If you have been on a standard diet for a long time, one of the first questions you might have about going plant-based is choosing another milk option.
Milk is often a big part of our lives, from drinking it with dinner, to using it in your coffee, cereal, oatmeal, cooking, and baking. However, there are some amazing non-dairy alternatives out there.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is at the top of the list, because it is probably the most popular dairy-free option. It is really easy to find almond milk of different flavors, and it tends to be less expensive than most other dairy-free options.
Almond milk comes sweetened or unsweetened, so the sweetened will taste more like cow’s milk if that is what you are used to. You can also find it in regular (no flavor), vanilla, or chocolate. A big benefit of almond milk is that there is a small amount of protein in it, and if you get it unsweetened, it has almost no sugar and very little carbs.
Coconut Milk
Next, we have coconut milk, which has a thick texture very similar to cow’s milk, though it tastes quite different. You do need to be a fan of the flavor of coconut, since coconut milk tastes like coconut.
However, it has some unique health benefits you don’t get with other types of dairy-free milk, such as lauric acid. You also get a good amount of iron and magnesium in coconut milk. The full fat variety has more calories, but the thickness works great as an alternative to heavy cream.
Cashew Milk
If you’re looking to try something new, why not cashew milk? It has a bit of a nutty flavor, similar to almond milk, but slightly richer. It is also a little sweeter than almond milk, so you might find it in dairy-free ice cream and other vegan desserts. This is a great option as creamer in your coffee or when you want to add a milk-like liquid to your smoothies.
Oat Milk
You can also go for oat milk, which is very quickly raising in popularity among people who are trying to get away from regular cow’s milk. Oat milk is a great source of B vitamins, completely plant-based, and has a rich oat flavor.
Another benefit is that if you have any nut allergens, it is completely nut-free unlike most other dairy-free milk alternatives.
Soy Milk
Lastly, there is soy milk. This used to be the only dairy-free milk option around, but it has been replaced by almond and coconut milk for quite a while. However, many people still really enjoy soy milk, and for good reason. It is inexpensive, has a taste and texture similar to cow’s milk, and more protein than any other plant-based milk option.
However, soy is full of plant estrogens so it is best to limit your consumption of anything soy if you are male and/or young.
