Milk alternatives - what would you recommend?

[BigPigLittlePig]

I am bf my 6 month old dd, who appears to be CMPI, so I have been on a dairy free diet for a month or so now. The no milk thing is getting a bit tiresome though, so I'm going to bite the bullet and treat myself (!) to an alternative. I just have no idea what to go for - almond, rice, etc etc. What is the most palatable (for me), and would also be appropriate for LO in cooking?

[dyslexicdespot]

Why don't you buy a few different kinds and try them? I love almond milk especially with cereal, Oatly is good in tea and coffee.

[misscph1973]

I have tried most of them, and I prefer almond milk and coconut milk. Just start with one, finish it, and then another one.

Most alternatives are fine in cooking.

Have you tried goat's milk? Many people with dairy intolerance can tolerate goat's milk.

I do think that it is confusing, the dairy alternative market. Brands and types also taste different! I really don't like soy milk unless it is sweetened and organic, while some almond milks are too sweet and taste like liquid marzipan.

Also try and find a type/brand that isn't too expensive or difficult to get hold of.

[HelloBear]

I've tried Soya, Oatly and rice. I really like the rice milk. But I think you've got to just get a sample if them all and try them out. I like rice milk because I find it works best in tea (the one thing I miss terribly).

Also after seeing recommended on MN I tried coconut 'yogurt' (the other thing I miss!) it was lovely. But expensive!!! Can't remember the name now but have a look in local health food shop.

[Truffkin]

If you are ok with soya then the unsweetened soya is my preference. I find it closest to cow's milk taste wise, but like skimmed as it's very low fat so not creamy. The Alpro pouring cream is good for a thicker texture.

[Maz007]

Co-yo is the yum but pricey coconut yogurt...

[trixymalixy]

Oatly and Kara are the best IMHO. Soya milk is vile and rice milk is far too sweet for cooking savoury stuff with.

[MarianaTrench]

I have either almond milk or oat milk. Rice milk is too watery for me and I don't like coconut milk at all. I can't have soya milk as the protein is too similar to cows milk.

I miss cheese more tea anything and hope DD grows out of this.

[BigPigLittlePig]

Thankyou for all your suggestions. Mariana I feel your pain about cheese, I miss it! When I finish bf I am having the biggest scoff session, with cheese, chocolate, yoghurt, coffee...

[CokeFan]

We liked oatly and Alpro soya milk. I know this is mostly for you, but remember that rice milk is not suitable for anyone under 5 (too high in arsenic).

DD has grown out of her egg and dairy allergy now but still prefers to drink soya milk. We get the sweetened stuff from Aldi and she seems to like that the best.

[BigPigLittlePig]

Thanks coke - I knew there was a reason why rice milk wouldn't be any good. I want to get used to something that she can then have some of, if that makes sense.

[MarianaTrench]

I didn't know that about rice milk, thanks.

bigpig, I am planning a cheese binge when I stop bf too. Seems unfair after having given up stuff during pregnancy to have to give up even more stuff now!

[MarianaTrench]

Oh and almond milk is reduced to £1 a carton at the coop just now.

[BigPigLittlePig]

Thanks mariana - we have a Co-op in our village so will have a wander down there later!

[misscph1973]

Maz, I tried the Co-yo cocnut yoghurt and I was so disappointed! It was sweetened and no, it didn't help that it was with xylitol, it was vile! Tasted like I imagine sun cream with coconut scent taste like. Yuk! I like the taste of cocont, I don't need it sweetened. Instead I have started making coconu milkk kefir, delicious, if you like the sourness in natural yoghurt.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Koko coconut milk is good. And almond milk is too. Haven't tried hazelnut milk yet though. Very tempted!!

[moonfacebaby]

I've tried the almond, rice & coconut milk - all ok but nowhere near as good as goats milk. I thought it would taste horrible but it's brilliant in tea & I can still have a frothy coffee.

Alpro plain soya yoghurt is surprisingly good to & I've been getting my cheese fix with goats cheese, feta, manchego & other sheeps cheeses.

I'm going dairy-free to see if it improves my psoriasis & a month in, it does seen to be helping.

[BigPigLittlePig]

Well I got some unsweetened almond milk - big hit! I've never been a fan of cows milk but much prefer almond milk as it turns out. I'm looking forward to trying out some of these yoghurty type things next.

Thankyou all for your suggestions, very much apprerciated.

[misscph1973]

I got unsweetened almond milk by accident yesterday, and I had to add honey to my tea to get it down! Not sure I like admitting that I take sugar(or honey, as it was) in my teat without knowing!

btw, I tried hazelnut milk, the sweetened version, and it taste like a flavoured milk! Not nice.

[UniqueAndAmazing]

we're doingt a milk free diet
it's worth avoiding soya too as the protein is very similar.

we're drinking alpro hazelnut milk, which is lovely (tastes chocolatey)

and Vitalite for cakes/cooking/spreading because it's totally dairy and soya free

[Maz007]

misscph coconut milk kefir - there's an idea!!! DD can't have soya anyway but non-dairy yogurts are usually full of flavourings... natural yogurt is the thing we miss. Any tips for a kefir beginner?

[UniqueAndAmazing]

you can have chocolate - yo ujust have to choose the right ones.

plamil is good for non-dairy chocolate, and some of them don't have soya in either