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A life without cheese.

(36 Posts)
Sago Sat 21-Mar-26 11:29:05

As a child growing up we never had cheese in the house as my Mother didn’t like it.

When visiting friends and relatives if cheese was on the menu I was thrilled.
I still remember my first ever cheese on toast, just delicious.

A cheeseboard is a thing of joy, Epoisses, Camembert, mature cheddar, I love it all.

Unfortunately I have developed a severe intolerance to all cheese and particularly cooked cheese, I was taking a lactase tablet before indulging but these are no longer working.

No more cheesy fish pies, pizza, soufflé or smearing Brie on warm bread.

The thought of life without cheese is actually quite daunting.

Oreo Sat 21-Mar-26 19:17:13

Cheese is such a delicious and useful foodstuff, but I guess you will get used to not eating any after a while.

Casdon Sat 21-Mar-26 19:14:17

Cathedral City make lactose free cheddar cheese, which is worth trying, to confirm if it is is fact lactose intolerance that you have, or something else in cheese is upsetting you - it’s in the Free From section in the fridges at the supermarket.

Flippinheck Sat 21-Mar-26 19:12:27

Oh no! Poor you Sago. I would be very upset if I had to give up cheese. I hope you find out what is upsetting you and find a suitable substitute.

NotSpaghetti Sat 21-Mar-26 19:02:06

Is there some confusion here regarding "ordinary" "vegetarian" and "vegan" cheese I wonder?

Some cheese has always been vegetarian - but vegan "cheese" is not a cheese at all - but maybe is "cheesy".

Some traditional Pecorino is made using thistles as a coagulant - some are still made this way (from Sardinia and also some in Tuscany I believe).

The non-vegetarian cheeses use animal coagulant.

Lipase comes from the epiglottal gland (located in the throat area/base of the tongue) of the animal - it adds to the flavour of cheeses.

Rennet is the coagulant. Animal Rennet (extracted from the stomach lining of calves) often has a trace of lipase in it. I don't know if it comes from other animals too, I'd say probably.

The "thistle pecorino" above is very full and delicious compared to one just made with "vegetarian rennet"

Sorry if this post sounds like a suck-eggs one. That's not the intention.

midgey Sat 21-Mar-26 19:01:42

You could try Digest tablets…..available in health food shops. Life would be tough without cheese!

Tortoiselover Sat 21-Mar-26 18:34:46

My daughter has the same problem with cheese, especially cooked cheese. It's not the lactose for her, probably histamine as you say. She can eat halloumi and it's not so bad if the cooked cheese, say on a pizza, is left to go cold. Oddly, while she has been pregnant she can eat cheese again. Sure it won't last once the baby is here unfortunately.

valdavi Sat 21-Mar-26 18:19:28

Commiserations - I love cheese & going without it would be privation indeed. Time, they say, is a great healer, there's a world of other flavours out there.

AskAlice Sat 21-Mar-26 18:16:07

I love cheese, all cheese! However, my DH will not eat it cooked in any form. He was forced to eat vile cheese and potato pie when he had school dinners and was violently sick, so will not touch it ever since.

I have sneaked cream cheese into some hot dishes and he has not noticed, but he still will not tolerate trying any kind of melted cheese in a topping (e.g. shepherd's pie, lasagne) because of his early years experience. I have to either got without myself or cook two seperate versions. I feel for you Sago, it must be hard to have to avoid eating something you used to love.

shysal Sat 21-Mar-26 15:42:09

The Violife vegan cheeses, sold in most supermarkets, are obviously not as good as the real thing but don't taste too bad. I have a vegan, two coeliacs and two with lactose intolerance to cater for when one set of family visits so I use the 'cheeses' often. In baked dishes they are perfectly acceptable.

I love all cheeses, the smellier the better, so am very grateful that I have no problem eating them. I hope you manage to work your way around the intolerance, you have my sympathy.

OldFrill Sat 21-Mar-26 15:29:52

There are lactose free cheeses available, no idea what the quality is like. Cathedral City do lactose free cheddar.

