Cheese is high in artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat. Combine that with it's high sodium content, and you have the perfect recipe for Heart Disease, the number one killer worldwide! Cheese substitutes are free from cholesterol and lower in saturated fat and sodium. These substitutes are quickly growing in popularity as people recognize that they are healthier and have a similar taste and texture to dairy cheese.
Many of these substitutes are so similar to cheese that they may fool un-suspecting taste-testers. Follow Your Heart, Daiya, and So Delicious shredded cheezes are popular choices for topping pizzas. So much so, that many pizza restaurants carry these cheezes! Just ask for them by name, even if you don't see them on the menu.
Spreadable plant-based cheeses are also commercially available at all health food stores and many grocery stores! Miyokos, Kite Hill, Heidi Ho, and Tree Line are widely-available brands of delicious spreadable cheeze. They come in several varieties and they each have their own texture and flavor.
If you are looking for sliced cheeze, Follow Your Heart, Daiya, Field Roast, Violife, and Tofutti have you covered. You'll be amazed at how well these products mimic that melty taste and texture we all grew up eating.
Let's not forget about queso! These are currently less-commercially available,
however a couple of local brands are looking to change that. Mattie's Foods and Cito's Original are both available at select stores in the KC and Lawrence areas. Quesos are also found at several local restaurants, and if you don't mind making your own, there are tons of recipes online!
Check out this comprehensive list of restaurants that carry plant-based cheese substitutes: