9 Foods to Overcome Cheese Cravings (without eating the fake stuff)

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Are you craving cheese as a vegan? 

For most people, when transitioning to a healthy plant-based lifestyle, cheese is one of the hardest things to give up, myself included.

Cheese cravings can happen even long after you’ve given up cheese. 

Maybe you saw a gooey cheese commercial. Or maybe you had a little bite at a friend’s party. And now you want nothing more than to take a big bite out of a block of cheese. 

Before we dive into what to eat to satisfy your cheese cravings as a vegan, let’s quickly examine why exactly cheese is so addictive?

Dairy has two types of protein: casein and whey. Cheese is made mostly of casein where most of the liquid whey found in milk is strained out.

Whey digests quickly, whereas casein is a whole different story. According to Dr. T. Colin Campbell, the author of the China Study, casein takes a long time to digest. As casein digests, it releases drug-like casomorphins into the bloodstream which act like opiates in the body, making us addicted to cheese.  

This is why cheese is one of the hardest things to quit on a plant-based lifestyle.

In the time that I’ve been a vegan, I’ve found several foods that help satisfy my cheese cravings the best.

You can, of course, buy vegan cheeses in the grocery store, but I like to stay away from processed foods as much as possible because they aren’t healthy.

P.S. Cheese cravings do subside over time. But in case you do get sudden bursts of cravings from time to time, try one of those things.

Foods that help overcome cheese cravings:

1. Nutritional yeast – no surprise here! Sprinkle that nooch all over your buddha bowls, salads, popcorn, anything and everything! The taste of nooch is very ‘cheesy’ + it’s fortified with B12. Tip: mix a little nooch with cashew butter and use as spreadable cheese. 

2. Olives – another healthy fat source! I recommend Kalamata olives because they are a little saltier and have a strong‘olive’ flavor.          

3. Tahini – this creamy, fatty, and thick paste could also help with cheese cravings! Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds and has a very rich nutty flavor.  

4. Roasted salted almonds – almonds are fatty (good fatty) and by roasting and lightly salting them, they will be more flavorful and can help satisfy cheese cravings.

5. Miso – this paste that’s often used in Asian cuisine is made from fermented soybeans and has a rich umami flavor. Miso is usually very salty and tangy and you don’t want to eat it on its own. Add a teaspoon to stews, soups, or a stir-fry.

6. PeanutButter or Sunflower Butter –another fatty gooey sub if you’re craving spreadable cheese. I know it doesn’t taste quite like cheese but both have healthy fats and creamy texture.

7. Roasted seaweed – you can buy seaweed sheets or nori (the sheets used to wrap sushi), chop it up and use as a topping in your salads and Buddha bowls. It has an umami flavor and is high in iodine.

8. Hummus – if you are not a fan of tahini then eating hummus can also help curb cheese cravings. Tahini is a key ingredient in hummus but its taste isn’t all that prominent when mixed with chickpeas. The creamy texture of hummus will give a sense of a spreadable ‘cheese’ when paired with a whole wheat toast.

9. Avocado – healthy fats baby. Eat it on a toast and sprinkle with some sea salt + pepper. You can also make guac and enjoy it with chips. I find that the creamy gooey texture of the mashed avo helps me with cheese cravings.

Another option is to make your own vegan cheese. Check out my Vegan Parmesan Cheese recipe. 

**Note: It’s also important to remember that your cheese cravings may be an indication that you’re lacking Calcium or Vitamin D which is found in dairy and cheese. It’s important to get your blood work done on a regular basis and speak with your doctor to get medical advice.

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My brand new cookbook is out on Amazon! It’s called “30-Minute Plant-Based Recipes” and it’s perfect for busy vegans. Grab it now!