No milk… What now?

My family recently decided to halt milk consumption. Yes, I agree that it has amazing health benefits but there are some downsides as well.

Cow’s milk is a source of saturated-fat and cholesterol which can contribute to heart disease. Also is not suitable for the lactose-intolerant or for those allergic to milk protein. Many cows are injected with hormones to increase milk production which can lead to cancer. In addition, cows may be given antibiotics and we don’t want to drink that in our milk. So if we are to drink less cow milk, what can we drink more?

Fortunately, there are many options out there to substitute this dominating drink. Soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk… just to name a few. But how do we choose?

Here’s a simple chart about the basics of milk alternatives:

Image Source: Holistic Health Journal

And to compare the nutritional value of each alternative to 1% cow milk…

Image Source: Super Foods Rx

My favourite milk alternatives are soy milk and nut milk (cashew, almond) but nut milk can be expensive. Soy milk is an excellent source of calcium,Vitamin D, and protein to maintain strong bones. It’s also low in sugar, saturated fat, and calories!

And as long as we buy our soy milk organic, there’s no worry for hormones or antibiotics either. We used to also make soy milk all the time with our soy milk maker. It’s really easy- you just need soy beans and water.

So for the time being, I’m going to start my mornings with soy milk.

Mmmm…

All this writing about creamy milk has left my stomach growling. I’m craving some cereal. And some soy milk to go with it.