Whether you're an experienced vegan or would just like to take a few steps away from dairy whenever you can, dairy-free milk has plenty of substitutes for you! But if you're like me, you might be confused about your options. What's the difference between soy milk and almond milk? What's going to taste best in my coffee? How do you milk an oat???
With so much variety, you deserve a quick and easy-to-follow guide on just a few milk options that are delicious and dairy-free! If nothing else, I live to serve our lovely Spoon readers. So, read on for a beginner's guide to dairy milk alternatives!
1. Soy Milk
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As one of the two most popular dairy-alternatives available on the milk market, a lot of people have questions about soy milk. Well, one of the best things about soy milk is that it has a protein content comparable to cow's milk. If high protein is your priority, soy is a great, pretty standard option.
2. Almond Milk
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The second of the two most popular alternative milks, almond milk is generally sweeter than soy milk, and not as high in protein. However, it is lower in calories, fats, and provides the consumer with plenty of calcium! I've been told (by the many wonderful vegans in my life) that almond milk is great in cereals, coffee, or even on its own.
3. Oat Milk
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As my personal favorite, I will drink oat milk with everything. Working at a coffee shop has also shown me just how perfect oat milk tastes in coffees and lattes of all kinds. I can't get enough of it! One of the best things about oat milk, though, is that it has a much smaller impact on the environment than nearly all other milk production (yes, that includes soy and almond). So, if you're looking to drink milk and save the world, try oat next time!
Want to learn more about why oat milk rocks? Check out this article!
4. Coconut Milk
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Before discovering oat milk, I really loved using coconut milk to sweeten unflavored lattes. Besides being very calorie-rich, coconut milk is also high in vitamins, minerals, and saturated fats. According to Medical News Today, its many health benefits include potential boosts to the immune system and improved heart health. Coconut milk is a great option with a yummy, unique taste!
5. Macadamia Milk
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Macadamia milk is hugely underrated, and that is not an exaggeration! I tried this milk for the first time about a month ago and wow!! I was blown away! This milk tastes so good (full, smooth, and deliciously balanced) that I could drink an entire glass of it on its own, and I could never do that with dairy milk. This is another great option for lattes and coffee, but try it in smoothies and other recipes too. Trust me, you won't be sorry!
Milk In Review
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If nothing else, I hope that you take away from this article that there are so many options if you want to give dairy-free milk a chance, or if you've been stuck in a milk rut and have been looking to mix it up. With all these dairy milk alternatives, it's practically impossible to run out of combinations to try, so give it a shot!