Milk substitute

[Eco Ellen]

What is a good milk substitute, for eating with cereal?  I have a minor dairy allergy and my throat gets itchy when I drink milk.  I can use a little in my coffee or have it cooked with something, no problem, but to pour it on cereal is problematic.

I tried soymilk once and I thought it was disgusting. 

[Courtney]

I liked vanilla soy milk, so take this with a grain of salt....  almond milk, maybe?

[triciaflower]

I like hemp milk.

[rocketgirl]

Are there other dairy products you can eat, like say ice cream or yogurt?

I wouldn't try orange juice.  I'm just saying...

[Run Amok]

I like the coconut milk that comes in the tetrapak. Slight coconut taste but I don't even taste it anymore. Before that came along, almond was my preference.

[merigayle]

Hmm. DD and DH use plain, unsweetened, organic soy milk. You can try rice, it is a bit sweeter, as is coconut milk. Almond i would not know, not sure i ever had the plain, only chocolate I eat my cereal dry, have since i was a kid, we were not raised with milk. My brother used to put white grape juice in his.

[Run Amok]

... oh, and whatever you buy, get the plain unsweetened kind. Or that is what I get anyway. The otherones are cloyingly sweet.

[Magic Microbe]

I tried coconut milk and I almost threw up so I switched to unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

[Eco Ellen]

Thanks -  I'd be interested in these alternatives. I wonder if almond mllk is ok if I am allergic to almonds.

[onawhim]

Thanks -  I'd be interested in these alternatives. I wonder if almond mllk is ok if I am allergic to almonds.

no.  Drinking almond milk is how I found out I was allergic to almonds in the first place  

I drink coconut milk

[witchypoo]

I like the coconut milk that comes in the tetrapak.

1.

several of my family members eat their cereal w/orange-banana juice or some other similar combo.  i've tried it; not bad.  better w/sorta bland cereals (like oat or rice puffs).

[merigayle]

i just love dry cereal, it is all i have known. why would you want SOGGY cereal? ICK!!! LOL

[Run Amok]

I think the key is to just pick a few and start trying them. I wouldn't bother with soy milk though- it's yucky. Anything else is more palatable to me and they all seem to have pros/cons in terms of consistency/flavor/aftertaste. To me, the unsweetened coconut is the most neutral and homogenous of the bunch. But I'd also be fine with rice (though I find it slightly bitter) or hemp as alternatives.

[Eco Ellen]

Thanks all.

[omega lambda]

A little late, but yes to the coconut based milk.  It was prescribed by our pediatrician years ago as both my kidlets are lactose intolerant and my sweet baby girl was allergic to soy.  It was the most like non- or low-fat milk and had a very slight coconut taste.  I buy both almond milk and coconut milk now to use in smoothies and such.  I prefer the coconut milk.

[Eco Ellen]

I really don't like coconut but I think I just don't like the texture - I do like it in pina coladas .  I'll look for it next time I'm out.

[Eco Ellen]

Also I don't know that the soy milk I had was necessarily any good.  It was plain soy milk.  It wasn't vanilla or anything, and it was on an airplane.

[Eco Ellen]

Are there other dairy products you can eat, like say ice cream or yogurt?

I wouldn't try orange juice.  I'm just saying...

Oh - and to answer this, I eat yogurt, but ice cream makes me feel poorly and itchy.

[Cool Foot Luke]

Also I don't know that the soy milk I had was necessarily any good.  It was plain soy milk.  It wasn't vanilla or anything, and it was on an airplane.

Totally unsweetened soy milk is sort like liquid cardboard (but very healthy!). I don't mind it that much, but it does taste much better with a little but of sweetness (still fewer grams of sugar than in the lactose of regular milk).

At the same time, most of the time that someone serves you soymilk, it's sweetened, so that's probably what you tried.

[teetime]

I like the coconut milk that comes in the tetrapak. Slight coconut taste but I don't even taste it anymore. Before that came along, almond was my preference.

They were sampling this in trader joe's and it tasted like that chalky white stuff you take to soothe (though it never does) a bad stomach.  Maybe a bad brand?

Almond breeze vanilla not sweetened is my rec.

[Run Amok]

Was it the kind in their refrigerator, or the shelf stable stuff? The former is gross, the latter is good on cereal. I haven't tried it in a glass though.

[witchypoo]

i like the so delicious coconut milk (in tetra pak)...  particularly in coffee, but it's fine on cereal.

