Cow's Milk Alternatives

Hemp Milk

Hemp milk is legal the same way that hemp clothing is legal. It is made from the seeds of the hemp plant. It contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 essential fatty acids and 46% of your daily calcium intake. There is no fear of reaction for those allergic to dairy, tree nuts or soy. Unlike dairy milk, there is no cholesterol present. Additionally, it does not use cane sugar as a sweetener.

Recipes

Bodacious Almond Date Milk

(Adapted from Reinfeld, Mark, Bo Rinaldi and the chefs of the Blossoming Lotus (2005). Vegan World Fusion Cuisine: Healing Recipes & Timeless Wisdom from our Hearts to Yours, 188)

Time: 15 min | Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds (1 1/2 cup soaked), blanched
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup dates, chopped
• Pinch of cinnamon powder
• Pinch of cardamom powder

First soak, rinse and peel almonds. To blanche, drop the soaked almonds into a pot of boiling water, remove after 10 seconds, drain, and then rinse thoroughly under cold water. The skins should slide off easily. Now, put the almonds in a blender with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

For best preparation, finish the drink off by straining through a cheese cloth so that the milk is creamy. This recipe is great because you can adjust it to your own preferences by substituting other types of nuts, seeds or dried fruits.

If you don't want to give your baby cow's milk and you find that soy milk gives them gas (which is common) then try the rice milk recipe listed above. After straining, add whey protein and essential fatty acids for your baby's nutrition.