Mooving Away from Milk? Dairy Alternatives Part I

By John DiGilio in Food on Feb 24, 2011 6:20PM

Up to three servings of dairy a day for good health sayeth the USDA. But not everyone, experts included, is buying either that line or the recommended dairy products. We can debate issues of nutrition, animal cruelty, and the amazing power of lobbying groups all day long. The bottom line is that there are many good reasons to eschew the moo juice at least some of the time. Many of vegans and vegetarians, as well as those with milk allergies and intolerance choose to do so all the time. Regardless of where you stand, savvy shoppers and cooks need to be familiar with non-dairy options.

Whether our reasons for turning the udder cheek have to do with health, eco-consience, or just curiosity, we are lucky to have a marketplace of dairy alternatives that seems to be growing every year. There is a milk alternative for virtually every taste and use out there. There are more textures and flavors available than ever before. From beverages to frozen treats to cheeses, the choices can be almost overwhelming to the non-initiated. Luckily, the vegetarian staff here at Chicago have a handy little primer to share.

There are several ways that dairy alternatives can be grouped. We can categorize them by composition, taste, nutrition, and even culinary uses. For the sake of practicality and brevity, we will group them by what they are made of. This is how they appear on store shelves and how they are named. So why not keep it easy? We prefer to break our milk alternatives into three primary groups: those made from legumes or plants, nut milks, and grain-based alternatives. In this first installment, we will look at legume or seed-based milks.

Legume or seed-based milks are probably the most popular these days, thanks to the profiliferation of soy milk. It is available at most grocers. Hemp milk is newer on the scene and is still hard to find. These products tend to be smooth, creamy, and available in a variety of flavors. They are great for drinking and cooking. They also mix nicely with hot drinks like coffee and tea. Silk’s soy milk products are great right out of the bottle. Try the chocolate for a healthier alternative to standard chocolate milk or the vanilla to add a little sweetness to your morning cereal. Ice cream lovers will enjoy Toffuti’s frozen treats. We recommend the Cuties ice cream sandwiches for a cold, creamy snack. If you can find it, Tempt hemp milk from Living Harvest is really creamy, with a nice earthy flavor that makes it oh-so-drinkable. Also, try Daiya’s vegan, plant-based cheeses. They have a flavor and texture that will complete any grilled cheese sandwich. Legume and plant-based milks are believed to help reduce cholesterol, contain no lactose, and are hormone free. They are good and good for you.

In our next installment we will look at nut milks and grain alternatives. Taste, texture, and recommendations, we will have you covered. Until then feel free to add your favorite dairy alternatives and recipes to the comments or email us directly. We’d love to hear from you!

Photo from Live Strong.