Almond milk - Tasty and Non-diary

Got a question for you.....Where does milk come from? Cows, right? Yes, but milk can also come from other sources. These days many people are looking for alternatives to cow's milk for a number of reasons. Some looking to circumvent milk may have concerns with allergies, lactose-intolerance, global warming or animal cruelty. Speaking of animal cruelty, ABC's Brian Ross did a story tonight during the evening news on the ugly realities of factory dairy farming. Others are exploring non-diary alternatives just to add a bit of variety to their diets. Whatever your reason for seeking out other milk options, almond milk is an alternative for you to consider.

Almond milk is a non-dairy (i.e. not from cows) beverage made from, of course, real almonds. Almond milk is an all natural, thin but smooth beverage with a slightly chalky almond taste. There are several brands on the market, including Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®, Pacific Almond Milk and Almond Dream.

My favorite brand of almond milk is original Almond Breeze. If you recall, Blue Diamond makes some pretty tasty nuts, and I can attest that they've done an equally tasty job with their line of almond milk. Just like soy milk, almond milk comes in several varieties including Vanilla, Chocolate, and Original. Their unsweetened varieties lack added sugar. Almond milk comes in several convenient sizes to meet your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and on-the-go needs.

Here are 9 GREAT reasons to include almond milk as a non-diary alternative in your healthy diet.

• Great tasting by the glass and on cereal.  
• Easy non-diary substitution (cup for cup) in coffee, smoothies, and recipes that require milk.
• Gluten, cholesterol and lactose & casein free
• Low-fat
• Low-calorie
• 100% vegetarian
• Good source of calcium, vitamins A, D, & E
• Great option for vegans and lactose-intolerant individuals
• Nutrition - 8oz serving of Blue Diamond Almond Breeze (sweetened, original) has 60 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, 7 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

Hmmm...think I'll head to the kitchen for a glass right now!