I know, I know, how lame is this? I’m writing a review about cheese. That isn’t even really cheese.
Here’s the thing: if you have a child who has a dairy allergy, sometimes it’s the simple things in life that make them happy. Like a grilled cheese sandwich. I’ve made it no secret that I’m on a constant quest to find equivalent of what the other kids are eating for my toddler. On a whim one day at the grocery store I purchased Rice Vegan Cheddar Flavor Slices. The package looks exactly like your average wrapped cheese slices, but we don’t keep those in the house, so I was shocked when I presented a rice slice to my toddler and his response was “Yay! Cheese!” This coming from a child who, to my knowledge, has never really seen a slice of cheese before.
Rice Vegan Slices are produced by Galaxy Nutritional Foods, a company specializing in cheese alternatives. Their products are dairy, soy and/or gluten free. Several products are vegan, like the one I’ve been using, for those of you looking for food options based on lifestyle choices as well.
So far in my house, we’ve tried the cheddar and pepper jack flavors. Both contain jalapeno peppers, which I found to a surprising ingredient. Both flavors were pretty good–and by that, I mean they’re flavorful, but different from their original counterparts. One would not mistake the cheddar flavor for actual cheddar cheese, however. My son is only 19 months old and found the pepper jack too spicy for his liking but he GOBBLES the cheddar flavor (which still has a bit of a kick because of that jalapeno).
The packaging advertises that the Rice Vegan Slices have a “smooth melt” and I suppose this claim is relative. Yes, the slices melt. I’ve made quesadillas and pizza with them, but again, they don’t melt anything like regular cheese would. That might make for a dish that’s visually less appealing than what I’m used to, but as with most things related to allergies, I’m happy that I’ve found an acceptable “cheese” option.’
Get it: Check their website GalaxyFoods.com for retailers near you.