So, if you are an avid lover of the milk that comes out of a cow's utter, I wouldn't read any further. However, if you are anything like me and are lactose-intolerant and also just find the thought of cow milk being absolutely disgusting, well this article is for you.
Did you know that there are so many options for non-dairy milk that are actually delicious, especially in your morning coffee? Well, there are and here are five of them.
1. Soy milk
Soy milk is a plant-based drink produced from soybeans. Of course, it contains no lactose which is great for those lactose-intolerant people like me! Since it comes from plants, it is naturally free of cholesterol and low in saturated fat which is a win. When I add soy milk to my coffee, it does make the drink a bit thicker, but after a few sips, it tastes just fine!
One cup of soy milk is 131 calories, 15g of carbs, and 4.3g of total fat.
My favorite brands of soy milk are Silk in the vanilla flavor or the Pacific Organic Unsweetened soy milk.
2. Oat milk
Oat milk was a new drink that I tried this past year, and it is probably my favorite non-dairy milk. It is enriched with calcium and vitamins and has 2% of fat from rapeseed oil and oats. If you read about the milk, there is no added sugar, just the original sugar provided by the oats themselves. Like soy milk, it is also plant-based. Oat milk is free of GMOs and doesn't contain dairy, soy, nuts, or gluten. It is just about perfect for everyone, and it is also delicious in your favorite coffee!
In one serving of oat milk, there are 135 calories, 5g of total fat, 20g of total carbs, and 3g of protein.
My favorite brand of oat milk is definitely Oat-Ly.
3. Almond milk
Almond milk is a great choice if you want a more sweet tasting drink. It is delicious but isn't always what you are craving. I find this milk a bit harder to match with your coffee, especially if you have other syrups in it, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. It also pairs very well with some types of cereal.
Almond milk is free of dairy, soy, lactose, gluten, casein, egg, and MSG. It has no cholesterol or saturated fat and is a great source of vitamin E. There are no artificial colors, flavors, and GMOs which is great. Finally, it has 50% more calcium than dairy milk and is only about 60 calories per serving which you can't really beat!
My favorite brand of almond milk is Silk.
4. Coconut milk
Coconut milk has a very creamy texture and natural sweetness. It might seem odd at first, but it really does end up tasting great. It is found inside mature coconuts as it is stored within the "meat" of the coconut. It is great for building up your body's immune defenses to help prevent diseases.
Coconut milk is high in healthy saturated fatty acids and contains a beneficial fat called lauric acid which is easily absorbed and used y your body for energy. Coconut milk can help you lower your cholesterol levels, improve blood pressure, and even prevent heart attacks or strokes.
A quarter cup of coconut milk contains 138 calories, 1.5g of protein, 14g total of fat, 157mg of potassium, and 2g of sugar.
My favorite is the organic unsweetened coconut milk from Pacific.
5. Rice milk
Out of these five drinks, rice milk is probably my least favorite, but it is still a great option to have at times. It is a very light non-dairy milk, and it does have a little hint of sweetness. I usually put this milk in my smoothies or cereal; I'm not a fan of drinking it plain.
Rice milk is 99% fat-free and gluten-free. It is also organic and easy for your body to digest. Like the other non-dairy kinds of milk, it is lactose and dairy free. It is also cholesterol free and is non-GMO.
One serving of rice milk has 120 calories, 2.5g of total fat, 23g of total carbs, 10g of sugars, and 1g of protein.
My favorite is the Rice Dream original rice drink.
If you are looking to switch to a non-dairy milk, I highly recommend giving one of these five kinds a try. Yes, you might end up absolutely hating one of the kinds, and it might take a little bit for you to get used to them at first, but in the end, it is totally worth it.
