Many vegetarian frozen entrees and vegetarian pizzas contain some type of soy cheese as a main ingredient. There are many different soy cheeses available, so the nutritional value varies. Soy cheeses, though, are a real boon to anyone who is lactose intolerant. Although they do not contain lactose, a milk sugar, many soy cheeses contain casein, a milk protein. If a soy cheese is made with casein it is still considered lactose free since casein is pure milk protein with the lactose removed.
Soy cheeses are cholesterol free and generally lower in fat and calories than whole milk cheeses.
An added plus is that many are fortified with calcium and vitamins. Salt is used as a natural preservative in soy cheeses. Some soy cheeses have a sodium content that may be higher than their dairy counterparts. However, for the most part, soy cheeses have a lower sodium content than processed cheeses and most popular brands of dairy cheese. Cooking Tips Using Soy Cheeses Expect different melting characteristics than dairy cheese.