As many of you know, Bram (my youngest) and I are allergic to cow's milk. I gets lots of questions about what non-dairy milks we use instead and which are my favorites. The thing is, there isn't any milk alternative that is exactly like milk; so different alternatives work better for different situations. Below is a quick glance of my impression of available milk alternatives and my personal favorites.
Rice Milk - Rice milk is widely tolerated and well liked. It is smooth, but not creamy and has a sweet finish. It is a good choice for a stand alone beverage or to eat with cereal. However it has very little nutritional value unless it has been fortified by the manufacturer. There are few vitamins or minerals and it is very low in fat. With such little fat, rice milk is a poor choice for cooking or baking.
Hemp Milk - This dairy alternative is relatively new to the American market, but has been popular in Canada for quite some time. Hemp milk is thick and rich. It is packed with protein, omega 3's, 6's and amino acids. Also, many manufacturers fortify it with as much calcium as milk. It has about the same fat content as whole milk, this makes hemp milk an excellent choice for cooking or baking. Hemp milk does not contain THC.
Coconut Milk - Coconut milk is too thick to drink as a stand alone beverage however you can use coconut milk as a base to make your own non dairy drink. Due to its high fat and sugar content and ultra rich flavor, coconut milk is a wonderful choice for baking. Some enjoy it with cooking however the coconut flavor may overpower other foods. It is a good choice for puddings, pies and custards.
Coconut Milk Beverage - With a texture and flavor very similar to cow's milk, ready made coconut milk beverages are becoming very popular. It's a wonderful choice for baking, cooking and well liked as a stand alone beverage. Caution must be taken because the FDA considers coconut to be a tree nut, however many people with tree nut allergies are able to tolerate coconut. Coconut milk beverages are generally a good source of B12 plus low in trans fat and cholesterol.
Oat Milk - This non dairy beverage is not as popular as others but is similar to rice milk in consistency. While it is a good choice for cereal, oatmeal or sauces it is generally not a good choice for baking due to it's low fat content. Oat milk is a good source of fiber and is generally well tolerated; however, it may not be a good choice for those with Celiac Sprue as the oats may be contaminated with gluten.
Almond Milk - Almond milk is light with a creamy texture and somewhat sweet finish. It's texture and flavor are somewhat similar to cow's milk and well liked. Almond milk (and other nut milks) are wonderful choices for baking and cooking, especially for chowders and soups. It is high in protein and antioxidants. Unfortunately almonds (tree nuts) are one of top 8 most common allergens so caution must be taken.
My Picks?
Stand Alone Beverage and Smoothies - Coconut Milk Beverage or Hemp Milk
On Cereal - Rice milk or Hemp Milk
Cooking - Coconut Milk Beverage
Baking - Hemp Milk, Coconut Milk Beverage or Coconut Milk
Health Benefits - Hemp Milk
Best All Around - Coconut Milk Beverage or Hemp Milk
I've been reading lately how Soy is being linked to sterilization in males. Just thought I'd throw that out. Thanks for the other options. We've never done anything other than cow's milk here, so I would have never known there were so many choices! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for detailing this. I have forwarded it to my friend. Kymberlie
ReplyDeleteI like almond milk and rice milk. I've never tried hemp milk.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Hi, We have multiple allergies at home. Our favorite is the Silk creamer...most liked by the kids, and great in cream soups.
ReplyDeleteWe only have it once a day, so I let it be a trat for them in their oatmeal and cereal. It is higher fat content, but since we can't have ice cream, etc., I'm fine with that.
Thank you, also, for your comment on yesterday's post re: blogging and balance. I reread all the comments, and they're so much alike: we're all willing to lose some sleep to get our bloggy time in.
Good to see you!
This is such a useful blog post! Thank you! I've struggled with lactose intolerance myself and tried lots of different things and this is so helpful.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are addicted to almond milk. We buy a gallon a week. ;) It's not so bad. We've done soy and rice in the past. They say the rice is too sweet and thin. My daughter prefers soy or regular almond, but my son prefers the vanilla almond. I'm addicted to cow's milk (with Chocolate Nesquick in it).
ReplyDelete