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Muchof thisinformation on how to substitute cheeseis from my book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. However, I’ve also added some product reviews and a few fun recipes that are here on the website.
Tips to Substitute Cheese
Cheese is definitely a sensitive subject when you mention going dairy free. Fortunately, if you opt to remove it from your diet (completely, not a dairy trace!), the cravings will usually subside within about a month (give or take, depending on the person).In the mean time, you may needto substitute cheese to hold back the addiction.
Nutritional Yeast
The name may sound horrible, but nutritional yeast is actually a fairly simple ingredient that offers a cheesy vibe to foods like no other dairy-free ingredient. Typically fortifiedwith B vitamins (including B12), many people love the taste of nutritional yeast sprinkled on like Parmesan. If the flavor seems to strong for your taste buds, don’t cast it aside without trialing it in full blown recipes first. Nutritional yeast can be used in very small amounts to add a delicious savory flavor to many meals and recipes.
Tofind nutritional yeast, check the baking goods aisle and the bulk food section of mainstream and natural grocers. If you can’t find it in store, it is readily available online.
Tofu
Sliced smoked tofu mimics mozzarella or provolone on sandwiches or with crackers. Also, in some American-style recipes I have added cubes (or a mash) of extra-firm tofu, and noticed a cheesy taste and texture. Not cheese by any means, but the basic tasty vibe.
For a very simplecottage cheese or ricotta substitute, you can blend or mash some Firm Silken Tofu with a dash of lemon juice. Silken Tofu can substitute cheese in many recipes,replacing cottage cheese or ricotta in dips, sauces, smoothies, pies, and pasta dishes. For more “complex” ways to substitute cheese, see the recipe and product ideaslater in this post.
Cookbook Help
If you are a self-proclaimed “cheese addict” then you may need an arsenal of recipes to get you over the hump. But, even if you are okay without cheese, cheesy recipes can offer fulfilling bold and pungent flavors. Some good cookbooks for making homemade dairy-free cheese alternatives areThe Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook,Artisan Vegan Cheese, Vegan Cheese, and Go Dairy Free.
Recipes: Homemade Dairy-Free Cheese Alternatives
Expanding culinary limits, the following dairy-free recipes offer one or morecheesy characteristics, from meltability to pungency.
- “Cheezy” Sauce
- Bold & Raw Cheese Sauce
- Cashew Pimiento Cheese Sauce
- Chipotle Cashew Cheese: A Super-Fast, Dairy-Free Spread Recipe
- Creamy Vegan Pine Nut Cheese Pasta infused with Green Tea
- Cucumber Tea Sandwiches made with Dairy-Free Veggie Cream Cheese
- Dairy Free Cheese Sauce (like Fuddrucker’s!) with Baked Baby Potato Wedge Fries
- Dairy-Free Almond Feta “Cheese”
- Dairy-Free Brie Cheese with Truffled, Black Garlic, and Camembert Options
- Dairy-Free Buffalo Mozzarella
- Dairy-Free Cheese Spread that’s Made for Sliced Baguette and Crudités
- Dairy-Free Cottage Cheese that’s Almost Too Good to be True
- Dairy-Free Feta Cheese Alternative that’s Perfectly Easy
- Dairy-Free Goat Cheese Alternative that will even Impress Naysayers
- Dairy-Free Horseradish Cheese to Spice Up Your Vegan Cheese Board
- Dairy-Free Parmesan Cheese that’s Grate as an Easy Substitute
- Dairy-Free Pimento Cheese made for Slicing, Shredding, and Snacking
- Dairy-Free Queso that’s Kindly Nut-Free and Truly Plant-Based
- Dairy-Free Ricotta Cheese Alternative in 5 Minutes or Less!
- Dairy-Free Yogurt Cheese: The Easy Recipe with Key Tips
- Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce for Pasta, Potatoes, Rice & Vegetables
- Healthy Nacho Cheez Sauce
- Homemade Dairy-Free Boursin Style Cheese that’s Easy, Delicious, and Cheap!
