Where's the 'milk'?

My son is lactose intolerant - he doesn't digest the sugars found in cow's milk very well. My daughter and I are allergic to casien, the protein found in cow's milk along with soy. So when it comes to finding a good substitute for baking or pouring something over our cereal that looks and tastes like milk - what do we do? Fortunately, there are plenty of replacements for dairy. Below is a list which i hope you will find helpful. You may need to try different kinds and different brands to find one you really like as each brand and flavor has a different taste. Just hang in there and keep trying until you find your new fave.

Rice Milk

Rice milk is not as thick as soy or dairy milks, and has a somewhat translucent consistency. Because it is slightly sweet, rice milk works well in dessert recipes. Compared to soy and almond milk, rice milk has less protein.

Almond/Cashew Milk
Milk made from almonds or other nuts, such as cashew milk has a creamy consistency similar to soy milk and a nutty taste perfect for making smoothies or other creamy drinks and desserts. There are now several brands of almond milk available, but you can try making your own almond or cashew milk. I have not seen cashew milk on the market and will try making my own this week.

Soy Milk

While I am not personally a fan of soy, from a nutritional perspective, soy milk has less fat than dairy milk, no cholesterol (not an animal product), just about as much protein and since most are now fortified it is also a good source of calcium.

Hemp Milk

Hemp milk contains a 3 to 1ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 EFAs and other nutrients include magnesium, phytosterols, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, calcium, fiber, iron, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin. It also may be more digestible than soy protein because it doesn't contain oligosaccarides, a complex sugar that can cause flatulence if not properly broken down during digestion.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk has a long standing cultural association with health in the Ayurveda tradition. It has many health benefits and you'll typically find in in the Asian section of the market. There are also some very delicious ice creams made with coconut milk and it's a great substitute for cream.