Today is World Vegan Day, and we are breaking down everything you need to know about dairy milk alternatives. For those who are interested in veganism, or just want to cut down on their consumption of animal products, dairy is often a part of their diet that is difficult to part with and substitute. Admittedly, there will always be an adjustment period when switching to plant-based milk. However, we can assure you that there is a milk alternative out there that you will love.
Soy milk
This is one of the most established and popular milk alternatives on the market. Despite many new and different milk alternatives coming onto the market in recent years, soy milk remains a firm favourite. Soy milk has a creamy quality that means it works well in hot drinks, cooking, baking or just on its own. On top of this, soy milk is fortified with vitamins and has a similar protein content to dairy milk, which means that you will not be forfeiting the nutritional benefits of traditional milk when making the switch.
Almond milk
This milk is probably the first that comes to mind when you think about dairy alternatives. Almond milk is widely available, low in calories and often viewed as the healthier alternative to cow’s milk. Over the past few years, almond milk has garnered criticism regarding its environmental impact due to the volume of water required to grow almonds. While it is true that almond milk is not the most sustainable or environmentally friendly plant-based milk available, it is still better for the environment than dairy milk.
Rice milk
The benefits of rice milk are its hypoallergenic qualities, meaning that it is a great alternative for people with nut, seed or gluten allergies and intolerances. Rice milk is more watery than other dairy alternatives and has a natural sweetness that divides plant-based milk drinkers.
Oat milk
Since coming onto the scene, oat milk has quickly risen through the ranks of plant-based milks to become a firm favourite. Its creamy consistency means that it’s great in hot drinks, is delicious over cereal, and works well in baking. Texturally, oat milk is reminiscent of a low-fat dairy milk, meaning that it is a great first option to try when testing out milk alternatives.
Coconut milk
Coconut milk is best suited for cooking and baking due to its very distinct flavour. It is also generally much higher in fat than dairy milk or any other plant-based alternatives and is therefore not viewed as a healthy option for everyday drinking. Don’t think that the canned coconut milk that you buy for cooking is what you will be putting in your morning coffee! If you love the taste of coconut, there are cartons of more watered-down coconut milk, which makes for a delicious replacement for dairy.
Macadamia milk
This is a more recent addition to the growing list of milk alternatives, which is steadily growing in popularity. It is low in calories, and the sweet flavour of macadamia milk means that it is delicious alone, in desserts, over cereal, in smoothies, in hot drinks, or really any place that you would use cow’s milk.
READ MORE: Try these homemade nut milks
Easy ways to go more plant-based
Featured image: Sandi Benedicta via Unsplash
