Any tips for lowering dairy milk consumption?

jambop
jambop Posts: 1 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Hi,

So currently I'm probaly going through 12-16 pints of skimmed/ semi-skimmed milk a week which I think is pretty high. I don't want to eliminate milk altogether but would prefer it to be around 4-8 pints a week.

I've tried the alternative milks but I'm not a massive fan and find them expensive and quite high in free sugars.

I'm mainly consuming milk like:
- Smoothies (+/- protein powder)
- Coffee/tea (like them milky)
- With cereal
- Glass of milk

I think I drink a lot because I don't like sugary drinks like squash lemonade and fruit juice and the water at my university tastes awful even with a brita filter.

I've tried just reducing but it never seems to work, wondering if anyone else had similar problems or had any tips or ideas?

Replies

  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    I'd try almond milk (unsweetened) in your smoothies as a first swap. It's cheap. Coconut milk yougurt is also good for smoothies or with cereal (more like a parfait).
  • Redordeadhead
    Redordeadhead Posts: 1,187 Member
    Why do you feel like you need to reduce it? There's nothing wrong with dairy unless you have a specific dietary reason to avoid it (allergies etc.).

    If you do want to reduce your consumption, the simplest way would seem to be to stop drinking glasses of milk...
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I think your fastest and easiest option is to switch to a different beverage. Find a way to like your water. Try it with a little lemon and very cold.

    Try an egg breakfast instead of cereal.

    Try different smoothies using, say, chipped ice and a banana with your protein powder.

    Keep your milky coffee and tea!
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Skimmed milk already is mostly water. It's probably ok to continue with what you are doing.
    Do you have specific concerns?
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited June 2017
    Have you ever tried bottled water? Spring water is nice. My grocery store sells a gallon for .88 cents
    With the filter, make sure you do not use the first 2 gallons when you put a new filter. That is nasty carbon water. Replace at the very least monthly. That filter cannot get dry. If this is at a dorm, could roommates be allowing it to go empty? When they replace the filter, are they cleaning the entire container also? When you come back from a weekend, dump the water and put new water in the water pitcher.
    Many cities have bad tasting water. Sometimes it even makes me sick. So it could be your municipality.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,889 Member
    It sounds like a lot, but whether it's too much, is up to you to decide. And whether to do anything about it is another issue. I would look into whether the milk is causing you any problems. You obviously like it. So:

    Are you getting enough of all macro- and micronutrients? You don't have to track micronutrients, and labels/entries are pretty useless, but would you say that are you eating a well rounded, balanced diet? Do you feel energized, focused, happy? Any deficiencies? Any weird and inexplicable symptoms?
    Can you easily stick to a sensible calorie goal, or ar you (getting) overweight?
    Can you afford all that milk?

    I have no suggestions for ways to replace your milk other than looking at your whole diet and try to work in other kinds of foods instead - if you eat out, try to replicate meals you like, aim for one milky thing per day etc.

    But the water part is sad. Clean fresh water is so important. Do you live on campus? If not, bring water every day. If you do live on campus, can you find cheap bottled water? Large containers can be cheaper per pint, all you have to do is fill up a smaller bottle each day.
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