Vegan Substitutes Archives | Vegan Universal

14 Vegan Brands That Are Revolutionizing Food

January 16, 2023 By Guest Author Mohan Raj (swagswami.com) and Edit by Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Ahoy there fellow vegans!

We know that veganism is not just another fad, but a philosophy and a way of living that have been in existence for many years grounded on ethics and we believe it is the future.

It’s apparent that the wider world has started to recognize this undeniable fact. Furthermore, the notion that veganism is a sacrifice that animal lovers make is also fast losing credibility.

It is becoming increasingly clear with research into climate change and global warming that veganism is one of the most sustainable choices moving forward.

When you see traditional dairy-based brands like Baskin Robbins start rolling out vegan options, you know for sure that veganism has gone mainstream.

In addition, we are also seeing a significant amount of venture capital investments into vegan brands that are emerging across the United States and the world.

Let us now dive into this neat list of great plant-based vegan brands that are revolutionizing food as we know it.

Vegan Meat Brands

Livestock (except birds) account for 62% of the mammal biomass on planet Earth. Add another 34% of the human population and you only have a meager 4% of wild mammals [1].

To give you another perspective, each year approximately 80 billion land animals are slaughtered [2]. These staggering statistics drive home the scale of the global meat and dairy industry. The sad fact is that these billions of farm animals are raised solely for the purpose of slaughter.

Thankfully the following vegan meat brands are making significant dents into this inhumane industry.

Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat’s line of meat-free plant-based sausages, ground beef and even steak have been a massive hit over the last few years.

Their bloody Beyond Burger gained massive praise and they’ve followed it up with an even more awesome vegan product through their Beyond Steak line. Do follow their Instagram page for regular updates about their amazing new products!

MorningStar Farms

MorningStar Farms from Kellogg’s was originally vegetarian but thanks to the efforts of PETA, MorningStar Farms has successfully converted all their products to be 100% vegan!

Their line of bacon and sausages are certain things to excite any vegan. The bacon strips are easy to cook and make for a wonderfully traditional American breakfast!

Tofurky

Thanksgiving dinners are often a vegan’s nightmare because tradition dictates that a poor turkey be slaughtered for our celebration. However, thanks to Tofurky’s 100% vegan turkey alternative, we can celebrate the holidays without harming any of these innocent birds. Isn’t that the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving?

BOCA

BOCA offers great vegan fast foods, including a vegan All-American Burger and Chik’n nuggets.

For more vegan plant-based meat substitutes click here

Dairy-free Vegan Milk Brands

Dairy milk is not only derived from an abusive industry, but there doesn’t seem to be a necessity for human consumption. It is estimated that nearly 65% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant [3].

Non-dairy vegan milk brands continue to develop flavourful & economical products each day, appealing to the masses while increasing its market share.

Let us now take a look at a few wonderful vegan plant-based milk brands.

Ripple Foods

Ripple’s line of dairy-free milk is derived from nuts and peas, thus providing a healthy source of proteins for everyone. In addition to regular flavors, they even have milk for kids with enriched nutrients for growth.

Notco

Notco is a Chilean company that is reinventing our favorite foods. Their Not Milk vegan milk is made from a combination of peas, pineapple, and surprisingly, cabbage!

You would expect a weird taste from this combination of ingredients, but boy are you in for a delicious surprise when you sip this wonderful concoction. A must-have in any kitchen!

Edensoy

Edensoy from Eden Foods is a line of soymilk that is perfect for daily use and consumption. The unsweetened Edensoy milk is a great option for baking cakes and cookies, while their fortified soymilk is excellent for kids to help with their growth.

For more vegan plant-based milk click here

Non-dairy Vegan Cheese Brands

Cheese is one of the most common ingredients in American cuisine. A great dairy-free alternative is thus a wonderful innovation that disrupts this traditionally dairy-based industry.

Vevan

Vevan’s cheese shreds are ready to cook and insanely delicious. The best part about Vevan’s vegan cheese is the melt quality. After all, melting gooey cheese is one of those things that make any pizza or burger irresistible.

