Today the landscape has changed – almond, macadamia, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, hemp, rice, oat, banana, and the old standby soy milk. We even have a new acronym for this category – nondairy milk alternatives (NDMA).
Why have you decided to buy a nondairy milk for your family? Many immediately would answer – because these alternative milks are healthy. Though this may be true in a board sense that milk alternatives are not an unhealthy food, they are not a nutrition equivalent for milk and there are notable nutrition distinctions between the products.
Dairy milk’s inherent nutrition profile is tough to match. It provides 9 essential nutrients, high quality protein and no added sugar. Although cow’s milk does contain 12 grams of sugar per cup, it is natural sugar (lactose) that does not count as added sugar. Nondairy milks are manufactured by extracting plant material – soy, nut, rice – into water. They are made to resemble milk with the addition of ingredients that offer a similar mouthfeel.
Except for soymilk, nondairy milks often to do not provide the protein quantity or quality found in dairy milk. Though many nondairy milks are fortified, just adding a nutrient to a food does not guarantee it will be absorbed and used efficiently by the body. Calcium from milk is highly absorbable because other constitutions found in milk aid in absorption. Many milk substitutes are fortified with calcium but the amount that is actually absorbed and used by the body may vary from brand to brand.
Nondairy milks can be a tasty alternative beverage but they often cost more than milk and may not offer the same nutrition profile. They are fine for adults or those who do not eat animal foods, but they are not a good milk substitute for growing children.
Dairy milk use is falling while nondairy milk use is increasing. Consider carefully why you are making this switch for yourself and your family.