- Homemade Dairy-Free Swiss Cheese that’s Unbelievably Easy
- Homemade Vegan Cheez
- Lessarella Cheez
- Meltable Mozzarella Vegan Cheese Alternative
- Meltable Muenster Vegan Cheese Alternative
- Melty Vegan Cheese
- Mind-Blowing Cheezy Hemp Nacho Sauce
- Plant-Based Margherita Pizza Dip that’s Too Cheesy to Believe
- Sharp Vegan Cheddar Cheese Alternative
- Simple Melty Cheese Sauce
- Simply Vegan Sunflower Seed Cheese
- Tofu Cream Cheese Alternative: The Classic Dairy-Free Recipe
- Vegan Cauliflower Queso is a Cheesy Way to Spice Things Up
- Vegan Herb Seed Cheese
- Vegan Mexican Seed Cheese with Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds
- Vegan Parmesan Flakes
- Vegan Sunflower Seed Cheese with Probiotics & Sprouted Options
Products:Cheese Alternatives at the Store
When shopping for a cheese alternative, be sure to read the label carefully.Although some soy cheeses have passed flavor and texture tests, many of these do containcasein (milk protein). Below are the products we’ve had a chance to taste-test and review here on Go Dairy Free, which were completely dairy-free at our time of review.
- 365 Plant-Based Parmesan Cheese is in Shreds at Whole Foods
- Babybel Plant-Based Rolls Out Second Dairy-Free Flavor
- Beyond Better Cheesy Sauce Mixes offer Plant-Based Pantry Convenience
- Boursin Dairy-Free is How the French Do Cheese Spread Alternatives
- Chao Plant-Based Queso is a Cantina-Style Alternative for Your Chips
- Chao Vegan Cheese Blocks are Set to Become a Dairy-Free Staple
- Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Make the Cut with Five Flavors
- Chao Vegan Shreds Hit the Cheese Alternative Section in Two Varieties
- Chee Vegan Cheese Sauces by Bit Baking are Truly Plant-Based
- CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces are Boldly Vegan and Paleo
- Creamy Sheese is an Award Winning Dairy-Free Alternative to Cream Cheese
- Credo Cashew Queso isn’t a Philosophy, it’s Real Dairy-Free Cheeze
- Daiya Cream Cheeze Now with a Simpler Formula and New Flavor
- Daiya Dairy-Free Cheese is Now Traditionally Fermented with Oat Cream
- Daiya Dairy-Free Cheese Shreds in New Oat Creamy Formula
- Daiya Deluxe Cheeze Sauce is Shelf-Stable and Ready to Serve
- Deliciou Seasonings come in Vegan Cheese, Ranch, Bacon, and More
- Earth Grown Vegan Cheddar & Mozzarella Sticks are on Repeat at ALDI
- Earth’s Own Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is a New Style of Canadian Spread
- Follow Your Heart Cheese Slices Comes in 7 Dairy-Free Varieties
- Follow Your Heart Dairy Free Cream Cheese is now Soy-Free, Too
- Follow Your Heart Dairy Free Shreds come in Classic Cheese Flavors
- Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free “Blue Cheese” Crumbles hit Store Shelves
- Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Feta Crumbles are a First for Vegan Cheese
- Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Parmesan is Available Shredded and Grated
- Forager Queso Fresco makes us Say Olé to Dairy-Free Cheese
- Forager Vegan Cheese Shreds are Crafted from Cashewmilk Yogurt
- Go Veggie Vegan Cream Cheese Comes in 3 Flavors and 2 Sizes
- Go Veggie Vegan Parmesan is a Cheesy Grated Style Topping
- Good & Gather Non-Dairy Cheese Shreds Aim to Please Dairy-Free Target Shoppers
- Good Foods Dips into the Plant Based Queso, Tzatziki, and Dill Pickle Trends
- GOOD PLANeT Dairy-Free Cheese is Ready to Go in Snack Packs
- Good Planet Dairy-Free Cheese Shreds Supply Retail & Food Service
- Good Planet Dairy-Free Cheese Slices are Made for Everyone
- Good Planet Olive Oil Cheese Debuts in Dairy-Free Blocks, Cubes, and Shreds
- Good Planet Plant-Based Cheese Wedges aren’t Laughing at Any Cows
- Good Planet Smoked Wheels Roll into the Plant-Based Cheese Aisle
- Great Value Dairy-Free Cheese Shreds Launch in Walmart Stores
- Heidi Ho Cheeze Dips Make a Plant-Powered Comeback
- Kite Hill Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Keeps it Fresh with Seasonal Flavors
- Kite Hill Ricotta is made from Artisan Almond Milk, and Little Else
- Kite Hill Soft Spreadable Cheese will Complete Your Dairy-Free Charcuterie Board
- Kraft Not Cheese Slices are Hitting the Dairy-Free Mainstream
- Laughing Cow Plant-Based is Finally Here for Dairy-Free Cheese Fans
- Miyoko’s Cashewmilk Cream Cheese is Now in 5 Organic, Vegan Flavors
- Miyoko’s Vegan Cheese Wheels are the Cultured Side of Cashews
- Miyoko’s Vegan Mozz Fulfills Cravings for Fresh and Smoked Mozzarella
- Miyoko’s Vegan Pizza Mozzarella is the First Liquid Cheese Alternative
- Miyoko’s Vegan Roadhouse Cheese Spreads Show the Soft Side of Cheddar
- Moocho Dairy-Free Cheese Shreds have Finally Arrived in Stores
- Nature’s Fynd Dairy-Free Cream Cheese is a New Type of Alternative
- Nooch It Cashew Grated Cheeze is a Plant-Based Take on Parmesan
- Notcho Nocheez is Ready to Spread in 3 Nutty, Cheesy, Dairy-Free Flavors
- Nurishh Dairy-Free Cheese from Bel Brands Plans to Shred Competition
- Nuts for Cheese Wedges into the Cultured Dairy-Free Market
- Nuttin Ordinary Cashew Cheese is Made Simply – No Oil, Dairy, or Gluten
- Oatly Cream Cheese is Made From … You Guessed It … Oats!