Don’t forget to try their P’jack-Shred! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Violife

Violife’s line of cheese slices, shreds, and cream cheese are the perfect alternatives to any cheese cravings and recipe requirements that you may have in your kitchen. In addition, their ‘Just like Parmesan’ is enriched with vitamin B12, a vital necessity for all vegans.

For more vegan plant-based cheese click here

Vegan Ice Cream Brands

Yes, vegan ice creams are finally here and they are absolutely fabulous. Made from a variety of plant milk, these brands are giving the world their favorite treats cruelty-free.

JD’s Vegan

Jermain Dupri, the rapper has come out with his own line of amazing JD’s Vegan ice cream that is taking the country by storm. With all the favorite American flavors including key lemon pie, JD’s is a treat for the soul!

Oatly

Oatly is a vegan milk brand and their line of oat milk-based ice creams are well made and tasty. They come in 7 creamy flavors including, you guessed it, oat!

O’My Gelato

O’My Gelato is a vegan gelato brand that delivers across the US and Australia. Their line includes the incredibly innovative cake batter flavor which is a must-try. Oh, and it’s a women-owned brand too!

For more vegan plant-based ice cream brands click here

Vegan Egg Brands

Scrambled eggs and omelets have become a staple of any breakfast the world over. Eggs are also a key ingredient in baking which makes vegan eggs a godsend for us vegans and everyone in general.

Let us take a look at the vegan egg brands that are revolutionizing this industry.

Just Egg

Just Egg is a super innovative product that is the result of years of food research and development. Their egg replacer is ready to use for any menu. Just use it as you would use any egg and you are all set!

Vegg

Vegg is another super innovative company that has come up with the world’s first vegan egg yolk. It looks and tastes just like egg yolk which would be a pleasant surprise for many.

They also have other vegan egg alternatives including vegan egg scramble, cake mix, and baking mix.

Well, that brings us to the end of this list of wonderful vegan brands that are revolutionizing the food industry.

If you are someone pondering about turning vegan, check out these 6 convincing reasons why you must go vegan. For friends from India do check out my comprehensive Indian vegan brands guide.

What did you think? Any wonderful vegan brands that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!

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References:

[1] https://ourworldindata.org/wild-mammals-birds-biomass

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_slaughter#cite_note-FAOSTAT-1

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532285/

Image credit: “Beyond Meat – Beyond Plant-Based Vegan Sausage” by Tony Webster (licensed under CC BY 2.0).

Is Honey Vegan? Not Your Better Half, But Real Honey!

April 11, 2018 By Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Real honey…is it vegan? If we look at the definition of veganism, anything that causes suffering to an animal cannot be considered vegan.

What confuses some to ask whether honey is vegan is the fact that honey being a byproduct of bees. So there can be a false premise to think it can be considered vegan since it’s merely a byproduct and bees don’t have to be killed.

This is something similar to dairy and it is not considered vegan as we know the exploitative process of dairy production. Eventually, the cows are killed so do the bees with culling.

Honey is used by honey bees for many reasons such as food, as a future food resource in times of scarcity (especially during winter) and to feed their young. It is produced by honey bees by collecting floral nectar.

The reason why honey cannot be considered vegan is the impact it has on the animal. Let’s face it, bees produce honey for bees and not for humans, which is an obvious fact. Thus the moment we start using it, that becomes a form of animal exploitation or a form of theft so to speak. We also know honey is not a necessity for our survival and if you’re using it as a sweetener there are many vegan alternatives to consider.

If there are any doubts whether bees are sentient animals, there is evidence to show that they are [1]. Apparently, honeybees beat their wings 11,400 times per minute, and to produce a pound of honey, worker bees must visit 2 million flowers and must fly 55,000 miles. Now that is some effort, isn’t it? That’s the kind of energy bees have to put into the production of a 1 pound honey bottle.

The other issue with commercial beekeeping is that they take honey and replace it with a sugar substitute for bee consumption which lacks the complete nourishment of honey required by bees.

Further, forceful & mass breeding can make bees vulnerable to diseases and may also have devastating effects on the bee species and their important role as pollinators for a healthy & balanced ecology.

Honeybee culling and wing clipping of the queen bee to avoid leaving the hives are all the other efforts to keep beekeeping sustainable, yet harmful & cruel to bees.

