Cheese Substitutes
Cheese can be one of the hardest products to give up when adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. It's very common and used in a very wide variety of dishes to provide flavor and texture. If you're a big fan of Mexican food, it's that much more difficult, as the vast majority of foods from this tradition contain cheese or are topped with it. There are cheese substitutes available, however, that can help you reach your goal.
It's important to remember that you don't have to give up cheese altogether. There are many different brands, types, and flavors of what is termed “vegan cheese”. Vegan cheese is an excellent way to still be able to enjoy dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese quesadillas, cheese dips, and other dishes that are predominantly made up of cheese. Vegan cheeses are predominantly made from soy, and come in a wide variety of forms and flavors: grated, block, sliced, spreads, cheddar, pepper jack, mozarella... the list is endless.
One major drawback of vegan cheese is that it is not as readily available as some other vegetarian foods. Any decent health food store will carry vegan cheese, but if you live in a rural area you may not have access to such a store. Check the vegetarian or meat substitute area of your local supermarkets to see if they carry vegan cheeses. If not, check with a manager and see if your grocery store offers a food request program. They may be able to order this specialty “cheese” for you.
Another drawback to some vegan cheeses is their melting difficulty. Most dishes calling for cheese need it melted, rather than solid and cold. Milk-free cheeses can be tricky to melt. If you're not overly concerned with a little milk in your cheese, there are varieties of soy cheese that contain casein or calcium caseinate, a protein derived from milk that serves to make the cheese easier to melt. If you're wanting to eliminate all dairy sources, be sure to check the labels of your soy cheeses to ensure that they are completely dairy-free. There are many varieties available that are just that.