Dairy Free Betty about vegan sources of calcium and oxalates! Sounds fascinating, huh? Ha! :)
“Let’s face it– cheeze is not cheese.” Haha…so true. I do LOVE cheese, but have been cutting back over the last year or so. I could never give it up permanently, but I think the less cheese in my life, the better (for my health…not for my tastebuds though!)
i LOVE cheese. sadly, i’ve struggled with constipation and general stomach issues due to IBS as of late, so cheese has gotten the axe. thankfully, i like nooch a lot :)
kerrygold is the BEST though. their butter is golden and cheesy. i want to know who could eat that much cheese before it goes bad!??! ;)
I’m intolerant to lactose and casein, and I had to quit it when I was 12 which was very hard for me, because I almost lived on yoghurt then. And loved ice cream so much. :( Cheese I never liked so much, though, although I would eat it.
Now, the only dairy products I can and do eat are butter and cream. Kerrygold and organic sweet butter are my favorites! :)
What an awesome giveaway load! I’m sure you’ll make good use of it.
I tend to avoid dairy OTHER than yogurt. I really do feel physically healthier by not eating it, however yogurt still sits well with me.
Wow! That is a cheese haul that you have there. I do like cheese but don’t eat too much of it. I mainly go for white cheeses such as mozarella, feta and goat’s cheese.
ooo those cheeses look so delicious! I absolutely love cheese, that is probably the one food I could never do without, I don’t get cravings for sweets or desserts ever, and I could care less about soda or chips, but I always crave cheese!
I’m kind of like you. Growing up, I never really liked meat to begin with, so when I cut it out completely, it never bothered me. I do love cheese, but cheese definitely gives my stomach problems. Small amounts of dairy in things such as dark chocolate, don’t seem to bother me. Greek yogurt doesn’t really bother me either. I love big hunks of smelly old cheese… ::sigh::
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I was vegetarian for 10 years before I found out I was lactose intolerant. I had a rash on my arm and was gassy, bloated, had diarrhea and uncontrollable bathroom urges. This came out of no where since I have always had a heavy diet with cheese in it. I had already given up ice cream and yogurt and milk and mostly eggs. So to be come completely vegan I had to be done with cheese.
I struggled for 4 years giving up cheese. I had an addiction, it became and obsession where I would guiltily buy it, eat it and then feel bad and not know why since logic says – don’t eat it if it bothers your stomach and body. Then I found out about the science of it. Cheese has two proteins – whey and casein. Casein breaks down into your brain into something called caso-morphine which basically acts like a morphine/drug addiction. After that and learning about the ethics of the dairy industry (I had made some incorrect assumptions) .
I’ve been vegan ever since and have not looked back or missed a thing : ) That said you should do what is right for you. If you can’t give cheese up, then give everything up but cheese.
Yeah I havent had any cheese in 7-8 years or so but lots of people do have issues giving up dairy precisely b/c of the casomorphin addiction. I addressed that in my Dairy FAQs post which is linked in this post or here it is again
http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/03/dairy-faqs-allergies-calcium-myths.html
Glad you figured out what works and doesnt for you!
I LOOOOOVE CHEESE & DAIRY!
thanks for keeping it real on your blog about it all too :)
And thank YOU for your support :)
lucky gal! I love cooking with kerrygold. Their cheese is good too. I can still have high fat/low lactose dairy in moderation. But I usually go for the wine and raw nuts/fruit instead. Love those memories too!
“I can still have high fat/low lactose dairy in moderation.”–good to know! I have heard other people say that, too about their choices. Something about the fat helps to “buffer” things.
Oh my goodness… I used to work for a gourmet coffee and grocery shop, and we sold this brand. It was delicious! I have been completely dairy-free, except for the lactose in a prescription I needed to take, for the last two years. While I am stubbornly faithful (to a fault) to my animal-free diet, piles of cheeses still makes me salivate. Looking is okay, right…?
of course :)
congrats on winning that giveaway, averie!! what a beautiful cookbook to add to your collection.
i’m not a cheese fan – just because i don’t really like the taste or texture. not big into cheesy dishes like lasagna or pizza. i DO like milk – although i’ve been choosing almond more and more, of late. milk + cereal – the only way i do milk!!!
LOVE nooch!!! i think it’s the best thing i’ve found thanks to blog reading!
have a great day!
I try and eliminate dairy for health reasons, too. But the thing is, it tastes so good I think it is healthy for the soul! But it’s important to find the balance of when indulging in it is ok–I’m still struggling with that. Luckily I’m a healthy 19-year-old so I have plenty of time to figure it out!
Kerrygold is such a great cheese! We get it here in Saudi, and we love it. Congratulations on your win!
When I was vegan I obviously didn’t eat cheese, and I didn’t really miss it. Cheese is yummy, but it was never something that was a centerpiece of my diet. I’m glad to have it back in my life now, it is a fun addition to lots of dishes.
So glad you have done what’s worked for you, Tasha!