Groceries 101: The best vegan dairy-free alternatives

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These are recommendations for the best dairy-free alternatives for vegans, some

vegetarians and those with dairy allergies. I buy these products on a regular

basis and believe they offer the best taste and texture in the non-dairy grocery

product category. Most of the products are good sources of calcium and protein.

 

So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk. Contains live active cultures, is sweetened

with cane juice and comes in many flavors including plain, vanilla, strawberry,

blueberry, mango, pina colada and chocolate. I use the plain in Greek and Indian

sauces and vanilla in muffin recipes.

 

Purely Decadent Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert. These pints of frozen goodness are

available in non-dairy flavors made with soy and non-dairy flavors made with

coconut milk (no soy). I prefer the coconut-based version in flavors including

chocolate, cookie dough, mint chip, coconut, mocha almond fudge and vanilla

bean.

 

Tofutti Better than Sour Cream and Better than Cream Cheese. I love Better than

Sour Cream. I use it in mashed potatoes and on baked potatoes, to make chip and

veggie dips, with burritos and fajitas, and to top my famous veggie chili. The

cream cheese comes in several flavors and is a great cracker spread. Tofutti

products are a blend of tofu and oils.

 

Silk Creamer. Made of non-genetically engineered soybeans and sweetened with

cane juice, this comes in several flavors – original, French vanilla and

hazelnut cream. I'm sure it's great in coffee. But for those who don't drink

coffee, the creamer has other uses. I use this on my morning oatmeal, poured

over berries and peaches/nectarines and the original flavor is great for making

creamy soups.

 

Silk Soymilk. Of all the nut- and grain-based milks I've tried, Silk is my

favorite. It comes in original, chocolate, vanilla and very vanilla. Most

flavors are also available in a Light version with half the fat. It's wonderful

on cereal, for recipes, or just to drink.

 

Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. These are conveniently-packaged as four

half-cup sticks in a box and are perfect for baking – especially vegan cookies.

Earth Balance products are non-GMO and free of hydrogenated oils and artificial

ingredients.

 

365 Everyday Value brand margarine in a tub. This is Whole Foods private label

made with a blend of organic, non-hydrogenated oils. It's great anywhere you'd

use a spreadable margarine – on toast, muffins, pancakes and waffles or melted

on veggies.

 

NaSoya sandwich spread. This used to be called Nayonaise, but they've updated

the packaging and now call it vegi-based sandwich spread. It's great on

sandwiches and for making pasta salads, potato salad and tofu eggless salad.

 

 

 

Author: Joy Harris

Joy Harris is an Examiner from Minneapolis

 

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