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DIY: Homemade Almond Milk

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:34:45 PDT

If you are lactose intolerant, vegan, or just looking for a delicious alternative to milk, try making almond milk. You'll discover almonds create a rich, creamy, and sweet milk that you can use countless ways. Pour it over your cereals or granola, substitute it for milk when baking, or make it the cream base for savory or sweet sauces. Store your almond milk in a glass milk jug for a vintage look.

As for the leftover almond meal, don't throw it out; instead, try adding the leftover meal to muffin, pancake, or cookie recipes. It will give your baked goods a crumbly, crunchy texture and a delicious almond flavor. If you plan to make nut milks regularly, try using a reusable Nut Milk Bag rather than disposable cheesecloth.

See the full almond milk recipe.

Got Something Else Besides Milk? 5 Delicious Milk Substitutes

Heather Dale — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:00:19 PST

With my sensitive stomach and a lactose intolerant fiancé, you won't find any dairy milk in my fridge. What you will find instead is goat's milk, rice milk, and almond milk, and I'm fully satisfied with all of the above - ice cream on the other hand is a slow work in progress. Thankfully with all the dairy free options on store shelves today, it's easy to steer clear of milk and choose some yummy alternatives. Whether you're vegan or trying to give up cow's milk for health reasons, here are some delicious substitutes.

A Reader Recipe: Holiday Cranberry Smoothie

Fit Community — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:30:04 PST

This cranberry smoothie recipe was shared by FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle in our Healthy Recipe community group.

The little cranberry, such an under appreciated fruit. For years cranberry juice has been thought to reduce or eliminate urinary tract infections, but more recent studies have also linked this tiny tart goodie with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits along with benefits in fighting heart disease and cancer. Reacquaint yourself with cranberries in this yummy holiday cranberry smoothie.

See the recipe when you

Milk Wars: Cow, Soy, Rice, Almond, Hemp, Oat, Oh My!

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:47:06 PDT

Regular cow's milk was the only kind of milk you'd find in my fridge when I was a kid, but as I grew older (and discovered lactose wasn't my best friend), I switched over to nondairy alternatives like soy and rice milk. Now they have so many different milk variations (one of the reasons the Dairy Federation wants to restrict use of the word "milk"), so how do you know which is the most nutritious choice for you? Check out the chart below.

Serving Size: 1 cup	Calories	Tot. Fat (g)	Sat. Fat (g)	Chol. (mg)	Sod. (mg)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Skim Milk	80	0	0	less than 5	125	13	0	12	8
1% Milk	110	2.5	0	15	125	13	0	12	8
2% Milk	130	5	0	20	125	13	0	12	8
Whole Milk	150	8	5	35	125	12	0	12	8
Plain Soymilk	100	4	.5	0	120	8	1	6	7
Vanilla Soymilk	100	3.5	.5	0	95	11	1	8	6

To see how these compare to rice, almond, hemp, and oat milk,

Milk Breakdown

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:45:00 PST

Isn't it amazing how many types of milk are available? You can get cow's milk, but if you're lactose intolerant or vegan, you can use soy milk instead. If you're worried about the possible health risks of eating too much soy, you can pick up some rice milk. If you're not into the watery consistency, then there's always almond milk. Basically, you have a lot of options.

Nutritionally speaking, ever wonder how all these types of milk compare? If so then

Serving Size = 1 cup	Calories	Total Fat (g)	Saturated Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)
Skim Milk	90	0	0	less than 5	13	12	8
1% Milk	110	2.5	1.5	15	13	12	8
2% Milk	190	16	2	20	7	3	8
2% Chocolate Milk	170	5	3	20	24	23	8
Whole Milk	150	8	5	35	12	12	8
Half and Half	320	28	16	80	8	8	8
Heavy Cream	800	96	56	320	0	0	0
1% Buttermilk	100	2.5	1.5	15	12	12	8
Plain Soy Milk	130	4	.5	0	13	7	11
Vanilla Soy milk	150	3	0	0	23	15	7
Chocolate Soy Milk	180	4	1	0	28	14	8
Plain Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	24	11	1
Vanilla Rice Milk	120	2.5	0	0	23	10	1
Chocolate Rice Milk	160	3	0	0	34	28	2
Almond Milk	90	2.5	0	0	16	14	1

