Since their inception, milk alternatives have been widely used across America.
From those who are lactose intolerant to those who are just looking for dietary alternatives to regular milk, non dairy substitutes are a great choice.
Oat Milk- Made by extracting milk from oats with water, oat milk is a healthy, non dairy alternative to milk. Oat milk is full of plant based proteins and is known to help with digestion. The milk has a very creamy complexion while also maintaining its distinct oat flavor. It can come in several flavors including sweetened, vanilla, and chocolate.
Almond Milk- Almond milk has the fewest calories of any milk on this list. The exact amount varies depending on the brand, however, it usually lands around 40 calories per cup. The texture of almond milk is very thin compared to the creaminess of cow milk. Predictably, almond milk has a satisfactory, nutty flavor. The strength in taste of almond milk varies greatly on the brand due to some manufactures flavoring the milk to taste more like dairy milk.
Coconut Milk- One of the oldest milk alternatives, coconut milk has been harvested from grating the pulp of mature coconuts for roughly 2000 years. Coconut milk has a rich deep coconut flavor and has a very creamy mouthfeel. While coconut has been made for thousands of years, it has only been a viable replacement for milk as of recent scientific developments. Natural coconut milk is incredibly oily and has little to no nutrients in it. Most store bought coconut milk has nutrients fortified into it to make it healthier for the consumer.
Soy Milk- The most common milk alternative, soy milk has remained popular in the U.S. since the 1980’s. Soy milk has remained popular for so long because the nutrients found in soy milk are very similar to those found in traditional cow’s milk. Soy milk has a mild flavor and is typically much sweeter than most other kinds of milks. Soy milk is known to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have been linked to a reduced risk for dementia and alzheimers.