- OATzarella Oat Milk Cheese Wheels are a Cut Above for Food Allergies
- OATzarella Shredded Cheese is Ready to Top Your Allergen-Free Meals
- Parma! Vegan Parmesan is Sold in Classic, Spicy, Garlicky & Bacon Flavors
- Philadelphia Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Now in Three Varieties
- Plant Perks Cheeze Spread has Plant-Based Probiotic Benefits
- Primal Kitchen Cheez Sauce is a Better Dairy-Free Cheddar for Allergies
- Sheese Vegan Cheese Blocks, Wedges, and Shreds Cover Every Flavor
- Simply Organic Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Mixes are Perfect for Pantry Stocking
- So Delicious Dairy-Free Shreds are a Plant-Based Way to Say Cheese
- So Delicious Plant-Based Cream Cheese is a Plant-Based Alternative
- Spread’Em Kitchen Cashew Soft Cheeze is Cultured in Several Savory Flavors
- Spread’Em Kitchen Firm Cheeze Blocks can be Savoured in 4 Vegan Flavours
- The Best Dairy-Free Cheddar Alternative & Grilled Cheese Taste Test
- The Best Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Alternative Taste Test
- The Best Dairy-Free Mozzarella Cheese Alternative Taste Test
- The Best Dairy-Free Queso & Nacho Cheese Sauces
- The Honest Stand Dips Spice it Up for Blue Cheese, Ranch & Nacho Fans
- The Simple Root Cheese-Style Spreads are made with Vegetables, Not Top Allergens
- Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese comes in Classic, Whipped, and Flavors
- Tofutti Better Than Ricotta Cheese is a Unique Dairy-Free Alternative
- Tofutti Dairy-Free Cheese Slices are a Vegan American Tradition
- Trader Joe’s Dairy-Free Parmesan Cheese is Set to Shred the Competition
- Trader Joe’s Vegan Cream Cheese Goes Soy-Free with All New Recipe
- Treeline Aged Artisanal Nut Cheese is a Solid Dairy-Free Option
- Treeline Bloomy Rind is Artisan Crafted for Vegan Brie and Camembert Fans
- Treeline Cashew Cream Cheese Spreads it on Thick in Three Flavors
- Treeline Cashew Pimento Cheese Gets Cultured with Dairy-Free Ingredients
- Treeline Cashew Ricotta Cheese has so Many Dairy-Free Possibilities
- Treeline Creamy French-Style Soft Nut Cheese Spreads Flavor on Thick
- Treeline Dairy-Free Goat Cheese adds Culture to Vegan Cheese
- Treeline True Blue joins Small Cast of Dairy-Free Blue Cheese Alternatives
- Urban Cheesecraft Dairy Free Mixes make Blocks, Wheels, and Sauces
- Vegan Valley Cashew Cheeze Sauces range from Nacho to Alfredo
- Vevan Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative is Crafted by Artisan Cheesemakers
- Vevan Marinated Mozza-Bites are a Tasteful Way to Entertain without Dairy
- Vevan Snax are a Vegan Spin on Cheese, Fruit, and Nut Snack Packs
- Violife Vegan Cheese Blocks are Epic Alternatives for the Holidays
- Violife Vegan Cheese Shreds come in Classic Cheesy Flavors
- Violife Vegan Cheese Slices are Just Like Cheddar and Provolone
- Violife Vegan Cream Cheese Lays it on Thick with Three Savory Flavors
- Violife Vegan Feta Cheese Alternative is All Greek to Us
- Violife Vegan Parmesan Wedges into the Dairy Alternative Market
- Vitalite Dairy-Free Cheese Slices, Shreds, and Crumbles Arrive in U.S. Stores
For more cheesesubstitute recipes and tips from my kitchen, see Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living.
