There are some incredible dairy alternatives out there and part of becoming vegan is about exploring new food options. As time passes, more vegan friendly products hit the shelves and replacing animal based products is becoming easier and easier. Of course there are some differences between particular products, and what you need to try and do is keep an open mind to a new world of food and understand that while you reduce the impact to animal farming and cruelty, you’re introducing new flavours into your palate.
Check out some egg alternatives too!
Butter
Try Instead: Nuttelex
Available At: Woolworths, Coles, IGA
Info/Suggestions: Original is suitable for baking/cooking at higher temperatures
Cheese
Try Instead: MyLife Bio Cheese, Daiya Cheese, Vegusto No-Moo, Cheezly Mozzarella, Notzarella, Walnut Cream Cheese Spread, Tofutti Better Than Ricotta, Sense-Sations Parmesan
Available At: Prahran Convenience Store, The Cruelty Free Shop, Mad Cowgirls Vegan Grocery, Woolworths
Info/Suggestions: MyLife Bio Cheese has been a big hit in the vegan community due to how well this cheese melts, though the company’s website and promotions severely lack. Several independently owned shops popped up with it in Melbourne and a buzz started. Prahran Convenience Store, Mad Cowgirls Vegan Grocery and One Way Fresh in Reservoir definitely stock it.
Chocolate
Try Instead: Whittikers Dark Chocolate, Pana Chocolate
Available At: Woolworths, select stores for Pana.
Info/Suggestions:Cheapest Pana Chocolate
Cream
Try Instead: Alpro Soy Cream, Alpine Coconut Cream, Rice Whip
Available At: The Cruelty Free Shop, Woolworths.
Info/Suggestions: Alpro is good to cook with, while Alpine coconut cream is thick and delicious for desserts.
Cream Cheese
Try Instead: Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese
Available At: Woolworths, Coles.
Info/Suggestions: This stuff is sworn by, even by non-vegans! It is that tasty.
Ice Cream
Try Instead: Calippo Icy Poles, Weis Fruit Sorbets, Sanitarium So Good Ice Cream, Galáre Natural Ice Cream, Coyo, Halfpint Vegan Dairy
Available At: Woolworths, Coles, Mad Cowgirls Vegan Grocery
Info/Suggestions: So Good ice cream is delicious with Cottee’s Chocolate Topping which is also vegan! Halfpint Vegan Dairy is a decadent ice cream, but utterly worth the money.
Milk
Try Instead: Soy Milk, Oat Milk, Rice Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk
Available At: Woolworths, Coles, IGA, other independent stores.
Info/Suggestions:
- Soy milk: Good in hot drinks, smoothies, cereal, general cooking/baking.
- Oat milk: Good in smoothies, cold drinks, cereal, general cooking/baking.
- Rice milk: Good in cold drinks, general baking/cooking.
- Almond milk: Good in cold drinks, general cooking/baking.
- Coconut milk: Good in cold drinks, cereal.
Mayonnaise
Try Instead: Praise 99% Fat Free Mayo, Plamil Mayonnaise
Available At: Woolworths, The Cruelty Free Shop.
Info/Suggestions: In all honesty, Praise 99% is just as good as any of the chicken egg-based mayonnaise out there. Low in fat and animal secretion free!
Pastry
Try Instead: Borgs Puff & Shortcrust
Available At: Woolworths, Coles.
Info/Suggestions: Use as you would any other pastry, there’s no difference except the exclusion of animal secretions!
Sour Cream
Try Instead: Tofutti Sour Cream
Available At: Woolworths, The Cruelty Free Shop.
Info/Suggestions: This stuff is sworn by, even by non-vegans! It is that tasty.
Yoghurt
Try Instead: SoyLife Yoghurt, Kingland Soy Yoghurt, Alpine Coconut Yoghurt
Available At: Woolworths, Coles, The Cruelty Free Shop.
Info/Suggestions: SoyLife blueberry yoghurt is great on muesli.