Dairy Substitutes

[breezeshadow]

Hello Healthy Eaters. I know I don't post often on here; the thing is, eating and I haven't gotten along well the past few days.

However, it is thought that the reason I am having so many issues with my digestion is because my lactose intolerance is getting worse. As a result, I am looking into dairy alternatives to use for everyday usage (I can still handle baked goods and such, but direct cheese, milk, etc. make me sad).

Here are a few things, though: I like the texture of milk. I like how creamy it is. Almost every dairy substitute I have had recommended to me either has a funny aftertaste/taste in general (Yes, even Lactaid milk), or just is too watery (Rice milk). Therefore, I was wondering: does anyone out there know of any decent, thick dairy substitutes? They don't have to taste exactly like milk, I know that's impossible. I just want something that will still be thick and rich without the horrible stomach cramping to follow. For the record, I have tried hemp, oat, rice, soy, and almond, with soy and oat being the only ones I could properly handle long-term.

Also, does anyone know of any good cheese or sour cream substitutes? I'm pretty set on ice cream alternatives (almond and coconut are both fantastic) and cream cheese (Follow your Heart, great texture without any funny aftertaste). But cheese ones keep being kind of bland, while I haven't tried any sour cream ones yet.

Any suggestions would be awesome. I do have lactase pills and can use them, but I figure if I could make things easier for my forgetful self by just skipping out on lactose altogether, that'd be best.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Comments

[clare_dragonfly]

Coconut milk is very creamy. Tofutti makes a dairy-free sour cream, though I have no idea how good it is (I only buy it once a year, so my mom can make the vegan version of her sweet Passover kugel). I like Daiya cheese, particularly the mozzarella--it also comes in cheddar and pepper jack, and they're all shreds. That's more of a texture thing than a taste thing for me, but it's a popular brand so might be worth checking out.

Hope that helps!

[breezeshadow]

I will look into those brands and into coconut milk; I'm so used to thinking of it as just a cooking ingredient instead of a drink on its own. Thanks! :)

[smw]

I might not be the best person to ask, given how lackadaisical I am about food, but my method has generally been to find new tasty things rather than to grasp after the old ones.

That said, have you tried goat milk or goat cheese? Lactose-free, creamy, and its own kind of tasty.

[breezeshadow]

That is very true, however, it's hard to find new tasty substitutes when they all have an aftertaste that makes me desperately crave water. Oat milk, hemp milk, even soy... I don't know what it is. I take a sip, think "Wow, this is really good", then swallow and go ":<". I don't get it.

I didn't know goat milk and cheese were lactose-free! I love goat cheese (it's like a creamier feta, no? So good), so I'll have to look into the milk as well. Thanks :)

[all_adream]

Yup, my partner who avoids cow stuff enjoys goat and sheep cheese--might be worth a try. The soy and other fake cheeses I have found are beyond foul, in my experience, even after being vegetarian for decades! On a semi-related note about intolerance of foods, I was also grossed out that beano is not even vegetarian, which makes no sense to me--it contains fish and other stuff.

[breezeshadow]

Beano isn't vegetarian? Well I'm glad I didn't follow my psychiatrist's and nutritionist's advice to get it. They know I'm a vegetarian too. :|

I will look into the goat cheese and milk; like I told Shan, I had no idea it was lactose-free, so it didn't even cross my mind. Thanks :)

[killing_rose]

Coconut milk works well; coconut milk beverage (such as So Delicious Coconut Milk) is good to cook with. And goat's cheese is awesome.(Daiya isn't bad, but it's definitely not my favorite thing.)

Possible sour cream substitute?

[rydra_wong]

Can you tolerate yoghurt at all? I know some lactose-intolerant people can, and Google tells me that strained (Greek-style) yoghurt has much less lactose than the regular variety:

http://www.tamaraduker.com/2010/02/more-yogurt-options-for-the-lactose-challenged/

Greek yoghurt is pretty much concentrated rich creaminess, so if you can handle small amounts, it might work as a sour cream substitute.