[merigayle]

What about trying goatmilk?

[radial]

I'm with meri.  Why bother with milk?  But I'm also not with meri in that I wonder why you bother with working so hard to keep eating cereal.  Eat an egg, a green vegetable, a bit of meat or fish.  Cereal is a habit that you can break. 

[merigayle]

well, i could not tell you the last time i had cereal for breakfast, that was so college, LOL!!! Oatmeal, steel cut oats, tofu scramble, beans and rice, polenta, pancakes, waffles, etc. All much better than cereal. Cereal is too expensive!

[Eco Ellen]

I'm with meri.  Why bother with milk?  But I'm also not with meri in that I wonder why you bother with working so hard to keep eating cereal.  Eat an egg, a green vegetable, a bit of meat or fish.  Cereal is a habit that you can break. 

The thing is I don't eat cereal at all. I would like a bowl of cereal every now and then, and I used to like it with milk. Specifically, I made this granola last night and I know it would be great with milk but I don't want to spend the day with my throat itchy.

I eat eggs and greens, and am a vegetarian.

[diablita]

Was it the kind in their refrigerator, or the shelf stable stuff? The former is gross, the latter is good on cereal. I haven't tried it in a glass though.

Not great in a glass (a bit chalky, even the one from the tetra pak), IMO, but good on cereal. I alternate b/w this and almond milk for my DD's school lunch.  North Carolina requires we send milk as part of their 5-star program (so I have to or my DD's school is hosed.  the pressure!) so I send some every day but she barely touches it.

We don't have allergies or aversions but she gets plenty of dairy from cheese and other sources (a bit of milk at home sometimes) and I like to mix it up.

[merigayle]

The thing is I don't eat cereal at all. I would like a bowl of cereal every now and then, and I used to like it with milk. Specifically, I made this granola last night and I know it would be great with milk but I don't want to spend the day with my throat itchy.

I eat eggs and greens, and am a vegetarian.

what about putting it in yogurt? can you tolerate yogurt? or there are some good non dairy yogurts out there.

[Eco Ellen]

what about putting it in yogurt? can you tolerate yogurt? or there are some good non dairy yogurts out there.

Yes. I love granola in yogurt.

[merigayle]

Yes. I love granola in yogurt.

me too! our local natural food store carries an amazing selection of dairy and non dairy yogurts and i have had a couple almond milk and coconut milk ones that are pretty tasty. They have such a selection, including local yogurts, local goat yogurts, and so much more.

[Eco Ellen]

me too! our local natural food store carries an amazing selection of dairy and non dairy yogurts and i have had a couple almond milk and coconut milk ones that are pretty tasty. They have such a selection, including local yogurts, local goat yogurts, and so much more.

  I will keep an eye out. 

I'm supposed to hit the grocery store later today - I will look for some of the suggestions in this thread.  Thanks, all!

[merigayle]

  I will keep an eye out. 

I'm supposed to hit the grocery store later today - I will look for some of the suggestions in this thread.  Thanks, all!

keep us posted!

[diablita]

One of my vacation favorite breakfasts EVER was a halved papaya filled with yogurt and topped with fiber cereal.  I doubt the menu at the hotel we were staying at (was in Mexico but I can't remember if it was Cabos or Cancun) called it 'colon cleanse' but they could have.     and it was delicious!

[Run Amok]

Papaya is one of those things I feel I should like... but just don't.

[merigayle]

I only like papaya dried. 

[Run Amok]

me too! our local natural food store carries an amazing selection of dairy and non dairy yogurts and i have had a couple almond milk and coconut milk ones that are pretty tasty. They have such a selection, including local yogurts, local goat yogurts, and so much more.

But the one thing I will say about this is that (other than soy), my experience is that non-dairy "milks" really don't have much nutritional value. Like the coconut milk yogurt is really tasty- but it's essentially empty calories. No protein, no fiber... fat and carbs. I put .5 cup of non-dairy "milk" on my cereal in the morning so I don't really worry about the 30 calories... but, if you're looking for something of substance to actually eat, I'd look towards dairy or goatsmilk yogurt. You could also try goatsmilk on your cereal, as someone else mentioned.

