3 Quick Tips on Transitioning to Non-Dairy Milk

May 24, 2021 • be the difference • carbon footprint • children • climate change • climate crisis • climate emergency • easy eco swaps • eco • eco ideas • eco inspiration • ecofriendly • environmental impact • family • food • health • intentional nutrition • make a change • mum hustle • mumlife • no judgement • non-dairy • nutrition • organic • plant based • plastic free • recyclable • reduce carbon footprint • reusable • sustainable • tea • vegan • washable • zero waste journey • zero waste living

1. Try lots of different milks

I've settled on oat milk as I find the consistency (and taste) most similar to dairy milk. But others love Soy, Almond, sweetened, unsweetened. Have a play around to find what you taste buds like.

🥛

2. Transition your (and your family's) tastebuds slowly.

It DOES taste different. What I did was start by using 3:1 parts dairy to non dairy milk - in my coffee, on my cereal, in béchamel sauces, and slowly change the ratio. I'm now at 100% non-dairy most of the time, or at least 1:3 dairy:non-dairy. With this increase of non-dairy milk, I've changed our milk order from 6 dairy, 3 oat milk a week to 3 dairy, 6 oat milk (the kids still mostly prefer dairy or a mix).

🥛

3. Ask yourself do you really need milk?

Coffee I found very easy to use oat milk in straight away, but tea just didn't taste quite 'right' with it in. So I actually found that using a dash of cold water was what my tongue wanted, rather than milk, so I did that instead. (I'm now used to the taste, so happy to alternate oat milk or water.)

🥛

Nutritional Comparison of Plant & Dairy Milks

Per 1 Cup / 240ml	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)	Fat / Saturated Fat (g)	Vitamin D (mcg) DV	Calcium (mg) DV	Potassium (mg) DV
Cow's Milk (low fat)	100	13	13	8	2.5 / 1.5	25%	30%	370
(Unsweetened) Almond Milk	30	1	0	1	2.5 / 0	25%	45%	160
(Unsweetened) Coconut Milk	45	1	7	0	4 / 3.5	25%	45%	40
Oat Milk	130	25	5	4	2.5 /0	25%	25%	90
Pea Milk	70	0	0	8	4.5 / 0.5	30%	45%	450
Rice Milk	120	23	10	1	2.5 / 0	0%	2%	35
Soy Milk	80	4	1	7	4 / 0.5	30%	45%	287

🥛

Remember.... BE KIND to yourself. Take your time - especially with kids. It's really different changing what they drink and eat. Start with things they don't notice so much: porridge, béchamel sauce, offer to pour the milk on their cereal and just put a dash - just to introduce the taste, without the fear of change. And then slowly increase.

🥛

You'll get there. I am now. And the rest of the family is slowly coming along too.

🥛

ps - I both our organic dairy and oat milk from @freshmilkandmore

Stay safe and keep well,

Elena x