Now that we know honey cannot be considered vegan, there are many vegan honey substitutes you can consider,

Vegan Honey Substitutes

Maple syrup

Molasses

Bee Free Honee

Agave nectar

Date syrup
Butterscotch syrup
Golden syrup
Barley malt syrup
Coconut nectar

Related Posts:

Foods That You Thought Were Vegan–But Not

References:

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4494284/

Vegan Fortified Foods to Complement Your Nutrition

December 15, 2017 By Dishan Mendis and Cat Robinson 2 Comments

Food fortification is not something new and it dates back in history to as far as the 1920s as a way to address nutritional deficiencies across the globe.

Good examples of this are fortified foods with iodine, vitamin A, and iron.

What does fortified mean? Any food becomes ‘fortified’ with the addition of vitamins and minerals that were not originally in the food.

Sounds great? But here’s what you need to remember. Use vegan fortified foods only to complement your intake of whole foods to balance your overall nutrition or perhaps to vary your diet, but never as a replacement for whole foods!

Let’s take a look at some of the best vegan fortified products along with their nutritional value which we’ve put together to supplement your diet & nutrition.

List of Vegan Fortified Foods

Vegan Fortified Cereals

Breakfast is of course, a great way to pack in some vitamins and minerals to set you up for the day. Combining a good fortified breakfast cereal with your favorite vegan fortified milk or with a glass of vitamin-rich fruit juice is a perfect way to get a host of nutrients in just one meal and get your day off to a great start.

While not all the fortified cereals below necessarily have a vegan certified stamp, we’ve personally checked the ingredients to make sure they are vegan and compliant.

1. Fibre One Cereal by General Mills

It turns out getting your ‘roughage’ is just as important as grandma told you! With many people falling below the recommended daily intake of fiber, this whole grain cereal is a great way to meet your RDA, as just one serving already delivers 55% of your daily fiber needs. It is fortified with iron, vitamin B12, calcium and a source of protein and zinc as well.

Low in calories and free from added sugar, they’re also a good option for those trying to keep their calories down without losing out on vital nutrients.

Nutrition Facts:

25 % of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
25 % of your daily iron per serving
10 % of your daily calcium per serving
2g of protein per serving
10 % of your daily vitamin C per serving
25 % of your daily zinc per serving

2. Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Cereal

With each bite-size piece made from eight layers of whole grain wheat, this breakfast treat offers a slightly different texture that can make an interesting change to your morning routine!

Free from saturated fat, and with no added sugar, they are also a good way to supplement your daily fiber intake while getting a filling breakfast to deliver energy to your morning. Fortified with iron, vitamin B12, and a good source of protein!

Nutrition Facts:

25 % of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
90 % of your daily iron per serving
6g of protein per serving
10 % of your daily zinc per serving

Fortified Vegan Milk Products

Click here >> Fortified Plant Milk

Fortified Vegan Drinks

1. Beet Performer Beet Juice

Beet is well known for its ability to boost athletic performance [1], though it can be a challenge at times getting your beets into daily meals!

Luckily with this ready to drink beet juice, you can make sure you’re getting those performance boosting nitrates in a convenient package wherever you go, plus the vitamin B12!

Nutrition Facts:

Provides 80% of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
High in nitrates (300mg per serving), which deliver more oxygen to your muscles, boosting stamina and strength.
100% pure juice, not diluted, not from concentrate.
Sugar is natural sugar from beets.

2. Sunshine – Ginger Berry, Blueberry Lemonade and Clementine Twist Fortified Drinks

Ginger Berry

Blueberry Lemonade

Clementine Twist

If there’s one thing your average can of soda can’t boast about, it’s how many essential vitamins it contains. Luckily, this is definitely not your average can of soda!

These vegan fortified drinks are available in three distinct flavors – ginger berry for the lovers of spicy sweetness, clementine for the citrus lovers and blueberry for the fruity folks. So find out which ones you prefer to quench your thirst while getting your essential nutrients along with a burst of energy and a stimulating organic caffeine hit!

Nutrition Facts:

Packed with electrolytes, 100% of your daily vitamin B12 and 50% of daily Vitamin B6 per serving
Organic caffeine, no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners

Other Fortified Vegan Food

1. Luna Bar: Nutz Over Chocolate

Let’s face it, sometimes you’re really in need of that finger-licking chocolate bar! With Luna Bar, you can make sure you get it, the organic and healthy way. Perfect for when you’re in a rush or feel a bit stressed out, these handy bars are a delicious and gluten-free way to get some much-needed energy.

