Rennet
Posted by melissamarie on Jun 10, 2008 · Member since Dec 2007 · 8 posts
Hello All !
I have recently found out that cheese contains Rennet, which is dried Calf stomach.
This made me completely sick to my stomach.
However, I do need to eat cheese for the protein.
Does anyone have any suggestions for cheese that I can still eat?
Thank you!
Why do you need to eat cheese for protein?
You can try vegan cheese, but you may not like the taste of it.
Why do you need to eat cheese, specifically, for protein?
eta: jinx! ;D
eta: jinx! ;D
;) :)
You don't really need to eat cheese for protein, but if you choose to eat it that is fine, many organic rennet free cheese is available in health food stores, you need to read the labels, it is out there and can be found. I would suggest trying to cut out cheese if you can and use some substitutes such as follow your heart, vegan gourmet soy cheese. Protein is abound in all sorts of veggie foods, Broccoli, veggie burgers, beans, legumes, Quinoi, whole grains etc. Perhaps eating more of these foods would satisfy your protien requirement.
Yeah, you dont need cheese for protein, for sure! There are tons of other ways to get it...grains, quinoa!! ;)b, veggies (mushrooms), seitan, tofu, soy milk, beans, nuts and nut butters...its alll over the place!!
there are some really great cheez recipes on here,using tofu (tofu ricotta! yum), Nutritional yeast, nuts... i love the "cheesy sprinkle". Tofutti makes great "cream cheese".
but if you want a rennetless list, heres a good one:
www.cheese.joyousliving.com
Cheese is actually quite a poor choice for a protein source, nutritionally. Sure, it has protein, but it also has tons of fat and is very calorie dense. It has calcium, but eating that calcium in conjunction with protein decreases its absorption. You should look at other protein sources! loulouj offered lots of good suggestions! Unless you have a certain reason to eat cheese, your health would be better off without it. :)
eta: LA and I posted at the same time.
Hehehe, what a question to ask of a bunch o' vegans. ;D
And what a great place to have it answered, and to find an inspiring* answer. ;) *(I hopes, I hopes.)
Also, the making of any cheese--with or without rennet--requires the slaughter of a calf, and the slaughter of multiple calves over the lifetime of the cow whose milk is used. And, eventually, the slaughter of the cow herself. Rennet is obtained from the slaughtered calves from the dairy industry, after all. Just something else to think about.
Actually, I often eat cheese as a quick snack because of the fact that I get huge headaches if i don't eat protein.
I haven't found anythinig as of now that I can pull out in between threee hour classes that gives me a boost of energy and gets rid of my headaches.
So I eat a couple pieces of cheese, and I'm fine.
Thank you though, I am fully aware of the fat/calorie content in cheese.
We can help you think of lots of protien snacks....Put some peanut butter on some crackers for a yummy snack! hummus or other bean dip with veggies or pitas, Or just have a handful of nuts, or trail mix, clif bars, bag of glenny's soy crisps, small container of soy milkor soy yogurt, I like to made dragonfly's ribs (recipe on this site) & then eat them cold for snacks the next day.
I also like to make home made raw bars & they are super portable.....In a food processor combine dried dates with any other fruit, seeds & nuts & seasonings (like ginger, cinamin, nutmeg) that strike your fancy, then when it gets too sticky for the processor to work, take the whole mess out & mix in some ground flax & hemp & shape into bars, wrap individually in plastic wrap & keep in the fridge to help them firm up.
Ewwwww :P I had no idea cheese typically contained calf stomach. I am so glad that I stopped eating it! Why do they like to put disgusting stuff in stuff?
Anyway, I agree with what everyone else says, cheese isn't a good source of protein, and it isn't very good for you either, it is loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol, again ewwwww.
If you want protein make a big ol' pot o beans. Yummmm. Put some hot sauce, garlic, apple cider vineger, thyme and whatever else meets your fancy in it and enjoy. Have with some rice and then you have a complete and very nutritous protein source that is low in saturated fat with no cholesterol. Much more healthy than cheese.
But yes, you did post your comment on a vegan site, so not many people here eat cheese, nor do they condone eating cheese.
Thank you very much vigilant20, you actually helped answer my question.
I asked the question here because I feel that someone who follows a vegan diet would most likely have more ideas which would help me.
also, a lot of the vegetarians that I have spoken to have no idea what Rennet is.
