Consumer’s should be able to walk into in the aisle and select the best brand that fits their needs, but that’s not always easy considering the large selection stores tend to carry. It’s understandable those on a new health journey need directions on how to spot the best milk options in stores.
The best plant base milk depends on desired use or needs. Some use it for nutrition while others use it for cooking, drinking, or baking purposes. To find that out, the back of the bottle packaging provides clues in the ingredients and nutritional facts in order for customers to select the healthiest milk brand for their family. With little understanding in what the milk should replace nutritionally comprises health and beliefs. That’s why it is necessary to learn which plant base brand can replace cow milk to promote growth and nourishment.
Although there are roughly 5 side effects to store bought vegan milks, there are still healthier varieties on the market that combines well with cereals, smoothies, or even used in baking.
Consumer grocery store vegan options
Knowing specific brand availability is important for consumers to be informed of the most available options in specific stores. Oat, cashew, coconut are the most widely available options followed by the least widely available like macadamia, flaxseed, hempseed, and pea milks in-stores.
The most popular brands are usually accessible to everyone are: Silk, Califa, Oatly, Planet Oat, Chobani, So Delicious, and Almond Breeze.
Most people tend to check the cold section where the dairy milks are and they’re necessary to stay cold.
As a long term solution, there are shelf staple plant milks. Travelers and those who commute to work may benefit from the non cold ones since they are usually in thin boxes that makes it easy to pack and carry.
Extensive selections are typically seen in health food markets like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Publix, Trader Joes to local health based grocery stores. Because stores like Aldi, Walmart, and Stop & Shop make their own plant milks, they’re usually the cheapest and most affordable for low-budget households.
Identifying Dairy Milk Replacement
Plant base milks are designed to create robust flavor and offer a dairy-free source that is nutritionally comparable to cow milk. The downside to plant milks is that it is no where near as nutritious, or traditionally flavored as dairy milk without additional ingredients (it benefits those who dislike the taste of cow milk). However plant milks have their own nutrition that beats its opponent.
(**Photo**)Dairy milk contains macronutrients (protein, fats, carbohydrates), micronutrients, prebiotics, probiotics, and water making it a superior hydration beverage for calfs (like human milk for humans!).
There are variations of the necessary nutrients needed naturally, but it is currently not possible to completely replace vegan milk for dairy milk entirely. The rest of the lacking nutrients would come from a whole foods diet. This is important to note for parents transitioning their home dairy-free with little people.
For naturally occuring benefits, this chart simply explains which milk is best for what without the added ingredients to artificially complete nutrition.
Naturally Occuring Benefits in Plant Milk
A large number of consumers show signs of intolerances, allergies, and side effects from the cow milk composition. Authentic plant base milk has naturally occuring nutrients derived from the nut, seed, grain, or legume used. The main benefit to plant milks are the minerals, vitamins, plant compounds, insoluble fiber (promoting a healthy gut), and healthy fats preserved vegan milks.
And we have several brands that believes in preserving the natural nutrients instead of fortifying then!
For example coconut milk is known for its high saturated fat content, however consumers must consider the source and understand coconut milk is high in medium and short chain fatty acids that offers a significant amount of health benefits.
As mentioned before, it’s not possible to gain complete nutrition from non dairy milks. So usually one of the best questions to ask first is, “What nutrient matter’s the most to me?” Sometime consumers are looking for a blend of nutrients.
Having an understanding what nutrient best fit the home can help consumers began the process of elimination. Parents tend to gravitate towards almond milk or fortified pea milk for growing children while individuals may turn to macadamia milk for natural fats.
You see! Different needs for different households.
Calcium- almond milk & pea milk
Protein- Soy milk & pea milk
Fat- Pea milk is artificially fatty while macadamia milk is the most naturally fattest milk available in plant milks.
Omega 3 – Hemp & Flaxseed milk
For cooking
The cooking performance is still an ongoing debate. People tend to replace cow milk for any plant base milk in hopes it responds the same way in traditional cuisines. While it may not happen, there are some good quality milks to makes bangin’ curries, custards and mouth-watering Johnny Cakes.
Remember technique is important. The fats in plant base milks can definitely work with the people. Make sure to have some ancestors on the side for ancestral downloaders, haha.
The best plant milks for soups and curries can be used with just about any milk. For thicker and intense flavor, coconut milk, macadamia nut milk is where it’s at. Oat milk doesn’t have much flavor but grear for thickening soups and baking.
For Drinking
The best way to find the best milk to drink is by taste testing brands, but consider the brands! Everyone has different preferences in taste, consistency, flavor, and whether or not it is healthy.
Even still, the according to, “” North Americans favors almond milk, and oat milk for those who are allergic to nuts or can’t stand them. Some prefer to drink healthier plant milks. And to choose it all boils down to what consumers want out of that bottle.
Taste, creaminess, and flavor -oat cashew hazelnut
Cooking- coconut & macadamia milk
Identifying Clean Ingredients In Vegan Milk
The healthiest plant base milk will have:
- Less than 7 ingredients
- No artificial flavors
- No gums
- No preservatives
- No vegetables oils
- No added sugars
- No Fortified supplements
- Non gmo & organic labeling
- And love!
Consumers could take a step further in ensuring milk brands are ethical and selective in their ingredient choices.
The Healthiest Plant Milks In-Stores
Elmburst
Three Trees
Malk
Milkadamia
Thrivemarket
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