This supplier offers a lactose free choice, there are others.

Bergkäse Alex – The Cambridge Cheese Company share.google/GPaypZu2ARtCJXRqm

MartavTaurus Sat 21-Mar-26 15:21:36

My last splurge was some Delice de Bourgogne……. I think it was worth it!
😋 😋 😋
At least you ended on a high!

Sago Sat 21-Mar-26 15:18:26

I will try and answer all questions in one post!

My mother was a very fussy eater despite growing up during the war, she wouldn’t try new foods, she thought yoghurt was exotic, her palate was not sophisticated.
She was also an appalling cook.

Cheese is giving me dreadful diarrhoea, to the point were I wouldn’t leave the house if I had eaten cheese!

It could be histamine in the cheese that’s causing it.

I’m not really a pudding eater so I do feel hard done to.

I have however decided this week, I cannot risk any cheese, sorry but it it’s goodbye!

My last splurge was some Delice de Bourgogne……. I think it was worth it!
,

MartavTaurus Sat 21-Mar-26 15:09:36

That's annoying for you. I think I'd rather develop an intolerance to chocolate than to cheese.

JaneJudge Sat 21-Mar-26 14:57:09

oh dear, my thoughts are with you at this difficult time sad flowers

SORES Sat 21-Mar-26 14:45:33

Mel1967

🧀 A life without cheese; would not be worth living 🧀

gosh Mel, that is almost Socratic !

Grannybags Sat 21-Mar-26 14:34:09

Oh you poor thing Sago!

I’d find it easier to give up cake than cheese

Grandmabatty Sat 21-Mar-26 14:09:05

I love all sorts of cheese, from caboc to Stilton. I would be very unhappy to have to give it up

Maremia Sat 21-Mar-26 13:56:33

There are flavoured vegan cheeses now on sale. Look out for Applewood style and Mexicano. 🧀

M0nica Sat 21-Mar-26 13:23:15

Sago may be your mother didn't like cheese because, unknown to her she too had an allergy to it.

We had a visceral dislike of tomatoes come down our family, grandmother, father, daughter. DGD had a severe tomato allergy as a child, and she too doesn't like them so doesn't eat them.

I and DS are low level lactos intolerant, milk of all kinds, cream, yoghourt, cottage and cream cheese. These cause us both stomach cramps and nausea, but both of us hoover up hard cheese as if it was going out of fashion. with no bad effects at all.

REKA Sat 21-Mar-26 13:16:42

Oh how awful for those who can't tolerate cheese 😕

I love most cheese apart from Stilton.

keepingquiet Sat 21-Mar-26 13:09:40

I have a cheese and dairy intolerance but I also love cheese! It is almost impossible to do without, especially if you eat out a lot.

Vegan cheese is tasteless and I think a waste of money.

I treat myself to goat's cheese, feta and halloumi but occassionally a mature cheddar. I do suffer for it afterwards though!

Retread Sat 21-Mar-26 13:03:43

I would really miss cheese.

On the subject of not growing up with certain foods as a result of parent preferences - we did not eat pork growing up, my mother just didn't like it. I still don't eat pork apart from bacon (occasionally); and pork sausages. I never eat roast pork, ribs ... 🤷‍♀️

Allira Sat 21-Mar-26 12:54:19

X post, sorry.

Allira Sat 21-Mar-26 12:53:48

I'm nit sure.

Did you self-diagnose, Sago?
Is it a lactose intolerance or migraines?

There is much less lactose in old, hard cheeses but they are higher in tyramine.

Yes, vegan cheeses might be an alternative.

Sago Sat 21-Mar-26 12:53:21

MaizieD

NotSpaghetti

(That was to MaizieD)

OP was talking of taking a 'lactose tablet', which I assumed was an anti lactose measure..

But does my point about veggie cheeses still stand?

I have used vegetarian cheese for vegan guests, sorry but it tasted awful, nothing like the real thing.
I would rather go without.