And hey, they’re fortified with vitamin B12, calcium, iron, iodine and a good source of many more nutrients and antioxidants. So now you have an added reason to spoil yourself and relish on this nourishing chocolate satisfaction!

Nutrition Facts:

Gluten Free
100 % of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
10g of your daily protein per serving
25 % of your daily vitamin A per serving
100 % of your daily vitamin C per serving
35 % of your daily vitamin Calcium per serving
30 % of your daily iron per serving
100 % of your daily vitamin E per serving
10 % of your daily vitamin K per serving
80 % of your daily vitamin B1 per serving
80 % of your daily vitamin B2 per serving
80 % of your daily vitamin B3 per serving
100 % of your daily vitamin B6 per serving
100 % of your daily folate per serving
35 % of your daily iodine per serving
35 % of your daily zinc per serving
20 % of your daily magnesium per serving

2. Daiya Cheddar Style Cheezy Mac

When you ask people about their favorite comfort foods, mac and cheese is a top choice with most. Now thanks to Daiya, vegans can enjoy this delicious classic and even get some of their fortified B12 and calcium in the process too!

Even better, it’s made from whole grain pasta and is even gluten-free, so tuck into a rich, creamy, steaming bowl and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts:

20% of your daily value of calcium and vitamin B12
Gluten Free, Soy Free, Wheat Free, and Dairy Free

3. Bragg Premium Organic Nutritional Yeast

A must for the experimental cook, nutritional yeast with its cheese-like flavor can be added to so many different foods.

Sprinkle on as a seasoning for salads, potatoes, rice and pasta, vegetables and even popcorn, or add into your soups, dips, gravies, spreads, cereals, smoothies and juices to pack in some extra flavor and nutrition all at the same time!

It’s also low sodium and free of cholesterol, so it’s the perfect secret weapon for the chef who wants to deliver healthy meals without sacrificing taste.

Nutrition Facts:

Does not contain: sugar, corn, eggs, dairy, soy, gluten, wheat, starch, animal derivatives, artificial colors & preservatives, Candida albicans yeast or brewery by products as brewer’s yeast
Non-GMO
Added with vitamin B12, and many other B vitamins

4. Marmite

Because Marmite is made from yeast extract, it’s a fortified food with vitamin B12, and has been a favored way for vegans to get some extra B12 into their meals (each 4g serving provides 25% of your daily vitamin B12 and it is fortified with other B vitamins as well)

This UK made product has a very distinct flavor that is particularly useful in soups, stews and gravies, and can even be dissolved in a cup of hot water for a quick hot drink on a chilly day or use simply as a spread on toast.

It is Halal Food Authority approved and Certified Kosher by KLBD.

5. B-Fresh Gum

Now when did we think, chewing gum can become a nutritional source? Our perspective just changed with this innovative gum that acts like a vitamin B12 supplement!

As you chew, not only you get vitamin B12, but all the benefits of its bacteria-killing formula combined with xylitol and calcium for getting minty fresh breath. Now, how cool is that?

Nutrition & Other Info:

Great source of vitamin B12 and calcium (300% of your daily vitamin B12 and 0.486 mg of calcium)
Naturally eliminates bacteria causing tooth decay, plaque, and bad breath
Fresh spearmint flavor without sugar, salt or preservatives
Gluten-free, GMO-free, and soy free

Related Posts:

Vegan Brands That Are Revolutionizing Food!
Vegan Supplements
Vegan Milk (fortified)
Vegan Organic Meal Replacement Shake
Healthy Vegan Bread
Vegan Meat
Vegan Cheese
Vegan Egg Substitutes (for egg dishes & vegan baking)
Vegan Chocolate Brands

Reference

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22709704

Vegan Chocolate Brands For Your Delight & Health

August 24, 2017 By Dishan Mendis 3 Comments

No matter which way you look at it, from a health perspective (dark chocolate) or to delight your sweet tooth there is a reason to enjoy this age-old luscious treat to brighten any moment.

