Top 5 Milk Substitutes for Vegans

I have a friend who is a vegan and "to each his own" is what I always say. I am a carnivore, but I support her in what she does.

She is really into it, and wanted to know if there are some drinks that are like milk but are not derived from any animals. She knows I am an internet guru, and that I could probably find her some options.

I found several milk substitutes, and she tried them. I am going to give you her opinions of them.

1. Soy Milk. This is one of the most popular of the milk substitutes. Soy milk is made through a process of pressing soy beans and combining them with water. Soy milk does have a decent amount of B-12 and a good fat content, like Cow's milk. My Vegan friend tried Soy Milk and decided it was not too bad. There are different flavors of Soy milk, Regular, Vanilla even chocolate. I tasted it myself, and agree it's not bad. One thing I would mentions that my Vegan friend said. Different brands have different tastes.

2. Rice Milk. Rice milk is a bit more watery than Soy milk, and is a bit sweeter. My vegan friend tried this and gave it a so-so rating. However she did think that it might work if you needed milk for baking, or making desserts. One of the most popular types of Rice milk is called Horchata.

3. Milks made from Almonds or cashews. Yes believe it or not you can make milk from nuts. My vegan friend said it has a slightly nutty taste to it, and has tried using it to make fruit smoothies. It is somewhat creamy, and not as thin as the rice milk. Almond milk (or cashew milk) has little to no saturated fat.

4. Coconut Milk. This is a bit watery, and it is sweet. My Vegan friend said it tastes similar to the rice milk, but that in a pinch it isn't bad. Drinking it made her think of Gilligan's Island though. Actually, coconut milk is not the liquid you found when you hack a coconut open. It is made from pressing the white meat found inside the coconut.

5. Grain Milk. The grain has to be fermented before it can be used to make a milk substitute. Don't worry, my vegan friend said she did not get drunk while drinking it. Grain milks are more often made from Rye or Oats.

My Vegan friend, said that Soy Milk is her favorite. The bottom line is that not only vegan can benefit from drinking non dairy milk substitutes. Many people have a intolerance to lactose. None of the milk substitutes listed has lactose, so these folks can drink them without the unpleasant effects of drinking dairy.

One other dairy substitute bears mentioning and that is human breast milk. While this is certainly an alternative, it might be difficult for a Vegan to find a lactating mother who is willing to share. Just a thought.