ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cheese analogue

Hey there, little one! Do you like cheese? Of course you do, who doesn't! But do you know what a cheese analogue is?

Well, sometimes people want to make something that's like cheese, but not exactly cheese. So they make something called a cheese analogue. Analogue means something that's similar to but not exactly the same as something else.

A cheese analogue is made by taking ingredients like milk proteins, vegetable oil, and flavorings and mixing them together in a special way. Then they shape it into something that looks like cheese, and sometimes even tastes like cheese too!

But why would someone make a cheese analogue instead of just real cheese? Well, sometimes people can't eat cheese because they're allergic to milk proteins. Or maybe they're trying to eat less dairy products for health reasons. Or maybe they just want to try something new and different!

So there you have it, kiddo! A cheese analogue is kind of like a pretend cheese that's made from different ingredients but still tastes and looks like real cheese. Cool, huh?