Dairy substitutes? Or, humane dairy products?

[Flaxbee]

I prefer soy milk, and have read in this forum about a cheddar 'cheese' that everyone seems to like.

But what about yogurt? Butter? Cream cheese, and cheeses other than the above-mentioned cheddar?

I have no objection to the concept of dairy if the cows are treated with great care and attention and allowed to live well, bred with care, etc. You know, treated humanely and gently and well and with the respect they deserve. But as I strongly object to factory farming, and the way dairy cattle (as well as all the other animals) are treated, I have no choice but to look for substitutes and/or for products from farms that pride themselves on the care of their animals (and are independently verified as providing excellent care).

I believe (and if I'm wrong, correct me) that Stonyfield Farms is an ethical, humane company. So, if I'm right, yogurt is covered. If I'm wrong and it's just a great marketing gimmick, please let me know.

So, what about butter? Cheeses? Are there any sources for dairy-based products from well-raised, well-treated, gently-cared-for cows?

And if not, what are good substitutes?

(Cross-posting this in the Lounge)

[flvegan]

1. Please see my response in the Lounge.

Also, thanks for considering humane options and substitutes. The veggies are really getting it right on replacing dairy products.

[Flaxbee]

4. I have had no problem whatsoever eliminating meat from my diet

... though my husband is a different matter; he still craves chicken.

He, on the other hand, doesn't really like dairy, but I do love a good bagel with cream cheese... for a while the substitutes were pretty awful and I avoided them but it sounds now as if a whole new set of options is available.

And stupidly enough, while I've eliminated meat, and have been using soy milk for my coffee for ages, I never really worked through the product line down to the cream cheese and butter I buy. And the Hershey's ice cream we get as a treat. And the incredibly delicious Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. Sigh.

As I'd said, I don't really have a problem with consuming animal products - cheese, butter, etc. - if the animals were treated well during their entire life cycle. Fine. Cows produce milk, milk makes great cheeses, etc. But the industrialization of it to extract huge quantities to overfeed Americans and make the greatest possible profit is so cruel and unnatural that what should be something simple and enjoyable - like a scoop of ice cream - is instead horrifying.

It just floors me that we treat animals so badly; what we do is so awful I just can't even think about it. Makes me wonder how 'civilized' we are.

Have you read Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle"? The conflict is, do you practice the locavore lifestyle, sourcing locally and from small farms that treat their animals well and grow their own veggies w/o herbicides, pesticides, and genetically modified strains, or do you source food that may be vegan but cost $_________ in gasoline, carbon footprint, etc., to get to your store? :shrug:

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. My favorites

Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese - yummy, contains no butterfat, though I believe it does contain some partially hydrogenated fats

Tofutti Sour Supreme Better Than Sour Cream - tastes great, and also contains no milk, no cholesterol, no lactose, no butterfat, and no hydrogenated oil

Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (Whipped) - extremely tasty, no animal products


Other than soy milk, I also like almond milk. Hemp milk is great, but can be pricey.

For cheeses, I like Daiya cheddar-style shreds. I've never purchased a good vegan cheese from a typical chain-type grocery store. You will most likely have to go to a crunchy store.

Edited to add: cross-posted to Lounge. :hi:

[Flaxbee]

5. thanks for your input!

:hi:

I've added everything in your post to my list of items to watch out for!

[WillParkinson]

8. I'd like to second, third and bajillionth Daiya

Oh my nom.

[AlienGirl]

3. Nancy's Organic Soy Yogurt in Plain...very tasty!

[Flaxbee]

6. hey, AlienGirl! How are you?

:hi:

Thanks for the recommendation; I'll check it out!

[AlienGirl]

7. Doin' good!

:hi:

Tucker

[Codeine]

9. Dairy just seems bizarre to me.

If you were cruising down a road and saw a guy in a field lying beneath a cow shooting milk into his mouth you'd likely be a bit grossed-out, but we don't even blink when it's from a bottle. Adult animals don't drink milk, animals from one species are not supposed to drink the milk from another, and it's just flat-out nasty anyway.

[Chan790]

10. ...

...saw a guy in a field lying beneath a cow shooting milk into his mouth.

Young dairy farmboy Chan did that`to one of the goats. Not recommended. Really just a bad idea. :scared:

I think if a lot more people had ever had to milk a goat, a lot less people would drink dairy.

[Flaxbee]

11. but the category of dairy doesn't cover just milk ... it

includes butter, cheese, other very tasty stuff. It just isn't produced humanely in this country, so I need alternatives.

If I knew the cows from which the dairy product(s) were derived were happy, mellow, long-lived creatures, I'd scarf as much brie and blue cheese as I could spread on a baguette.