It took me a while to go full vegan.

Why?

Creaminess.

And, like, cake. 

Of course I now know that creaminess – and cake – abounds on the vegan side, but it took me a while to figure this out. (Now if only we can get all the tea and coffee shops I want to hang out in to get on board…)

So, anyway, I remained a “chea-gan*” for way too long when I could have been eating and living according to my ethics and values.

* A vegan who cheats, or a vegan who makes an exception for cheese

I hate to break it to you, but cheese is a double whammy of awful waffle. I explain more about this in the video below, but suffice it to say, mama cow milk is filled with “proteins in milk that break down into peptides that have opiate-like drug effects” that keep baby cow coming back for more in order to grow into a humongous cow. So cheese, then, which is made from this mama cow milk, is a concentrated mass of casomorphins, making it über addictive, chemically.

(Curious to read more about the nutrition facts surrounding cheese? Geek out here.)

Fortunately for everyone involved, there are so many alternatives to animal dairy.

Not only has the plant-based dairy industry been expanding exponentially over the past few years, but there are also so many whole food hacks for making all things creamy, cheesy, and milky.

So let’s talk vegan dairy… which not only does a body good, but also the planet. (Not to mention the mama cows, who find it especially mooving when you switch to plant-based dairy. ?)

Would love to hear from you, friends! Have you fully switched to plant-based dairy? If not, what’s holding you back? I love sleuthing out vegan swaps, so definitely let me know. (For example, these vegan scalloped potatoes may cinch the deal…)

More soon, and wishing you a magnifique 4th of July if you celebrate it!

P.S. Here are some ideas for keeping your pantry well stocked and plantified!