Dairy Substitutes

Houndmommy

Dairy Substitutes

Houndmommy

Fro those of you avoiding dairy, what do you use as a sub? 

Thanks!

CrunchyPoodleMama

When I used to be a raw vegan, I consumed a lot of almond milk. Unfortunately, I was using the commercially-made version of it... which is pretty much junk. Better to learn how to make your own nut milk from raw, organic nuts (which are nearly impossible to get in the U.S. now -- most nuts are irradiated now -- so you'll have to grow your own nut trees).

Why use a substitute at all? IMO if someone is going to avoid dairy products, they should also avoid fake dairy products, which are usually more harmful than the real thing (at least when compared to grass-fed, raw dairy). I would most definitely not consume U.S.-produced soy-based products.

MariannaLaFrance

I am using Rice Milk, and though I am on a "dairy free" diet, I have been given the green light on Non fat, organic Bulgarian yogurt. Fermented dairy seems to be okay for lactose intolerant folks,and if you're trying to avoid the hormones, organic Bulgarian yogurt does not contain any.

Now, as far as taste is concerned..... that's a different story!! I have to mix A LOT of fruit into my yogurt before I eat it.....

CrunchyPoodleMama

Hm, Marianna, if Bulgarian doesn't taste good, you should try Greek... it's delicious plain! (or maybe the taste has grown on me?) I can't find Greek yogurt that's from grass-fed cows, so I make my own... it's not hard at all to make it. Goat yogurt is also a good bet, since goats aren't factory-farmed (yet!) and goat farmers generally allow them to have their natural lifestyle (grazing on grass, not artificially inseminating them so that they're kept pregnant, which would produce excessive hormones in the milk, etc.).

Morgan513

Hi.  I use rice milk as an alternative to cow's milk.  Tastes the best to me.

I eat organic greek yogurt made by Oikos/Stoneyfield.  It's delicious!

Lorrie

GointoCarolina

CrunchyPoodleMama,just so you know, we do artificially inseminate dairy goats,but not sure why you think that would produce excess hormones and unfortunately many of the goat milk products available in stores are probably farmed like cows.By that I mean a large number  of goats with limited access to pasture,if any.Your best bet would be to find a local goat owner and get your milk from them.The only problem with goat milk is that you almost have to use it full fat,the fat globules are so small(which is why they say it is naturally homogenized)you need a separator to defat it.But it is delicious and nutritious and if you can get it from a breeder who feeds the goats right,the best milk in the world to drink(I may be a little biased!)

Claire_in_Seattle

On dairy cattle.....from someone who grew up on a dairy farm.

First of all, the natural calving cycle would be to give birth in the spring.  Cows have a nine-month gestation period, so would be pregnant most of the time anyway.  Normal practice is to give them two months to recover prior to having another calf to start the lactation cycle.  This works very well, and most cows do just fine.  The main difference is that you need milk production year around, so that means staggering the times when they give birth.

If you are wondering the "why" behind artificial insemination, you have never been around a touchy bull.  Most farmers are unwilling to face the danger, and I know of several people who got nasty injuries when a bull charged and knocked them down/gored them.

Feed is trickier, but I do need to point out that you can do "organic" via feed lots (and enclosed) and conventional grass fed non organic.  In northern climates, you can't grass feed year around and need to feed hay/grain as a minimum in the winter.

BTW - I would ideally go for "sustainable" vs organic as organic also means you can't treat a cow who needs meds with antibiotics.  So a cow with mastitis or an infected toenail will go to a conventional herd.  I believe not humane if you don't treat a cow who clearly needs veterinary help.

I don't want growth hormones to increase milk production either, but as much for the cow's sake as our own.  I have a full appreciation what an overly-full udder must feel like, and not something I would wish on anyone.

On yogurt.....we have Greek Gods here in the Northwest.  Just the most delish.  I often have on defrosted berries for breakfast with a bit of granola on top.  YUM!!!!

althea

I used to drink milk by the gallon.  Loved it as a kid and as an adult.  Milk was something I'd never run out of.  I drank about 2 gallons a week.  I gave it up in May of last year.  I used to drink it by the glass, and I loved chocolate milk for my evening sweet fix.  The main thing I use the subs for is my daily cup of coffee.  When I don't drink coffee, my consumption of the milk subs disappears also.  I just really like a cup of coffee and after several occasions of going without, I just can't see or feel any appreciable improvements, so I indulge myself in what is probably the last vice I have, if it can even be called that. 

At first I used rice milk, but that's a bit watery.  Oat groat milk is thicker and makes a nice cup of coffee.  Now hemp milk is easier to find, and I like it.  My fave is coconut milk.  If you want to make a pudding, coconut milk is fantastic.  I tried tapioca with rice milk once and it was a flop.  The brand name for coconut milk is So Delicious.  Their website will tell you if any stores near you carry it. 

As crunchy pointed out, the milk subs have some ingredients we'd be better off without.  For me also, yogurt is my final frontier for dairy consumption.  I found some goat milk yogurt recently and really liked it.  

dlb823

Does goat milk yogurt taste like goat cheese?  I'm probably one of the few people in the world who cannot stand any kind of goat cheese, and I've been curious to know if goat yogurt has that same underflavor that goat cheese has.   Deanna

barbe1958

Deanna, are you talking about feta or a creamy goat's cheese? A lot of people dislike feta as it is in a brine solution. The creamy goat cheeses don't taste anything like feta and are more like a soft Havarti.

My DH HATES goat milk as his mom used to make him drink it so in his case it's the rich, creaminess he doesn't like. I made him try feta once and he loved it. Go figure!

dlb823

Barbe, actually I love feta, but the ones I buy are sheep's milk.  The goat cheeses I gag on (sorry) are the soft ones that I sometimes eat by accident (like when you pick up a pretty canape at a party and it's snuck in there) -- the stuff everyone else seems to rave about.   The only goat cheese I can semi-tolerate is that brown one from Norway -- forget it's name, but it's sort of sweet and unusual.    Deanna

Cat123

I second the So Decicious Coconut milk!  It really doesn't taste like coconut but is delicious.  I use Earth Balance for butter.  It comes in soy or no soy varieties.  The best vegan cheese is Daiya.  You can google it....lots of stuff on the net and recipes too.  It stretches and melts like real cheese.  No soy.  It comes in Mozzarella and Cheddar flavours.  Delish

seaotter

Cat, where do buy the Daiya fake cheese? I have been looking for some. Thanks!

Patty