Note: This is my last post in a series about YorkTest Program’s Food & DrinkScan, a Food Intolerance Test. You can find the earlier posts here:
Part 1 – http://bit.ly/M8QPne Part 2 – http://bit.ly/L7okuY Part 3 – http://bit.ly/N2T92g Part 4 –bit.ly/MqTQj8
As I had mentioned in my previous post, once I found out from my YorkTest Program results that I needed to avoid cow dairy, I decided to try non-dairy alternatives to supplement my diet. There are so many products out there and while I had a great time trying them, some were certainly better than others! I’ve reviewed some of the products below:
Almond Breeze Original (sweetened)
I tried this beverage first, simply because it’s readily available at major grocery stores. I was pretty happy with the smooth, slightly creamy taste it provided however it was a little too sweet for my liking. It looks like milk but it certainly doesn’t taste like milk. It is however a decent substitute!
Uses: In cereal, oatmeal, coffee, smoothies and homemade ice pops.
Would I buy this again? Maybe (only due to the amount of sugar in it).
Almond Breeze Original Unsweetened
I loved this beverage as it’s (obviously) the unsweetened version of Almond Breeze Original. Wherever possible, I like to be in control of the amount of sugar I’m consuming, so I appreciate that they’ve created an unsweetened version.
Uses: In cereal, oatmeal, coffee, in soups, smoothies and homemade ice pops.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely!
Almond Breeze Chocolate (sweetened)
I enjoyed this beverage as it is really tasty, creamy and has the right amount of chocolate, giving me the same satisfaction I used to get when I drank a glass of chocolate milk. It’s not very low on the calorie scale, so it’s more of a treat, but it’s definitely a great product to keep on hand for when a chocolate craving strikes.
Uses: Great chilled on its own but also tasty in smoothies and homemade ice pops. It’s also delicious when heated up, for a “hot chocolate” treat.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely!
Rice Dream Enriched Vanilla (sweetened)
This beverage was just okay for me. It was thin, watery and had more of a milk-like texture than Almond Breeze but it didn’t give me the same satisfaction I used to get when I drank milk. I also found the vanilla flavouring to be a bit odd.
Uses: In cereal, oatmeal and smoothies.
Note: Since Rice Dream is sold at every major grocery store, I assumed it would be fabulous. Perhaps I need to try the other flavours?
Would I buy this again? Maybe
Coconut Dream Original Unsweetened
This was my least favourite non-dairy beverage. Some of my friends really like it because it’s “creamy” but I actually found it kind of oily. I didn’t enjoy the coconut flavour in the background, even though I usually love coconut.
Uses: In cereal (I found it tasted really odd with my Cheerios), oatmeal (the oatmeal did mask the flavour) and smoothies (everything gets hidden in a smoothie!).
Would I buy this again? Probably not, however I would be willing to try other coconut beverages to see if there’s a difference in flavour.
Becel Vegan margarine
If you’re looking for a mainstream, non-dairy margarine than this is it. It looks like margarine and tastes like margarine. This is also one of the only non-dairy products my husband will consume because it’s made by a brand he trusts.
Uses: Anywhere you would use margarine.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely. P.S. Well done Becel for creating a specialty product and putting it on major grocery store shelves. Kudos to you!
Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds
After hearing so much about this product on Twitter, I finally had an excuse to try it. It’s very interesting in that it looks like cheese, it (sort of) smells like cheese and it (sort of) melts like cheese. I applaud the creators of the product at it really does mimic the real thing quite nicely. The flavour however is different and it’s a lot more pungent.
Uses: I used it in pizza, on nachos and in veggie fajitas with success.
Would I buy this again? Yes, but I’d like to try the “cheddar” flavour next.
Note: Once opened, it has a short lifespan in the fridge but it does freeze quite well.
Liberté 1% Goat Milk
I felt like I was missing out on the calcium that’s in cow dairy so I decided to give goat’s milk a try. A few of my colleagues (and their families) drink it in place of cow’s milk. It is quite expensive though, as I paid almost $4 for a one litre carton of it. You can buy it in bags as well and save a few dollars.
Uses: I’ve only tried it in smoothies so far (I’m not brave enough to drink it straight up yet.)
Would I buy this again? Absolutely.
Liberté Plain Goat Milk Yogurt
I’m South Indian, so when we have a traditional meal we always end with rice and plain, unsweetened yogurt. This is meant to cool the stomach at the end of a spicy meal and it’s one of my favourite things to eat. With my new diet, I knew I needed a backup option and I found that Liberté goat’s milk yogurt was a perfect substitute. It is a little pricey at almost $5 for a 500 g container of it but a little goes a long way with this product. Bonus: It’s high in probiotics!
Uses: So far I’ve had it with rice (as mentioned above), in smoothies and as a snack with fruit. The flavour and texture is similar to sour cream, so I think it would be great on a baked potato too.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely.
President’s Choice Soft Unripened Goat’s Milk Cheese
People (including me) often forget that those with dairy issues usually only have an issue with cow dairy. A good goat cheese is made strictly from goat’s milk, making it a pretty safe bet.
Uses: I’ve had it on pizza, in salads, mixed into pasta and in sandwiches. I’m looking forward to trying it in dessert recipes too.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely.
President’s Choice Formaggio Di Bufala (Buffalo Milk Cheese)
Another product that’s perfect for those who cannot have cow dairy as it’s made from water buffalo milk. It’s delicious but quite expensive, so you have to use this product wisely!
Uses: So far I’ve only used it in a salad that consists of sliced tomato, sliced buffalo milk cheese and fresh basil with fleur de sel, fresh pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. It’s delicious! You can also use it on pizzas and in pasta dishes.
Would I buy this again? Absolutely!
I know there is a whole world of other non-dairy possibilities out there. If you have any products to recommend, I would be happy to try them out!
Overall, I am so very thankful that I participated in the YorkTest Program. If I had not taken the test, I would have continued to consume foods and beverages that were causing harm to my body. Even if I had wanted to figure out what foods/beverages were causing a reaction, it would have been almost impossible to identify the specific items by trial and error. The YorkTest Program results were clear, easy to read and only required a quick finger prick and a drop of blood to provide me with the detailed information I needed.
By replacing cow dairy with alternative sources, I’ve found a huge difference in my body and I no longer feel the bloating and stomach discomfort I used to face on a daily basis. My clothes fit better now and I have a lot more energy. I’m certainly looking forward to continuing on this path and I would sincerely encourage others to look into this test as it can really change your life for the better. Thanks YorkTest Program!
Want to learn more about the YorkTest Program? Visit their website at http://www.yorktest.ca/ or follow them on Twitter and Facebook
Disclosure: In exchange for writing this series of blog posts, I’ve received a free Food & DrinkScan and enrollment into the program. The opinions expressed are my own.
milk & eggs 