[merigayle]

But the one thing I will say about this is that (other than soy), my experience is that non-dairy "milks" really don't have much nutritional value. Like the coconut milk yogurt is really tasty- but it's essentially empty calories. No protein, no fiber... fat and carbs. I put .5 cup of non-dairy "milk" on my cereal in the morning so I don't really worry about the 30 calories... but, if you're looking for something of substance to actually eat, I'd look towards dairy or goatsmilk yogurt. You could also try goatsmilk on your cereal, as someone else mentioned.

pretty much. I don't eat any of it. I will buy it occassionally for a recipe calling for non dairy yogurt or for smoothies. It does vary by brand and some are fortified better than others, and i throw flax oil in it for my kid to give it some fat.

[caribougrrl]

Oh - and to answer this, I eat yogurt, but ice cream makes me feel poorly and itchy.

yogurt is pre-digested by bacteria... the lactose is broken down, though I don't know if I've ever met anyone with a lactose intolerance who describes being itchy from it... at any rate, maybe some of that thin drinkable yogurt would work well for you on cereal

[merigayle]

I know with small kids, some milk allergies manifest as eczema/rashes/itchiness, but not so much with adults.

[Eco Ellen]

I've actually had allergy testing and milk shows up as a mild one, and I get itchy when I drink milk, or use it on cereal, or eat ice cream.  I don't think it's the lactose.

[Eco Ellen]

Also, goat's anything = 

[Eco Ellen]

at any rate, maybe some of that thin drinkable yogurt would work well for you on cereal

That's a really good idea!

[merigayle]

I've actually had allergy testing and milk shows up as a mild one, and I get itchy when I drink milk, or use it on cereal, or eat ice cream.  I don't think it's the lactose.

does not sound like the lactose. Generally lactose intolerant symptoms are more of the digestive kind.

[Courtney]

Also, goat's anything = 

I could eat goat cheese on nearly anything. 

[rocketgirl]

I could eat goat cheese on nearly anything. 

I just had it on bagels with honey this weekend.     OMG!

[GirlWonder]

I got Rice Milk (vanilla) recently to use with my granola and liked it.

[merigayle]

another reason to stop drinking milk

http://foodriotradio.com/2013/02/is-it-diet-coke-or-diet-milk/

[Eco Ellen]

another reason to stop drinking milk

http://foodriotradio.com/2013/02/is-it-diet-coke-or-diet-milk/

Well, corporations not wanting to label their products with the additives they use is nothing new.  But still:   

[Eco Ellen]

I went grocery shopping tonight (finally, been scrounging) and started with one box of shelf stable vanilla cocoanut milk.  I haven't tried it yet, but I will tomorrow.

/updating y'all

[merigayle]

well, update us after you try it

[Eco Ellen]

I opened the coconut milk today.  I really like it! I got the So Delicious Vanilla kind.  I tried a tiny bit in a glass and now am having a little in my coffee.  I am so pleased.  Thank you guys!

Next step is to dunk a cookie in it or eat it with granola.  Nobody ever accused me of making rash decision.

[merigayle]

Good update!

[Tim]

I'm a substitute for a glass of milk.
I look pretty dairy but my source is rice.

[diablita]

 

[Ice Cream]

I'm a substitute for a glass of milk.
I look pretty dairy but my source is rice.

I'm milk understand dairy great rice.

[Eco Ellen]

Uh...yeah.

[Eco Ellen]

So, am I using this stuff in my coffee now for the past couple of days.  I'm very pleased.  Thanks again.

[onawhim]

 

[merigayle]

So, am I using this stuff in my coffee now for the past couple of days.  I'm very pleased.  Thanks again.

yippee!

[redkitty]

If you ever decide you want to try something else, I got almond milk yesterday for the first time. It was actually pretty good. I got vanilla flavor...unsweetened.  Pretty tasty.   

[Eco Ellen]

I tried it for the first time with homemade granola today.   It is definitely thinner and not as rich as dairy milk, but it did the job. I got adventurous and bought a box of vanilla soy milk to try too.

Nobody ever accused me of moving too fast.

[Ice Cream]

I bought a box of sunflower dream today.

[Eco Ellen]

I bought a box of sunflower dream today.

How is it?

[Ice Cream]

How is it?

Liked it.  so did DH.  I should add this: I always use 1% milk, so that is the comparison for me, and DH drinks rice milk.  So, we are used to what some would call watery products.

[Eco Ellen]

Liked it.  so did DH.  I should add this: I always use 1% milk, so that is the comparison for me, and DH drinks rice milk.  So, we are used to what some would call watery products.

I have kids and feed them 2% or whole.  But I don't drink the stuff myself.