Thanks anyway.
Yeah, you dont need cheese for protein, for sure! There are tons of other ways to get it...grains, quinoa!! ;)b, veggies (mushrooms), seitan, tofu, soy milk, beans, nuts and nut butters...its alll over the place!!
there are some really great cheez recipes on here,using tofu (tofu ricotta! yum), Nutritional yeast, nuts... i love the "cheesy sprinkle". Tofutti makes great "cream cheese".
but if you want a rennetless list, heres a good one:
www.cheese.joyousliving.com
Since no ones actually answering your question...here's a vegetarian cheese list: http://cheese.joyousliving.com/
LA posted that already...
So, she did answer your question, plus gave you great, helpful tips. We are just trying to help you.
Yeah, you dont need cheese for protein, for sure! There are tons of other ways to get it...grains, quinoa!! ;)b, veggies (mushrooms), seitan, tofu, soy milk, beans, nuts and nut butters...its alll over the place!!
there are some really great cheez recipes on here,using tofu (tofu ricotta! yum), Nutritional yeast, nuts... i love the "cheesy sprinkle". Tofutti makes great "cream cheese".
but if you want a rennetless list, heres a good one:
www.cheese.joyousliving.com
Since no ones actually answering your question...here's a vegetarian cheese list: http://cheese.joyousliving.com/
LA posted that already...
So, she did answer your question, plus gave you great, helpful tips. We are just trying to help you.
I was going to point that out, but... Thanks AC!
LA posted that already...
So, she did answer your question, plus gave you great, helpful tips. We are just trying to help you.
While a vegan forum may not be the most appropriate place to ask a question about cheese, I actually don't think anyone was trying to be particularly helpful. I understand that this might seem like an opportunity to "educate" a vegetarian about the health benefits of utilizing other sources of protein, but I also think it is important to acknowledge and support interest in organic, veggie rennet cheeses. I DO think that many of the suggestions that were offered for protein rich foods other than cheese were good and helpful. However, I thought this was a place where vegetarians could be without fear of being singled out or judged. My guess is that melissamarie was not looking for a lecture when she asked her question.
No lecturing here - we are just trying to be helpful!
Actually, I often eat cheese as a quick snack because of the fact that I get huge headaches if i don't eat protein.
I haven't found anythinig as of now that I can pull out in between threee hour classes that gives me a boost of energy and gets rid of my headaches.
So I eat a couple pieces of cheese, and I'm fine.
Thank you though, I am fully aware of the fat/calorie content in cheese.
Other options to eat between three hour classes:
Prepackaged bars like Lara Bars, Luna Bars, and Cliff Bars.
Homemade snacks like roasted chickpeas (recipe on this site), tofu smoothie, or a handful of nuts.
A small meal like a veggie wrap with hummus or bean dip with spinach, mushrooms and bell peppers.
Power packed items like seitan of greatness rounds, tofu bacon (recipe on this site) or tempeh bacon.
Protein is found in a great many foods; from meat to veggies to grains. Explore your options. Your headaches could be from the dairy in the form of addition.
Maybe it was the wording....no one really "needs" cheese, which is why people were offering protein alternatives, because we do "need" protein. "Wanting" cheese, now that's a different story.
I agree that searching out rennett free cheese is better than eating the regular kind. And anyone who is trying to at least reduce animal suffering/consumption is welcome on this site.
That being said, this is primarily a vegan website, and hopefully no one will get offended if people offer up vegan alternatives...sometimes that's all we know!
Just my 2 cents!
Your headaches could be from the dairy in the form of addition.
Yes, there is quite a strong link between headaches and dairy. That's also something to look into. Lack of protein is also very unlikely to be a source of headaches. And if you are experiencing mid-day hunger, you should add a food with fiber and protein, whereas cheese is devoid of fiber entirely.
I reread all of the posts here, and I fail to see judgment in a single one of them. I am kind of upset that people accuse others of judgment so often on this board when we are only offering information, facts, and help. ???
Anyway, I hope you find a midday snack that works for you. :)
However, I do need to eat cheese for the protein.
I think this statement is what got people to "lecturing" because this statement is not right. Nobody NEEDS cheese for their protein, there are other...better...sources of protein out there and that is the point I think a lot of people were trying to point out.
But hey, there is nothing wrong with being lacto-ovo vegetarian, it is a huge step in the right direction from being an omni!
;)b
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