It’s undeniable – we are in the middle of a plant-based revolution. No matter where you look, supermarkets and restaurants are scrambling to create unique and delicious vegan options and a whole host of famous faces are endorsing dairy-free diets.
Will you get involved?
This week marks the end of MooFree May, the month-long campaign to showcase just how accessible and easy it is to go dairy-free. But it’s not too late to get involved, there are seven easy ways that you can embrace MooFree May and take the first few steps towards a healthier, kinder diet.
Start with Easy Swaps
Going dairy-free doesn’t have to be an instant “all or nothing”. Make some easy swaps, such as switching to plant-based milks in your tea and coffee and be kind to yourself as you transition away from dairy. Some other easy swaps include replacing butter with a vegan alternative (the entire Flora range is suitable for vegans) and replacing milk in cereal with soya, almond, coconut or oat milk.
Try Dairy-Free Alternatives
Most people in the world avoid milk and dairy products because they are lactose intolerant – they are unable to digest the sugar in milk. Add this population with the growing number of vegan and veg-curious, and you have a big consumer demand for dairy-free alternatives.
This means that every supermarket has a free-from section with an array of exciting products. Why not sample some non-dairy cheese, soy or almond yoghurt, oat cream, or rice-milk chocolate. The list goes on!
Stock up on Calcium-Rich Foods
I’m sure you have heard that we need calcium from milk to build strong bones. So you may be surprised to hear that evidence points in the other direction. In parts of the world where people eat little or no dairy and gain their calcium from plants, levels of osteoporosis are lower.
There are plenty of healthier plant sources of calcium, such as green leafy veg, sesame, nuts and seeds, and many fruits and pulses. Calcium from plant sources is easy for our body to absorb and store – without the nasty added side effects of dairy, such as eczema, heart disease and some cancers.
Experiment with Dairy-Free Recipes
Gone are the days of bland dairy-free options and complicated vegan recipes! When you go dairy-free, you’re opening yourself up to a whole world of new and exciting meals. You can learn how to substitute sour cream with silken tofu, or how to make a delicious chocolate pudding with avocado, or even using aquafaba (the water from tinned chickpeas) to make meringue. Trust me – anything you make with dairy, can now be made dairy-free. Head over to Vegan Recipe Club for more inspiration.
Enjoy Dairy-Free Dining
Whether you’re hungry for a sandwich or a sit-down meal, there are plenty of places to find dairy-free options. Most chains have allergy information or, even better, an entire vegan menu. Some good high street restaurants for dairy-free meals include Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny’s and Wagamamas. If you are going to an independent restaurant, look for Indian, Chinese or Thai dishes as these are likely to be dairy-free anyway.
Educate Yourself
There are many reasons why someone may choose to go dairy-free. Whether it’s to improve your acne, or reduce your carbon emissions, or even to opt out of the cruel dairy industry. If you’re unsure about these motivations, a good starting point is to educate yourself with Netflix documentaries such as Cowspiracy or taking a look at Viva!’s resources.
One of the more recent motivations for going dairy-free is the environment. Did you know - it takes almost three times the greenhouse gas emissions to produce a glass of dairy milk when compared to any non-dairy milk? Plant-based milks also perform better when looking at land and water use.
The more you learn, the more convincing dairy-free diets become.
Get Social
MooFree May is predominately a social media campaign, so be part of the action and share your experience online using #MooFreeMay. Not only will this help you track your progress and see how others are getting on, but it may even encourage your friends and family to take the dairy-free pledge too.
With so many amazing plant-based alternatives now available to us, it's never been easier to go dairy-free. Head over to MooFree May for more information and support.
Tagged in Vegan Plant Based