*Photo with the two cheese recipes above by Hannah Kaminsky
Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.
45 Comments
Its hard been allergic to wheat milk and peanuts. I need some guidance on how to prepare meals like lasagna and pizza. those are my favorite and its so depressing.
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Hello, I am looking to replace shredded cheese in an egg casserole recipe. I don’t necessarily need something similar to substitute it with, but I’m concerned that just skipping it altogether will cause my egg casserole to burn in the office. I thinking I would put egg, sautéed portobello mushrooms with onions, spinach, and thyme in there. Most recipes call for some kind of cheese, like mozzarella, but I want to go dairy free. Any ideas?
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I don’t believe it would burn. The cheese provides flavor, texture, and more binding (will set it up more than just eggs). If you don’t mind a softer texture, then you can omit. But I would increase the salt and seasoning of the dish to compensate for removing the salty cheese. If you want to use a cheese alternative, most shredded brands will work fine. They all tend to perform okay, it’s just a matter of personal taste preference.
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???question:
Any cheese-substitute recipes with NO
-nuts (peanuts ok)
-soy
-yeast of any kind
-legumes
-cane sugar including molasses, brown sugar and sorgum (BEET sugar ok)
-honey
-onion
-garlicGood luck, huh?
Thank you so so much…
MIKE SReply
I would search for “seed cheese” – it doesn’t taste a whole lot like cheese, but can make a nice spread.
Also search for “coconut cream cheese” – again, it really doesn’t taste like cheese, but makes a nice spread.
A reader mentioned to me that prepared guacamole with a pinch of baking soda makes an amazing “cheezy” spread on pizza (shared with them by a chef).
Use ingredients like lemon, miso (if permitted on your diet), and salt to amplify flavors.When dealing with a highly restrictive diet, I always recommend that people write down the foods they CAN eat and craft meal and snack ideas around these foods. It’s usually much easier and tastier than trying to find or create substitutes 🙂 I hope that it helps you!
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Hi Alisa! I just found your website and let me tell you, WOW, I am blown away by the amount of great recipes you have. I needed to substitute dairy in my diet for my both sons who are lactose intolerant. We just started transitioning as a family since one is still nursing. My husband has pretty much no choice with this one. We were off dairy for about a month now and I already see changes in my boys and myself. My son’s eczema that was covering his whole little body is gone! I lost stubborn weight around my waist line and my joints don’t hurt me anymore. Even my husband likes it too! But we still miss cheese. So that is why I am here looking for ideas. And I think I found the answer to my prayers. Looking through your website I am convinced that we will make it without dairy from now on. I will start with basic Parmesan cheese and melty cheese. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Hi Marina,
I’m so happy I can help! As a heads up, the 2nd edition of Go Dairy Free: The Guide & Cookbook is out soon, and that has a lot more, recently created dairy alternative recipes (including cheeses among many others) that I think are the most helpful yet! It’s out in June, and I’ll be sharing it on the site when available. Happy dairy-free cooking and eating to you and your whole family!
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Lita Watson on
Using tofu is a vegan choice to replace the cheese since it resemble some kind of cheese. However,you can’t really achieve that creamy melting cheese since when you use tofu.
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Indeed – thanks Lita!
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I love cheese and dairy but am not aloud to eat it any more , can’t get dairy- cheese to melt grate on salads. how do I get it to melt/
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Hi Robin, I’m a little confused. You want cheese to melt on cold salads? Cheese alternatives often don’t melt in the same way as dairy cheese. They can achieve the same mouth-feel, but won’t look the same. For best results, melt it under a broiler or separately in the microwave (yes, for some reason, it will melt in the microwave!). It can usually be pre-melted on the stove with a little liquid added, too.
