Almond Milk

I started drinking almond milk when i was diagnosed with a milk allergy (I'd get congested, sneezy, phlegmy, etc). I've tried sweetened, unsweetened, regular, vanilla, and I've settled on unsweetened vanilla (whatever brand is cheapest the day I go to the store), and I really like it. I pretty much just use it for protein shakes and in cereal, but it's still good.

I like the vanilla sweetened with certain kinds of cereal and we LOVE the dark chocolate flavor. I like cow's milk too, but the vanilla changes things up and has fewer calories. I didn't like the unsweetened at all though.

Haven't checked the nutritional information yet, but I have one burning question - how the hell do you milk an almond?!

Not lactose intolerant. I mainly started drinking plant-based milks at times when I couldn't find shelf-stable cow's milk in whatever store I was in, and I could always find shelf-stable almond/soy/rice etc. milks -- I like to have milk (as opposed to powdered "creamer" or that liquid "creamer" that's a mix of vegetable oil and corn syrup) in my coffee at work, and I like to keep an unopened carton in my desk until the one I'm using runs out. Also, as noted, it does seem to keep longer than cow's milk after opened, even the ultrapasteurized sort.

I only drink the unsweetened versions because I can't stand sugar in my coffee; it tastes absolutely vile to me. I can't even drink the coffee-based frappucinos at Starbucks, although I can eat coffee ice cream. (I also can't stand sugar in my peanut butter and other nut butters, and if anybody could point me to low or nonsugar versions of ketchup and spaghetti sauce, you'd earn my undying gratitude :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

I think nutrition-wise the big advantage unsweetened almond milk has over cow's milk is that it's so much lower in calories (the Silk unsweetened also has good amounts of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin B12, which, since I eat a lot of vegetarian and vegan meals, is good for me).

I mix it up, consuming dairy and plant-based substitutes both. Blue Diamond has an unsweetened almond-coconut milk blend that tastes wonderful.

I recently mustered the courage to try almond milk in my cereal and I LOVE IT! Less calories than cow's milk and more calcium too! It is more expensive but I think it is better for you. I use it in my coffee now instead of half and half too. Not quite the same, but I will use it for less calories.

I started drinking it as a replacement for soy milk about 3 years ago. I likes soy milk, but never loved it, and wanted something lighter. I have loved almond ever since. I add it to smoothies, chai tea, oatmeal occasionally, etc.
Lately, since I'm living away from home for school, I've been buying Black Diamond Unsweetened Original. At home I make my own. It's great to make your own and blend in a bit of cinnamon or blueberries (my fav choices).
Nutritionally its lower in calories and higher in calcium than cow's milk, but lower in protein. I personally don't mind, since the protein always adds up from all the different sources, and I would rather have quality protein.

I prefer it to cow's milk.

I like the generic brand, it's more "neutral" tasting than Blue Diamond which tastes like almonds, and it doesn't have carrageenan.

I use the unsweetened on my oatmeal every morning :^), but I don't like it in coffee :^(. I've also used it successfully in baking!

I used to love Almond milk for the low cals and the taste, but recently I have started paying closer attention to my % of carbs, fat, and protein rather than just calorie intake and I realized almonds somehow lose all of their protein when turned into milk.

1% Cow milk: 110cals, 2.5g fat, 8g protein
Almond milk: 60 cals, 2.5g fat, 1g protein

For me the reduced calories aren't worth the loss of protein. I think Soy is probably better but it doesn't taste as good IMHO.

Nutritionally much different than milk. But nothing inherently wrong with it. It is what it is.

Cows milk has more protein.

I drink Almond and soy because I have become lactose intolerant. I find almond milk has less calories and I put it in shakes and have with cereal. But if I'm going to have a coffee I use soy milk and if i want a creamy porridge I have soy in that as well.

Think it's all personal taste but if you're looking for a low cal option and you like the taste why not.

Here is an article my gym did about choosing the right milk: http://www.fernwoodfitness.com.au/Weight-Loss---Exercise/Recipes---Nutrition/All-Nutrition-Articles/Choosing-the-right-milk-for-you/

There is nothing wrong with actual dairy (cow, sheep, goat, etc.) milk, just make sure it's antibiotic and hormone free, ... unless you have a casein allergy, of course ...

I think so many people drink it because they object to factory farming.