Leary of Milk and Milk Products? Try these alternatives!

I have to admit, I'm not a milk drinker. Forget those posters of models with milk mustaches; I'm still not a fan!

Oh I like yoghurt and occasional ice cream, and of course cheese, but when it comes to downing a whole glass of milk? Ughhhhh! That's me personally. But for those who have a true dairy allergy or lactose intolerance, rejoice, there's hope!

Thanks to our plethora of choices lately, we now have soymilk, rice milk, almond milk, and my all time favorite: coconut milk. It seems that these have been advertised and showcased front and center lately. I see them everywhere!

I recently started using coconut milk on a regular basis and it’s not only delicious, but also easy on the stomach and nice to cook with as well. When added to cakes, it makes it more moist and stays fresh. When used in coffee, it gives it a rich flavor. I have yet to try to make pudding with it.

I used to cringe at the thought of soymilk. For some reason, it seemed gross to me. Now that I have used the one sold at Costco, I really enjoy it. Soymilk has more Omega 3's in it than regular milk, and more vitamins. Now I am fully aware of the soy controversy and how women, including myself, really do not know what to think of soy when it comes to hormones, and other issues.

But then, reason does take hold and I think of all the healthy Asian folks out there who have lived on soy for centuries. You really cannot trust all the info you hear because it changes from month to month.

Take coffee for instance: first it's good for you, then it's bad, then its good. It causes cancer, it cures cancer.....what to do? I say: moderation is the key and enjoy the good stuff.

But anyway, back to milk substitutes, another one that is good is oat milk. I have a Blendtec blender and I actually can blend up whole oats with a bit of water until it is oat milk.

Another one is almond milk. I have heard it’s very rich! That probably would be good for puddings. Now of course, if you have an allergy to almonds, this would not be a viable choice.

I'm so glad there are so many choices out there! All these various alternatives to milk are not only good for you, but give you more vitamins and nutrients. Think of it: they have to add Vitamin A and D to milk.

Besides the fat and calcium, what is really in there that is good for you? I have also heard that milk from the cow is mainly for baby cows, we really have no place in drinking it. But that's a whole 'nother controversy! So, during your next shopping trip, look into all the available alternatives to milk and I can almost bet you will be pleasantly surprised!