"I could be vegetarian, but I could never be vegan because I love dairy so much!"
I've heard this exact phrase time and time again. And while I'm no saint when it comes to avoiding dairy addiction, I have to say there are some pretty wonderful substitutions, or really replacements, for the basics. Below is my roundup for what I think are the best vegan dairy replacements.
Kite Hill Yogurt
I've always loved yogurt. I find it filling, satisfying, and healthy. But the non-dairy yogurt options until recently really sucked. I've tried every.single.brand. and the product is either too thick and makes me want to gag or too runny and is not yogurt at all. Kite Hill came out with their yogurt and for the first time in my life I've become brand loyal. All of the flavors are amazing, but peach is my personal favorite.
Miyoko Cheese
Cheese is by far the most difficult dairy product to replicate. When it comes to artisanal soft and semi-hard cheeses though, Miyoko wins. They have the right amount of bite to match the essence of cheese and they have all the flavors you could imagine from double chive to aged and smoked. Pair with crackers, jam, and apple slices, and you have a pretty great fruit and cheese platter.
Silk Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
If you're like me and constantly buying milk for coffee, cereal, and smoothies, you can save time and money and get Silk's Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk in bulk at Costco. It's organic, not filled with sugar, but has a sweet vanilla taste. And it doesn't have that nasty carrageenan that everyone's been talking about.
Coconut Bliss Chocolate Covered Salted Caramel Bars
Just like the name of the company, this dessert is pure bliss. The perfect serving for a sweet tooth, and the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and chocolate, these ice cream bars will not disappoint. Coconut Bliss has all sorts of amazing ice cream and desserts, but the chocolate covered salted caramel bars are the only ones I dream about...
Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg
I know, I know... Eggs aren't technically dairy. But I couldn't leave this one out. Before this invention, we were stuck with using tofu's consistency to match eggs or powdery substances to make our baking goods bind. Enter Follow Your Heart's Vegan Egg and the egg replacement struggle is over - they have surely revolutionized the game. The VeganEgg can be used for everything a non-vegan egg can be used for. My personal favorite is scrambling them, melting some of Follow Your Heart's cheddar cheese on an English muffin, and making a breakfast sandwich.