Need help from vegans/vegetarians?

[Anonymous]

Before I start with this question, I request non-vegetarians NOT to answer this. I'm not willing to hear reasons why I should eat meat or eggs. I have my reasons for being a vegetarian, and its not related to religion. I just love animals. Anyway, my sincere request, please answer this only if you're a vegetarian or vegans. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

I've been a vegetarian since birth because mom is a vegetarian whereas dad was a non vegetarian, and I chose to follow mom's footsteps. I completely refrain from all kinds of meat, seafood, honey and eggs. Now, I'm trying hard to convert into a vegan, which involves giving up milk products (like butter, ghee, cheese etc.) too. I've accomplished this to some extent, because I've replaced regular milk with soy milk. Even stuff like butter and ghee, I can somehow avoid. Main problem is with cheese, because cheese is an integral part of many food items. I don't know if there is any vegan replacement for cheese, or my only option is to give up all the dishes in which cheese is essential.

So if any of you have actually succeeded in converting to a vegan from a vegetarian (or from a non-vegetarian to a vegan), please help me out regarding this. Its quite frustrating to know that I'm almost there, but having issues with the last hurdle.

[musicbrain5]

Do you live in the US? Try Daiya. It's amazing. I live in Canada and it's so hard to find here and very expensive (even though it was invented here...) As someone who is allergic to milk/dairy products, finding cheese substitutes has been really hard. I have to eat the vegan alternatives, but most of the ones I've tried are terrible and disgusting and they don't melt properly.

But Daiya, omg, that is the best one. Go get some of it.

[Asker]

No, I don't live in the US, or any other developed country. I reside in a backward third world country, so the only way I can be a vegetarian or vegan, is if I prepare the food myself or some one else in my family prepares it for me.

[musicbrain5]

Well there are recipes for you to make your own cheese - nut based cheeses mostly. I'm not sure how easy they are to follow or how good they taste though. I've never tried making my own!

Cheese is such a useful ingredient. I wish there were more alternative options available for people who don't want it or can't eat it (like me).

I don't know a whole lot about the vegan diet as a whole though.

[Asker]

Thanks a lot! You may not know much about a vegan diet, but I appreciate the fact that you shared whatever useful info you do know. :)

[lace1228]

Daiya cheese is the first cheese I can like.. Cheese is the hardest to give up. At QA could you maybe order online and have it delivered? Maybe try soft tofu for. some recipes

[UberTroll]

I'm not a vegetarian but I'm answering anyway, being closed minded never helped anybody you know ;) You can use a vegetable based spread instead of butter, even I prefer spread over butter. As for the cheese you could try one of the vegan alternatives listed here link

[Asker]

Thanks a lot for that link. Its REALLY helpful. And please, its not the question of being close minded. If Non-vegetarians post in these topics, it almost always results in heated arguments, because they feel its fine to eat meat, whereas I'm totally against animal cruelty and killing animals for the selfish needs of humans. I just wanted to avoid those hassles, that's all. Besides, its logical to think that vegetarians and vegans would know better about this issue. :)

[UberTroll]

No problem. But it is pretty closed minded to ban ALL non-vegas because some of us do just wanna help. It's usually better to just specify the kind of answers you don't want, like nobody telling you to eat meat. If I had listened to your request you'd be down a helpful link! :)

[Asker]

Yes you're right! But still, it didn't occur to me because most non-vegetarians I know simply keep on arguing and justifying themselves, rather than helping me with my query. People like you are an exception, which I never even though I'd find. Thanks a lot, anyway! :)

[UberTroll]

I understand, people can be... difficult lol

[Asker]

Yeah right! People can be difficult, and often downright silly and illogical! :P

[SandraSlip]

There's a lot of different vegan "cheese" replacements out there, and there are some really really yummy ones. Just don't expect them to be actual duplicates. They ARE different. Doesn't mean they're not yummy though.

If you're in the US you're lucky, there's tons of that. In most European countries as well, just mostly different brands than in the US.

[Asker]

Thanks for your suggestion. But unfortunately, I'm neither in the US nor in any European country. I'm stuck in a backward, underdeveloped, 3rd world country.

[SandraSlip]

Well, but you have internet access obviously. So you can order it maybe.

[Asker]

But since they're food items, won't they get decomposed by the time they reach me? And also, I guess the shipping costs would be too high, provided they actually offer shipping services to my country. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to order online and see if it works out. :)

[SandraSlip]

Yeah, just do some online research, maybe ask the question again in some vegan forums.