So… What is almond milk, anyways?
Not to be confused with dairy milk, almond milk is made by blending soaked almonds with filtered water. The creamy liquid is then extracted by straining the pulp. You can do this yourself at home, or buy almond milk in the dairy section of your grocery store. Nutrients and calories vary depending on the brand purchased.
Incorporating almond milk into your diet can be a great way to cut down on the calories and fat typically found in certain foods while increasing the nutritional value.
Almond milk in coffee
Almond milk gives a nice creamy consistency without reducing the flavor of the coffee itself. Simply fill your cup almost half way, heat it up in the microwave, stir in a spoon of honey (or another kind of natural sweetener), then pour in desired amount of coffee.
Homemade hot chocolate
If you’re not a fan of coffee, but still want a nice, hot, steamy and creamy beverage, you can combine cocoa powder and honey with almond milk in your favorite mug and heat it up in the microwave, taking it out and stirring it occasionally. This is far healthier, not to mention tastier, thicker, and creamier than packaged hot cocoa. You also have control over just how much chocolate you want.
Create healthier versions of your favorite creamy soups
You can use almond milk as a liquid base for creamy soups. For example, you can make a creamy tomato soup by blending together sun-dried tomatoes, raw tomatoes, olive oil and almond milk. Or you can make creamy chicken soup, vegetable soup, or even creamy sauces like gravy, or Alfredo with a little Parmesan cheese if you choose.
Delicious, creamy shakes and smoothies
Blend your favorite fruits with almond milk for a nice, creamy delicious and nutritious smoothie. For a sweeter taste add honey, stevia or other natural sweeteners. For a thicker, creamier consistency, you can add peanut butter, almond butter, avocado, or coconut cream (or oil). Even adding soaked nuts and/or seeds can increase creamy consistency without adding any dairy.
Makeshift cereal
Cereal may taste great, however if you look at the back of the box and read the ingredients, you will soon realize that the so-called “health food” isn’t so healthy at all. You can, however, fill your bowl with a makeshift mix of your own and turn it into cereal. Mix some of your favorite nuts, seeds and fruit (fresh or dry) together and add some unsweetened almond milk. Add honey to sweeten if desired or use the sweetened version of the milk instead.
Drink it straight
Sometimes you may just want to drink a nice cold glass of milk by itself. Almond milk tastes great that way too! Almond milk, if bought at the store comes in sweetened, unsweetened, vanilla, or even chocolate flavors. You can also make your own flavor at home with the right ingredients.
Don’t just consume it, know it!
Dairy of all kinds are acidic whereas almond milk is alkaline, making it an even better choice for bones and teeth, especially if you buy it already made which likely has supplemented calcium and vitamin D, and in higher amounts than found in dairy milk. Alkaline nutrition also plays an important role in fighting off cancer.
Almond milk makes a nutritious, less fattening, and much more healthier alternative to dairy milk. It’s rich in vitamin E and healthy fats. Both sweetened and unsweetened almond milk has fewer calories than even skim milk, so drink up!