The Aztecs had a belief that cacao seeds are a gift from the god of wisdom (coincidentally dark chocolate is a superfood for your brain!), and so much value was placed upon the seeds, they were literally considered as a form of currency.

Being vegan doesn’t mean you have to give up on chocolate and there are plenty of chocolate brands that are vegan!

You will also find lots of traditional brands which happened to be vegan in this post that can be bought in any supermarket, drugstore or grocery.

How to Select Vegan Chocolate

Most high-quality dark chocolates are completely vegan, as it usually contains a high amount of cocoa without any dairy.

Check for ingredients such as milk, milk solids, milk fat, milk powder, lactose, whey, casein, and butterfat.

A few manufacturers have also started making “milk chocolates” from dairy substitutes such as almond milk or rice milk.

Please note, some chocolate brands may have an allergen disclaimer saying “May contain traces of milk products, etc.” or “Processed in a facility that manufactures milk products”.

This does NOT mean milk is added as an ingredient, but it means they may use the same manufacturing facilities for products that may contain allergens like milk, eggs, tree nuts, etc. For instance, a dark chocolate can be completely vegan but the same manufacturer may produce milk chocolates using the same facility.

This is really meant for people with severe allergies where even the slightest amount of cross-contamination with an allergen could cause them to react.

Six Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

The nutrition profile of dark chocolates:
- - Protein 7.8 g (13% of RDA*)
  - Calcium 73 mg ( 7% of RDA)
  - Iron 90 mg (92% of RDA)
  - Zinc 31 mg (35% of RDA)
A superfood for the brain
Packed with antioxidants
Improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure
Comes with good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) improving overall lipid profile.
Increases insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of diabetes

*recommended dietary allowance

How Much is Too Much?

To have optimum health benefits of dark chocolates we would recommend keeping it to a maximum of an ounce (28g) per day which may equate to 3-5 pieces of a 100g chocolate with 18 pieces.

But then it’s not a sin to break the rules, ‘occasionally’!

What is The Fair Trade Practice & Certificate?

You may see some vegan chocolate brands carry the Fair Trade Certificate. We feel it is important that you know what it means. Because by buying chocolates which have no animal products with these certificates, you respect the rights of animals, the rights of our fellow humans and support the environment.

Fair Trade Certified products were made with consideration for people and planet. It has rigorous standards that take care of social, environmental and economic aspects to foster safe & healthy working conditions, environmental protection, transparent work ethics, and empower communities for sustainable businesses.

When you’re opting for products with the fair trade label, your purchases support the lives of those communities and conserve the environment as well.

Vegan Dark Chocolate Brands

Green & Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate – 85% Cocoa

Full Review Here

Endangered Species Panther, Natural Dark Chocolate Squares – 88% Cocoa

Full Review Here

Lindt Excellence 70%, 85% and 90% Cocoa Dark Chocolate

Full Review Here

Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate

Full Review Here

Raaka Bourbon Cask Aged Organic Dark Chocolate Bar – 82% Cacao

Full Review Here

Other Brands:

Equal Exchange Organic Extra Dark Chocolate Mint
Newman’s Own Organics Premium Dark Chocolate – 70% Cocoa
Alter Eco Americas Organic Chocolate Bar, Dark Blackout – 85% Cocoa
Plamil – Organic Ginger Chocolate – 60% Cocoa
Trader Joe’s Belgian Dark Chocolate Bars – 56% Cacao
Trader Joe’s Mini Super Smooth Belgian Dark Chocolate Bars – 70% Cacao
Trader Joe’s Belgian Dark Chocolate Bars – 72% Cacao
Trader Joe’s Organic Super Dark Chocolate Bar – 73% Cacao
Raaka Smoked Chai Chocolate Bar – 66% Cacao

Vegan Milk Chocolate Brands

Moo Free Original Organic Milk Chocolate Alternative

Full Review Here

Raaka Coconut Milk Chocolate Bar

Full Review Here

Enjoy Life Boom Choco Boom Ricemilk Chocolate Bar

Full Review Here

Vegan White Chocolate Brands

Vivani White Nougat Crisp Chocolate Bar

Full Review Here

Vegan Chocolate Truffles

Booja Booja Dairy Free Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Truffles