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Cheese and milk includes essential fats, protein and calcium. Make sure you replace healthy fats in your diet. Go Nuts, eggs, oils, fish. Mediterraneans eats lots of fish and don’t need dairy products. They don’t have the same diet as outside the Mediterranean. If your child is dairy free, make sure they eats nuts or avocado every day and fish at least 3 times a week. Fish oil can also be supplemented into tofu dishes to add a fat boost. Healthy Fats, get into it.
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what a great source of dairy free products
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Some great tips in here. My husband is dairy free and finding a cheese substitute, particularly that we can use on home made pizzas has always been a bit of a task. Will give some of these a go.
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No, nutritional yeast does not contain vitamin B12, unless, of course, it has been fortified with B12. The choices for “pure vegans” is either to 1) deal with a B12 deficiency, or 2) cheat (ovo-lacto, pescatarian, etc.).
No plant sources of B12.
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Hi James, yes, it is “typically fortified” with B vitamins, including B12. All mainstream brands that I have seen to date do contain B12 from fortification.
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Yes there is. Unwashed vegetables contain vitamin B12, that’s the only reason that onminvores such as cows even have vitamin B12 in their system. It comes from bacteria, not meat.
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I love a fried egg on top of many things, like a hamburger. Once the yolk breaks it gives a nice creaminess reminiscent of cheese for me! I am dairy-free for my son who is exclusively breastfed so I can have eggs.
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That’s a delicious idea, thanks for sharing Amber!
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Just came upon your page & am SO delighted. My 15 year old vegetarian daughter has decided to go dairy free to try clear her acne prone skin & I thought we would be so limited in our cooking options plus I’d worry about a growing girl getting all her vitamins, calcium, etc. Well judging by your 2000+ yummy recipes looks like we won’t be running out of options!!! Can’t wait to get my teeth in. Thanks X Jackie
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That’s great! Yes, you just let me know if you can’t find enough here Jackie 🙂 I hope her acne clears up!
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Hi! I cut out dairy milk from my diet to try to eliminate my acne and had no avail. If she is struggling have her try taking a good probiotic and/or Dandelion root. So far in 6 years of struggling with acne those two things are the only things that cleared my skin completely!!!!!
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Yes I’ve been taking a fantastic probiotic, mostly for gut health, which is where illness is created. I LOVE my probiotic. They ARE NOT all the same. Do your research.
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Hi I’ve just found out my 7month old daughter has allergy to wheat, cows milk and egg. Any ideas on what to feed her whilst weaning would be grateful
Thanks
GReply
Pick up cooking for babies. It’s what I’m doing after finding out my 8 month old is allergic to the exact same things. I found it in the library and given most foods you use as you wean are hypoallergenic, it works out great. For formula, just use nutramogen or whatever the doc said.
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I am very allergic to nutritional yeast. Any other suggestions?
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Yes, check out the references given – lots of cheesy options that don’t require nutritional yeast! Think ingredients like miso, chickpea flour, nuts, lemon, etc.
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Miso is fermented: I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone allergic to yeast.
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my daughter is highly allergic to nuts milk soya and p protein wheat egg see food fish and most dairy maize starch most veg. I am looking for an alternative for cheese as she loves pizza can anyone help please.
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Did you read the post you just commented on Carly? Lots of options for Top 8 allergen-free. Also, see these – http://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/alternatives-cheese
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Try MyLife Biocheese which is Dairy Free and made from Coconut Oil. Visit http://www.Mylifebio.net.au for more detailed. Available at all Coles stores.
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I love this post so much I COULD CRY. Battling lactose intolerance for 6 years now and Im not very creative in the kitchen.. I had no idea what tofu even looked like, let alone how it could taste. I can’t wait to try your tips out!
Only question.. I’m having a hard time with “healthy dairy-free” snacks.
Most people can grab a string cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.. I wanted something quick yet healthy to eat on the go. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks so much!!!I would also like to tell everyone to beware of what you read on the Internet about “dairy free” recipes. Most aren’t truly DAIRY FREE; I think this is why I’m so so happy to have stumbled upon your page!
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Hi Alexis, glad I can help! Yes, I post dairy-free recipes throughout the week, plus food reviews and more. And my book has many more from my own kitchen! As for healthy snacks, dairy-free yogurt is readily available, but there are many other options, too – nut butters, healthy chips, hummus, bars, etc. I include many snack recommendations in my book, and also have these posts/sections that might quickly help you out:
http://www.godairyfree.org/news/10-good-healthy-snacks-vegan
http://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/snacks2
http://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/snacks
http://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/energy-and-granola-barsEnjoy!
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