Why I Missed Cheese (And How I Learned to Let It Go)
I Didn’t Miss Meat. I Missed Cheese.
When I began shifting to a plant-based diet, giving up meat was surprisingly easy. But cheese?
Cheese felt different.
It wasn’t just food—it was comfort.
A soft brie on a cracker after work. Mum’s golden mac and cheese. Pizza on the floor with friends, no words needed.
I didn’t crave cheese because of its calcium or protein. I craved it because it held something—something nostalgic, emotional, familiar.
And honestly? I resisted. I backtracked.
I thought, “I’m doing okay, but I’ll never give up cheese.”
Food Is Memory, Ritual, Emotion
What I came to understand is this: food isn’t just nutrients.
It’s a story, ritual, and connection.
Cheese was the punctuation in my life’s sentences:
A milestone? Cheese platter.
A breakup? Baked camembert.
A celebration? Lasagne for ten.
Letting it go felt like losing part of my identity. Like walking away from comfort, I didn’t know how to replace.
The Turning Point: Curiosity, Not Perfection
I didn’t “conquer” cheese cravings overnight.
Instead, I shifted the question:
What if I stopped trying to replace cheese and started building something new?
I learned that fat, umami, and acidity are what gave cheese its emotional power in dishes.
So I experimented:
Marinated tofu feta with lemon and herbs
Miso-tahini dressings that clung to roast veg like cream
Cashew-based sauces spiked with garlic, mustard, and nutritional yeast
They weren’t copies.
They were new forms of comfort—ones that matched my values and sparked joy.
🔬 Why Cheese Cravings Feel So Strong (The Science)
You’re not weak. Cheese really does hit differently—and here’s why:
🧬 Casein + Casomorphins:
Cheese is rich in casein, a milk protein. When digested, it breaks into casomorphins—tiny peptides that bind to opioid receptors in your brain, triggering pleasure and mild relaxation.🧂Salt + Fat = Brain Fireworks:
The fat-salt combo in cheese stimulates dopamine, our brain’s reward chemical. That golden crust on grilled cheese? It’s a dopamine delivery system.🔁 Comfort Loops:
Because cheese is tied to celebration, care, and family memories, our brain builds powerful emotional loops around it. The craving isn’t just biological—it’s symbolic.
🧠 But here’s the good news:
New rituals, new flavours, and new experiences can rewire those loops.
Your brain is always ready to find joy in new patterns, especially when they nourish both body and heart.
🧭 How to Let Go Without Losing Comfort
If you’re struggling to say goodbye to cheese, you’re not alone.
Here are some gentle, science-backed steps that helped me (and might help you):
🧂 1. Don’t Fight the Craving—Understand It
Cravings are messages. Instead of feeling guilty, ask: What do I actually need right now? Comfort? Connection? Fat? Salt? Ritual?
🧠 2. Layer Flavour the Way Cheese Does
Cheese is rich in umami, fat, and salt. Rebuild that satisfaction through:
Umami: miso, tamari, mushrooms, nutritional yeast
Fat: tahini, avocado, coconut milk, cashew cream
Salt + acid: lemon juice, capers, olives
🍽️ 3. Create New Rituals
Miss cheese at parties? Start a new tradition: bring a stunning plant-based platter—think hummus, olives, marinated tofu, seeded crackers, roasted nuts.
🌱 4. Redefine Favourite Dishes
Instead of mimicking exact cheese textures, reinvent dishes around comfort goals:
Creamy tofu Alfredo
Baked eggplant with miso glaze
Toasties with hummus and pickled veg
👫 5. Prep for Social Situations
Worried about being the “weird one” at dinner? You’re not.
Bring something delicious. Offer to share. Keep the conversation about joy, not judgment.
I Still Miss What Cheese Meant—But Not Cheese Itself
I no longer reach for cheese. But I still hold the memories it represents.
And I’ve found new ways to honour those moments—through meals that bring me closer to who I am now.
Letting go didn’t feel like a loss anymore.
It felt like evolution.
Like building comfort, not copying it.
If You Miss Cheese, You’re Not Failing
Missing food is human.
Craving comfort is human.
Rewriting emotional attachments is courageous.
Start small. Stay kind to yourself. Let your cravings teach you.
And know this: the flavours, rituals, and memories ahead of you can be just as rich—if not richer—than what you’ve left behind.
Disclaimer:
This blog is for educational and emotional support only. It is not intended as dietary or medical advice. For personalised nutrition or health guidance, please consult a qualified practitioner.