Slimmer looking for low fat dairy free cheese

[Applecrumble]

Hi! I am a new member. I was diagnosed as lactose intolerant about 8 years ago. Must say how informative this site is.

I am looking for a low fat dairy free cheese which is recommended by Slimming World made in USA by Galaxy Foods called "Vegan Soya slices". Apparently it is sold in UK. Has anyone tried it? If so where did you get it please?

As you can tell I am overweight! Well only a bit now, I have lost a stone and on my way to losing some more. Putting on weight was not a problem until I had to give up lactose and then I was so preoccupied with finding dairy free ingredients I forgot to watch the calories. Coconut milk, humous, nuts and chocolate are the main culprits!

I have just bought Alpro's soya cheese spread (from Tesco on chiller shelf with regular cream cheeses, small tub, easily missed) and it's a bit like Cheshire cheese in taste (from what I can remember!). Not as creamy/smooth/rich as Tofutti cream cheese but much lower in calories.

But I would be interested to try the Galaxy Foods cheese if anyone knows about it.

[Copper]

Welcome to the site.

I am lactose intolerant and in the last year I have become intolerant to soya :(

Have you tried asking your local health food shop if they can order the cheese for you?

[Applecrumble]

Good idea - hadn't thought of that! Thank you.

These intolerances are a pain! It must be very difficult having more than one. At least being dairy free is likely to result in low cholesterol in blood - so take heart!

[Dianne]

Hi there. thanks for the cheese at Tesco tip. Ive never seen it but ill look loser next time im there. I cant help with your problem but you could try looking on the website dieteryneedsdirect.co.uk

maybe they will have what your looking for

[Applecrumble]

Thank you!

They don't have the cheese I am looking for but they do offer a couple of interesting cheese products:

Parmazano cheese
and Cheese flavour sauce mix

They are not necessarily low fat but I 'll try them anyway.
Sorry, Copper, both contain soya.

PS the web address is: www.dietaryneedsdirect.co.uk (with an "a")

Hope this is helpful.

[Dianne]

sorry slippy fingers :o)

The people that do lactose free milk have launched a lactose free cheese too (Jan 09). Apparently at ASDA and Sainsburys.

i doubt its low fat but im going to try it when I see it. Check out www.lactofree.co.uk (http://www.lactofree.co.uk)

[Applecrumble]

It's called Arla Lactofree Cheese.
Yippee! It's been eight years since I have been able to eat cheese!! Thank you for that. Will rush out to get some. I think the diet may go out the window for a day or so!

[Copper]

The tiny amount of lactose left in the Lactofree milk makes me ill. I am not tempted to try their cheese. I would have tried it in the old days before I became totally lactose intolerant.

[Applecrumble]

Oh no! That is really bad luck. I'm sorry for you Copper.

Is there a discussion anywhere on this website about insecticides and food chain contamination? The world should be thanking sensitive people such as us. Our problems are a warning to everyone that something is not right and it's getting worse. There is the website www.milksucks.com which explains a lot.

[Copper]

No, we have not discussed food chains and insecticides here. You can always start a thread :)

[Dianne]

hi Copper - the following is what it says about the cheese, as far as I can see from the report it is Free from lactose and not like the milk which has a trace 0.05%. (I think it says on the carton)


Lactofree cheese is made from natural cows’ milk and therefore retains that same unmistakable dairy taste. As part of cheesemaking, bacterial cultures are added to the milk to create acidity, aroma and flavour. These cultures need a source of food and this food is lactose. The bacteria uses up the lactose naturally found in the milk to give Lactofree cheese its distinct flavour. The bacteria will stop working only once all the lactose has been used up, leaving cheese that is naturally lactose free.

[Copper]

Thanks for that information. I am not sure that I am brave enough to try the cheese out.

[Dianne]

Copper I can understand that - you must be much worse than me :(, dont have all the intollorances you have. just one chocolate makes me ill to the point of being sick but I do seem to be able to cope with the lactose free milk when i make soups and sauces.

thanks for the link Applecrmble - one of the reasons i becamea a veggi is because of the way we treat our farm animals and because of all the unnatural stuff we feed them and inject animals with and also add to meat products before we buy. its the same for me with fish that swim in polluted water. Im not really any kind of echo warrior and I wouldnt preach to anyone else, in fact I cook meat at home for my hubby and boys but for me personally I took the veggi route

I know we cant avoid all of the addatives and ive been a veggi for so long now that I really dont like the feel of chewing on meat so I wouldnt want to go down the organic route although I do use my local farm shop and never buy supermarket meat....

[Copper]

As I have so many intolerances I don't think I can restrict my diet further. I try to eat a balanced diet.

[Applecrumble]

Yes I agree wholeheartedly with you, Dianne. I prefer to be veggie too. And as I sit here nibbling the Arla Lactose free cheese (it's like Gouda) I am looking back at eight years on a dairy free diet and thinking yes, it is hard, but ultimately it's healthier and kinder to animals. And there are so many delicious alternatives to dairy and meat.

_____________________

For anyone on a diet, here's the nutrition info on the two cheeses discussed so far.

200g Arla Lactofree Cheese made with cows milk.
Per 100g: energy 344 kcal, protein 25.3g, carbs 1g, fat 27g.
Slimming World: 3 and a half syns per 21g serving

150g Alpro Soya Organic Cream Cheese.
Per 100g: energy 100 kcal, protein 10g, carbs 2g, fat 6g.
Slimming World: 1 syn per 21g serving