A new kitchen staple is non-dairy milk. Move over 2% and whole milk; plant-based milks are making their way to each and every household refrigerator. Gone are the days when non-dairy milks were labeled as uppity or hippie-based choices. No, soy milk, oat milk, and the like are now the norm as franchises like Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts have made it a part of their milk substitutions for more than a decade. Reasons ranging from food allergies to veganism to environmental concerns, are causing non-dairy milk to be part of our daily dietary needs.
The wide variety non-dairy milks might pose a challenge when it comes deciding which beverage to choose for you and your family. To help with that, here is the 411 on the healthiest and best non-dairy milk for kids and adults.
Why non-dairy milk: What’s the big deal?
Non-dairy milk use: How to incorporate it in recipes
Once you and your family have chosen their plant-based milk, you can then begin finding ways to incorporate it into family meals.
According to One Green Planet, each non-dairy milk can perform well in the right cooking circumstances. Here are their suggestions:
Soy milk
Since soy milk is similar to milk, it can substitute for milk in most cooking or baking recipes. It is the most stable non-dairy milk as it will handle cooking temperatures well, and its high protein count provides the right balance for cooking or baking with a variety of ingredients.
Almond milk
Because of its sweetness, almond milk will be best in smoothies and dessert-based dishes. However, it can still be applied to most, if not all, recipes. There is not a high protein count, but there are loads of good vitamins that make the nutrition outweigh the protein loss.
Cashew milk
The creaminess of cashew milk enables it to be a great addition to coffee and sweet dishes. Savory dishes that involve cream will be a perfect fit for cashew milk.
Coconut cream
With its high-fat content, coconut cream can also be used in most recipes and some savory recipes might even call for it.
