Sales of plant-based milk have doubled over the last six years, leading to supermarket shelves, cafés and restaurants offering a wide range of tasty dairy-free alternatives. Peanut, soya, oat and almond are just some of the varieties on offer.
Head of Campaigns for ProVeg UK, Zephie Begolo said: “There has never been a better time to go dairy-free. We are seeing one of the biggest global dietary shifts of recent times towards the dairy-free industry, which is well and truly booming.”
Special promotions can be seen across the high street on dairy-free food and beverages. Breakfast favourite Kellogg’s along with Pret a Manger, Starbucks and Bella Italia are set to join in on the plant-based celebration.
Today will also see the start of the ProVeg 7-day dairy-free challenge, which launched in 2017. Participants can register their involvement online and will receive free updates and tips on how to navigate their way in a dairy-free world.
Begolo said: “We want people to see just how easy it is to go dairy-free, so we set up the challenge in which we offer daily support, taste test videos, recipes and all the top tips for starting out without dairy. Nowadays there is a dairy-free alternative to everything from ice cream to pizza. Going dairy-free doesn’t mean going without your favourite foods. Far from it!”
Many people are concerned about nutrition when making the switch from dairy. However, there is nothing in cows’ milk that cannot be obtained from plants. In fact plant-milk has no cholesterol, low fat and contains all of the calcium, protein and vitamins needed for healthy body function. It is not just health that is leading people to making the switch. Dairy farming contributes to 20% of agricultural emissions and 4% of global greenhouse gases.
Many plant-based milks can be made at home to cut costs. Grinding almonds in a blender with water and straining can provide a tasty and cost effective alternative.
For more information on World Plant Milk Day and how to enter the 7 day challenge visit www.worldplantmilkday.com