Which Milk (alternative) Should You Be Drinking?

Remember the days when your latte options were whole milk, 2%, or non-fat?  I barely know anyone who still eats cereal (no judgement), but you are not forgotten, and the following information applies to you, too.

Alternative milk options are as plentiful as surgical enhancements in Beverly Hills; endless and sometimes confusing. I mean, why do our grocery shelves need chocolate hemp milk? And how does one get get milk from the same plant that makes you crave episodes of Ren and Stimpy while consuming a McFlurry?  Mind-boggeling.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  What is the healthiest option for your daily latte? Almond milk, unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, hemp milk, rice milk, or the traditional stuff from cows?

The life coach answer: whatever tastes best to you. Listen to your body.

The nutritional answer: if you aren't lactose intolerant, milk. Unlike the other options, dairy milk provides you with calcium and protein. The fat content you chose should take into account the amount of fat in your overall diet.  (Remember, a little fat in your diet is needed to be able to absorb nutrients and function properly.)

If you are lactose intolerant, choose the option with the least amount of sugar.

A couple hints: Coffee shops often use sweetened soy and almond milk so ask if they have either unsweetened.  Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk has only 30 calories a cup and you can always add a few drops of stevia to sweeten it if necessary.  Hemp and rice milk are high in carbohydrates (not necessarily a bad choice, but just be aware of this fact).

And as always, everything is ok in moderation.