Today is World Plant Milk Day, and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a delicious plant-based latte or other beverage? Oats, pistachios, potatoes, peas, flaxseeds, cashews, and watermelon seeds can all be—and have been—made into milk! Many people incorporate plant-based beverages into their diets, whether for personal and planetary health or ethical reasons. We have five good reasons for you right here!
1. It tastes great.
Each type of plant-based milk has its own flavor and texture. Because of the wide variety of plant-based milk on the market, there is without a doubt one for you to love—probably more than one! Options range from those with a thicker, creamier consistency to those with a higher water content. They can be used differently, according to their unique flavors, to enhance the foods and drinks you enjoy.
Here are some ideas to try:
- Add coconut milk to a pineapple-strawberry smoothie to transport yourself from your kitchen to a tropical vacation spot.
- Use pecan milk to elevate the flavor of your overnight oats from cinnamon to pecan pie.
- Swap in plant-based milk for baked goods like banana bread, muffins, and cakes.
- Enjoy your granola or cereal with oat milk.
- Drink your coffee with a plant-based milk or creamer (scroll down to see which coffee shops serve plant-based milk at no extra charge).
A note about plant-milk creamer: If you prefer creamer in your coffee, there are so many delicious products on the market. Oat and soy milk creamers, sold in a variety of supermarkets and stores, come in many flavors, including seasonal options, and are a wonderful addition to any cup of coffee.
2. It fuels your body.
Plant-based milk can be a healthy addition to your diet. Unlike cows’ milk, all plant-based milk is free of cholesterol. Many types also contain calcium and vitamin D. Some varieties, like soy milk, are high in protein. Nut-based milk, like pecan, cashew, and macadamia, contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. If minimal ingredients are your thing, there is a wide assortment of delicious plant-based milk with three or fewer ingredients. Because plant-based milk is naturally lactose-free, it can be a great option for the millions of Americans with some form of lactose intolerance.
3. It’s better for cows!
Cows are smart animals with distinct personalities. They form close bonds with one another and can even recognize a cow they know in a photo! They are so emotionally in tune that they can experience a phenomenon known as “emotional contagion,” becoming stressed when they pick up on the stress of another herd member.
Cows must become pregnant to produce milk, and they carry their young for around nine months, just like humans. A standard practice in the dairy industry is to take calves away from their mothers shortly after birth so the mothers’ milk can be sold to humans, an event that can cause immense stress for both mother and baby. Consuming plant-based milk bypasses this and the other welfare issues these sensitive beings experience at factory farms.
4. It’s better for the planet.
Animal agriculture is a leading contributor to many of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns, and plant-based milk has a significantly lower environmental impact than cows’ milk across essentially all sustainability metrics. For example, compared with cows’ milk, oat milk production generates three times fewer greenhouse gas emissions, takes up 11 times less land, and uses 13 times less fresh water.
5. It does not cost extra… at these coffee shops!
More than 350 coffee companies, big and small, all over the United States offer plant-based milk in beverages at no extra charge! Most of the country’s top coffee chains, including Starbucks, Dunkin’, Dutch Bros, Scooter’s, Tim Hortons, Philz, and Peet’s, all serve plant-based milk with no upcharge. Others, like Blue Bottle Coffee and Stumptown Coffee Roasters, serve oat milk as the default in all their coffee and tea drinks!
One Way to Stand Up for Cows Today
While you sip on your delicious oat milk latte, take a moment to tell lagging coffee shops Bluestone Lane and Biggby Coffee to make the more delicious, compassionate, and sustainable milk option more accessible and drop the upcharge on plant-based milk!
