Whether you’re adding a splash of milk to your morning coffee or tea, bowl of cereal or smoothie, milk a kitchen staple for many. Cow’s milk was once the bee’s knees but as we learn the negative effects that producing dairy has on the planet (e.g. release of greenhouse gases, degradation of local water resources, unsustainable farming), we are gradually stepping away from cow’s milk and are moving towards plant-based milks. 

What are plant-based milks? 

Think nuts, seeds and grains like soy, oats, rice, macadamias and even hemp! In a nutshell (haha, get it?), plant-based milks are made by soaking [the nut, seed or grain] in water, blending and straining using a Nut Milk Bag. You can even add sweeteners such as honey, agave syrup or dates to give the milk a sweeter taste! 

Benefits of Plant-Based Milks 

Making the switch to plant-based foods comes with plethora of benefits.  

• It’s better for the environment: Plant-based milks are superior to cow’s milk when it comes to the environment. Cows produce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change. All that nuts, seeds and grains require is water.  
• It’s perfect for people with a lactose intolerance and slower digestive systems because its lactose-free and cholestrol-free 
• It’s cruelty free! 

Nut Milk Bag 

What’s the secret to making plant-based milk? A Nut Milk Bag! Essentially, this bag is designed for straining and removing any pulp or fiber that remains after you’ve soaked and blended your mix. The U-shape design ensures a seamless straining process and makes clean up a breeze!  

Side note: This Nut Milk Bag even comes with a handy instruction booklet with recipes beyond nut milks that you can create in the kitchen! 

Most sustainable plant milk: Oat Milk (oat milk illustration) 

Oat milk is one of the most sustainable milk alternatives on the market due to it requiring little water to produce. To put this into perspective, oat milk uses 1/8th the amount of water that almond milk production does – wow! It also has a lower adverse environmental impact and this is because oats use 80% less land to grow than most grains use, and most importantly, much less land than the production of dairy milk uses. 

How to make Oat Milk at home: 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup rolled oats 
• 3 cups water 
• 1-2 dates, pitted (optional) 
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (optional) 
• Pinch of salt 

Steps: 

1. Add oats, water, dates and a pinch of salt to a blender. Blend for 20-30 seconds. Make sure not to over-blend. 
2. Strain the mixture by pouring into a Nut Milk Bag and squeeze until only the pulp remains. 
3. Transfer oat milk to a sealed jar or container and refrigerate. Store in fridge for up to 5 days. 

Most versatile plant milk: Almond Milk 

One of the most popular plant-based milk options is almond milk! Known for its versatility and ability to be added into just about anything! Add a dash to your morning coffee or tea, blitz it in your smoothie or drink it by the glassful, almond milk is a natural source of Vitamin E, antioxidants and boasts 50% more calcium than a cup of cow’s milk!