The Best Nondairy Milks 89
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Nondairy Milks
There are many health-related and ethical reasons to avoid cow’s
milk—veganism, lactose intolerance, a desire to avoid hormones
and antibiotics, to name a few. But finding a reliable substitute can
be overwhelming, because store shelves are packed with nondairy
milk choices. Plenty sampled three dozen products to find the tasti-
Best vanilla
Blue Diamond Almond
Breeze Vanilla
Tastes less like almonds than
vanilla, but the two flavors
combine well. Organic? No.
Best grain milk
Pacific Foods Organic
Oat Low-Fat Vanilla
The tasty flavor balances
the graininess often found in
nondairy beverages. And we
appreciated the mess-free,
twist-off top. Organic? Yes.
Best blend
EdenBlend Rice & Soy
This combo mixes the health
benefits of soy with rice’s
mellow taste. Organic? Yes.
est. And while none is a perfect swap for moo juice, many have
considerable nutritional benefits in their own right. “These beverages can play an important dietary role, especially the soy,” says
Roger Clemens, PhD, of the Institute of Food Technologists. Here’s
the cream of the crop.
—Eileen Gunn
Best for coffee
Rice Dream Supreme
Vanilla Hazelnut
The sugary taste makes this
a perfect swap for your usual
nondairy creamer.
Organic? No.
Best soy milk
Silk Plain
It has a pleasing nutty flavor
and enough fat to give it body
and versatility. Organic? Yes
Best chocolate
Good Karma Organic
Ricemilk Chocolate
A richer, more natural flavor
makes this the closest you’ll
get to Hershey’s syrup in a
glass. Organic? Yes.
Best skim milk
alternative
Soy Dream Enriched
Orignal
The light body and mild
flavor are a good swap for
nonfat milk. Organic? Yes.
DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH
If you’re looking for a substitute for the nutritional role dairy plays
in your diet, choose your nondairy alternative wisely. All but one of
our top picks have at least 20 percent of the recommended daily
amount of calcium and 25 percent of the suggested vitamin D
per 8-ounce serving (whole milk has 30 percent and 25 percent,
respectively). And while our favorites are lower in fat than whole
milk, the nut and grain milks came up short on protein, ranging
from one to 7 grams per serving versus milk’s 7 grams. Many
grain milks contain folic acid, magnesium, riboflavin, and vitamin
B12, but they may also be loaded with sugar. And just because a
product is made from oats or almonds, don’t assume it provides
the same health benefits as the whole food. “When you process
these foods into beverages, it’s not quite the same as eating the
foods themselves,” says Clemens. For example, research finds
that oat fiber lowers cholesterol, but a glass of oat milk has less
than half the fiber of a bowl of oatmeal.
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