Giving up dairy can be really hard for many people. The best approach is to know what plant-based alternatives are available and find ones you like.
Here is the low down on some great alternatives that offer a ton of flavor to your recipes, smoothies and more to boot!
1. Plant-Based Milks
There are some great plant-based milks such as:
Almond milk
Soy milk
Coconut milk
Rice milk
Oat milk
Hemp milk
Cashew milk
Macadamia milk
Many of these are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and are healthy replacements for cow’s milk.
2. Plant-Based Butter
While plant-based butter is commonly available, there are also some great natural replacements you could give a go, including:
Olive oil
Flaxseed oil
Avocados
Hemp seed oil
3. Plant-Based Cheese
Giving up cheese is the biggest barrier for many when giving up dairy. This is because dairy contains casein, a protein that releases casomorphins during digestion. Cows produce casomorphins to keep the calf coming back to drink their mother’s milk. Essentially, they are addictive!
There is a wide range of alternatives for cheese, including:
Store-bought vegan soft and hard cheese (use sparingly!)
Cashew cheese with nut milk and lemon juice
Nutritional yeast (also fortified with B12)
4. Plant-Based Yoghurt
There are also many delicious plant-based yoghurt alternatives available such as:
Soy-based yogurt
Coconut yogurt
Cashew/almond yogurt
5. Plant-Based Ice Cream
If you’re simply craving some ice cream, you can try:
Nut-based or soy-based store-bought ice cream (watch the sugar content though)
Dairy-free fruit-based sorbets
Making your own like my banana protein soft-serve, using plant-based yogurt and pea protein
Happy dairy-free eating!