Full Review Here

Vegan Chocolate for Valentine’s Day

Chocolove Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate Bar 55% Cocoa

Full Review Here

Other Varieties

Chocolove Raspberries in Dark Chocolate Bar
Chocolove Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate – 55% Cocoa
Chocolove Cherries and Almonds in Dark Chocolate – 55% Cocoa
Chocolove Extra Strong Dark Chocolate Bar – 77% Cocoa
Chocolove Ginger Crystallized in Dark Chocolate Bar

Vegan Chocolate for Easter & Halloween

Moo Free Easter Bunnycomb Egg with Buttons

Full Review Here

Moo Free Original Easter Egg

Endangered Species Bug Bites, Smooth Dark Chocolate

Full Review Here

Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate 55% Dark Minis

Full Review Here

Vegan Chocolate Chip Brands, Cacao Nibs, and Chunks

Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Vegan Chocolate Chips

Other Brands:

Equal Exchange Organic Chocolate Chips
Trader Joe’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks
Dream Dairy-Free Chocolate Dream Semi-Sweet Baking Chips
Sweetriot Cacao Nibs Covered In (70%) Dark Chocolate

Vegan Chocolate Spreads

Dark Chocolate Dreams by Peanut Butter & Co.

Other Vegan Chocolate Spreads

Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Blend
Trader Joe’s Speculoos Cookie & Cocoa Swirl
Rawtella – Gourmet Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Spread – Crunch

Vegan Chocolate Syrups

Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup

You now know when you have your next piece of chocolate that there is hardly anything you miss as a vegan and how it can be healthy if it’s dark chocolate.

Chocolate is also an excellent way to show your non-vegan friends that a cruelty-free lifestyle is not dull by any means.

Note:

If you’re ordering vegan chocolates from online stores, make sure to request the delivery without getting it melted (delivery with insulated bags with ice packs may help).

Best Plant-Based Vegan Milk Brands and Consumer Guide – ‘Mooving’ Beyond Dairy!

June 30, 2017 By Dishan Mendis and Cat Robinson Leave a Comment

The rise of a broad variety of vegan milk substitutes has offered an impressive range of convenient and healthy dairy alternatives. Not only these substitutes provide a great option for vegans but it is ideally suited for those who have lactose intolerance or milk allergies.

Some of these plant milk brands are fortified with additional nutrients such as vitamin B12, protein (soy milk), calcium, vitamin D, etc. (we have mentioned the nutrition of each product below)

With so many different brands of non-dairy milk substitutes in many flavors, you’re sure to find your favorites!

Let’s find out the best vegan milk brands, discuss nutrition, taste and a few ways to incorporate them into your diet!

Vegan Milk Nutrition (Lactose-Free Milk)

Because there are many vegan milk brands fortified with additional nutrients, this is something you may want to consider apart from flavor to determine how you’re choosing to supplement your diet with vegan milk in terms of nutrition.

Fortified dairy milk alternatives can be a good source of additional calcium, vitamin B12, protein (soy milk & hemp milk), vitamin D, iron, and vitamin A, which can especially be useful in transitioning to a vegan diet.

Make sure to read labels carefully and look at their nutritional values per serving to assist you with selecting fortified lactose-free milk to meet your needs.

To get you started, we’ve discussed and listed some famous plant-based milk brands, along with the nutritional values below.

Minimal Processing

The healthiest vegan diet is one centered on foods which are as close to their natural form as possible.

Luckily there are many dairy-free milk options available for those that prefer products which have been minimally processed.

These vegan milk brands generally include only a few simple ingredients, as well as many which are certified organic. If you’re specifically looking for certified organic brands there are few we have mentioned below and also make sure to examine labels.

Taste

Because there are many different plant sources used for non-dairy milk, there’s equally a large range of flavors to experiment with! For example, coconut and soy milk are sweeter and creamier in consistency.

Almond milk, hemp, hazelnut and other nut-based milk have, well, a slightly nutty flavor to them! Rice milk tends to be thinner and slightly sweeter than nut milk.

Flavor may differ not just by product type, but may also by different brands of non-dairy milk. Many brands offer a variety of flavors, so treat each new experience with an open mind until you find what is pleasing to your taste buds!

