I am lactose intolerant, which means I lack sufficient enzymes to digest the main sugar found in milk. For me, omitting cheese is usually a good idea, but not always adhered to! This means you don’t want to be near me at a party with a cheese plate. I’m not alone – as approximately 75% of people have been found to be lactose intolerant. There’s something about cheese that gives me the feel goods, and no matter how bad my reaction is to dairy, I seem to always find myself in the same situation in no time. Why is that?! Well, cheese not only tastes really really fabulous, it also contains casomorphins, a morphine-like compound that attaches to the same receptors as opiates. The salty goodness also acts on our brains’ “reward center” releasing dopamine, compounding those feel-good feelings. Both of these forces work in concert to bring us back to the cheese plate every time. My best strategy to overcome the cravings? Find a substitute like this vegan pesto that uses nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.
Nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast made from sugar cane and beet molasses. The yeast uses the sugar as food during the fermentation process, but nutritional yeast doesn’t actually contain any sugar. In addition, it should not to be confused with brewer’s yeast, an active form of yeast used to make breads. Unlike brewer’s yeast, nutritional yeast can be considered a food supplement providing a host of vitamins. It has actually been used to prevent vitamin deficiencies in prisoners of war and in places where access to protein sources is scarce. I recommend nutritional yeast for vegetarians or vegans, in particular, as a great way to get enough B vitamins in their diets. In a solely plant-based diet, sufficient amounts of vitamin B12 is difficult to attain. Fortified nutritional yeast options like this Bragg option, contains over 550% of the recommended daily value in just one tablespoon. The same amount also contains 5g of protein! Did I also mention that it tastes like cheese? Vitamins and a cheesy nutty flavor profile make this a must try!
Vegan Pesto
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted almonds
- 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/2 cups spinach tightly packed
- 1 1/2 cups basil leaves
- 2 small cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 avocado
Instructions
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Put the almonds, nutritional yeast and sea salt in a food processor. Process until the nut mixture becomes coarse grounds. Add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.