Quick Dairy-Free Survival Tips for Beginners

Dairy has to be one of the most controversial topics in the health world. Whether you’re allergic, repelled by it, or just don’t trust it, dairy is off the menu for more and more people today than ever before. Since it’s been linked to cancer and is rumored to contribute to weak bones, we certainly don’t trust it either. But instead of just sharing with you why you shouldn’t eat it, we also thought we’d give you some tips on how to avoid it more often in case the cheese, yogurt, cream, butter, and milk keep finding their way onto your plate or glass.

Check out our #DitchDairy survival tips below:

Source: Vanilla Caramel Smoothie

1. Focus on an Item at a Time

If the idea of cutting everything out at once is just a bit too much, then give yourself a break and cut one item out each week (or month even). This is a great way to take in less dairy and also helps you see other choices that you have. Keep cutting one item out regularly until your dairy fridge is naturally free from cow’s milk products.

2. Don’t Be Afraid of Substitutes at First

Sure, processed almond milk and coconut yogurt are not as “pure” as homemade, but for those transitioning, they make all the difference. To keep things healthy, stick with brands and options that are unsweetened, carrageenan-free, and certified non-GMO. Organic and a low ingredient list are also optimal if you can swing it. These should be your go-to items when you’re hankering for the traditional dairy versions. You can always upgrade later if you choose to do so or learn to make your own.

3. Use Nutritional Yeast

It might sound scary, but this is an excellent cheese replacer and even tastes much better than many vegan cheese products. Nutritional yeast tastes just like cheese, so sprinkle it anywhere you desire that flavor. It’s also high in protein and is often fortified with Vitamin B12 for extra energy and nutrition. Best of all, it’s casein-free, unlike dairy-based cheeses that promote addiction and are hard to digest.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things

Dairy-free items might be new to you, but don’t be afraid to try new things. You’d be surprised to see how much dairy-free eating can satisfy both your belly and your taste buds. Always be willing to give new things a shot whenever you can, especially when they have so many benefits behind them.

5. Use Healthy Fats

Instead of butter and cow’s milk products high in fat, use healthier fats like coconut oil or coconut butter in place of butter, along with coconut cream in place of dairy cream. Also, try using avocados in place of butter to boost your intake of mono-unsaturated fats, and try using almonds in place of a variety of dairy products. This is beneficial since healthy fats will keep you full and are naturally cholesterol-free and unprocessed.

These five simple tips will go a long way in helping you on your dairy-free journey. Remember that as you start to take the dairy items out of your fridge, don’t be surprised or scared if it’s emptier than you thought it would be. These tips will help you replace those items and fill up that fridge as quickly or as slowly as you like.

We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

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Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Also, don’t forget to download the Food Monster App on the App Store. With over 15,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest meatless, vegan, and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!

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