Options for Recipes

How you pick which plant milk to use might also be decided by what you plan to do with it! While there are many plant milk options to substitute cow’s milk in a recipe, each of those varieties may impart a slightly different flavor or deliver a different result.

For example, almond, soy, hemp, coconut, and rice milk work especially well in baked goods. Due to the thicker, creamier consistency, hazelnut milk, soy, and coconut milk make good alternatives as cream in coffee. Soy and rice milk are particularly suited to use in soups and sauces.

As with so many things to do with food, it’s up to your taste to have the final say! Play around with different plant-based vegan milk substitutes for different occasions and have fun, finding your favorites.

Best Vegan Milk Brands with Nutrition

Eden Soy Extra by Eden Foods (OCIA Certified Organic, Non-GMO)

First developed in 1983, Edensoy has a well-deserved reputation for producing some of the best quality soy milk available on the market and remains a firm favorite among the vegan community.

Their exceptional quality standards make this a trusted brand, and it’s available in a variety of flavors, sure to keep everyone in the family happy. It’s also gluten-free, Non-GMO and certified organic!

Nutrition Facts:

• 50 percent of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
• 20 percent of your daily calcium per serving
• 10 percent of your daily Vitamin D per serving
• 7g of protein per serving
• 215mg omega 3 and 565mg of omega 6 per serving
• 30 percent of your daily Vitamin A per serving
• 25 percent of your daily Vitamin E per serving
• 15 percent of your daily iodine per serving

Silk Pure Almond Milk

This nut milk is a perfect accompaniment to breakfast cereals, for use in baking, or just for a nutritious glass of something special, that’s Non-GMO, free from gluten, eggs, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial colorants and flavorings. You’re also getting low calories with this delicious almond milk brand, with 90 calories per cup, it is still less than a glass of dairy milk!

Nutrition Facts:

• 50 percent of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
• 45 percent of your daily calcium per serving
• 25 percent of your daily Vitamin D per serving
• 1g of protein per serving
• 10 percent of your daily Vitamin A per serving
• 50 percent of your daily Vitamin E per serving
• 10 percent of your daily zinc per serving

Pacific Natural Original Hemp Milk

This appetizing vegan milk substitute, made from omega fatty acid rich hemp seeds, is ideal for baking and works like a charm for making light and fluffy pancakes or crumpets! Pacific Natural is also verified free from GMO ingredients, is certified Kosher Parve, and is free from gluten, soy, and yeast.

Nutrition Facts:

• 25 percent of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
• 50 percent of your daily calcium per serving
• 30 percent of your daily vitamin D per serving
• 3g of protein per serving
• Features a balance of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
• 10 percent of your daily vitamin A per serving
• 4 percent of your daily vitamin E per serving

Rice Dream Organic Rice Drink (USDA Certified Organic)

Made from partially milled brown rice, this vegan milk has a delicious natural sweetness. It works particularly well in smoothies, breakfast cereals, and would be the perfect addition to a vegan rice pudding! It’s also extremely low in fat, no gluten and certified organic.

Nutrition Facts:

• 25 percent of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
• 30 percent of your daily calcium per serving
• 25 percent of your daily Vitamin D per serving
• 1g of protein per serving
• 10 percent of your daily Vitamin A per serving

So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk (USDA Certified Organic)

Prepared from 100% organic coconuts, this plant milk is low in sodium and also contains no added sugar. It’s perfect for use in baking (think bread pudding), delicious creamy soups (cauliflower and creamy butternut) and as an addition to your favorite Thai Green curry. So Delicious is also certified organic, verified Non-GMO and no gluten.

Nutrition Facts:

• 50 percent of your daily vitamin B12 per serving
• 10 percent of your daily calcium per serving
• 30 percent of your daily Vitamin D per serving
• 10 percent of your daily Vitamin A per serving
• 50 percent of your daily Vitamin E per serving
• 4 percent of your daily zinc per serving
• 10 percent of your daily magnesium per serving

As we mentioned before, check the packaging carefully for the ingredient list and nutrition facts for most accurate and up-to-date information.

We hope the list above has inspired you to sample the options you have when it comes to replacing dairy milk with kinder & much better plant milk alternatives.

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