Well there you have it. If you're watching your calorie intake, skim milk or almond milk are definitely the way to go. If you're trying to lower your cholesterol, I'd stick with cholesterol-free soy, rice, or almond milk. If you're trying to get more protein in your diet, than surprisingly enough, plain soy milk is the best choice. When choosing which one, it all comes down to your dietary or ethical preference, but I'd only use heavy cream in small quantities.

Almond Milk: It's Dairy, Cholesterol and Soy Free

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:30:00 PST

If you're lactose intolerant or vegan, then you obviously steer clear of cow's milk. It's great that there are a few milk alternatives out there, but if you've ever tried them, you know they're not perfect. There's soy milk which tastes a lot like regular milk, but some people don't want to drink it because they're concerned about the health risks of eating too much soy. There's also rice milk, but it's kind of thin and watery, and has a grainy aftertaste.

Then there's almond milk, which is by far my favorite. Have you ever tried it? It's made by soaking almonds in water, and then they're ground into a liquid. Since these nuts have a soft texture, mild flavor and light coloring (when skinned), the liquid looks and tastes like sweet milk, making it a great substitute.

Interested in seeing the nutritional info? Then

read more One cup has only 2.5 g of fat and zero saturated fat so it's great if you're watching your cholesterol. It doesn't have a ton of protein, but it does have 30 percent of your daily calcium. Plus it only has 90 calories, which is less than soy milk (110), cow's milk (102), and rice milk (130). This Lowfat Vanilla Almond Milk from Pacific Natural Foods tastes like a creamy vanilla milkshake (I'm not kidding). They also make Chocolate Almond Milk for even more of a treat. If you want more of plain taste, you can just buy the Original or Unsweetened flavors. Fit's Tips: Almond milk is delicious if you drink it alone or in your cereal, but you can also substitute it for cow's milk in your recipes.

A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

Fit Community — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:27:50 PST

If you've got a cookie craving, you're in luck: FitSugar readers Pure2raw recently shared this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie cake with us in our Healthy Recipe group.

Everyone loves cookie cake, right? We have a chocolate chip cookie cake that is not only gluten-free but egg- and dairy-free, too. It is full of flavor with a great soft, cakelike texture. Plus the three-ingredient coconut frosting is too good not to try.

Get the recipe after the break!

A Reader Recipe: Chunky Cherry-Chocolate Granola Bites

Fit Community — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:28:09 PST

FitSugar reader JuicyNoelle came up with this special cookie for Valentine's Day; she posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

Tied with a festive pink ribbon and a little love, I’m hoping these cookies will be perfect for Valentine's Day. The whole-grain oats, nuts, and cherries in these cookies add heartiness, while the melted dark-chocolate chunks deliver bursts of richness. The chia seeds pack a nutty punch, and they are rich in fiber and omega-3s, too - perfect for supporting vibrant hair and skin during these cold weeks of February.

Learn more about the recipe after the break!

7 Popular Chowders Across the US

YumSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:23:30 PST

Traditionally, "chowder" is considered a catch-all word for a variety of seafood and vegetable soups, but several regions have their own spin on the classic dish. Here's a rundown of the most popular chowders across the US, from classic New England clam chowder to San Francisco's Cioppino fish stew.

Boston - New England Clam Chowder: Made with chopped clams, potatoes, and onions, this classic chowder is known for having a heavy cream base. For a healthier clam chowder recipe, use almond milk, rice flour, and celery seeds.
New York - Manhattan Clam Chowder: For this variety of fish stew, tomatoes replace the milky cream base. There are also no potatoes, so the seafood sits in a much thinner vegetable broth.
Rhode Island - Rhode Island Clam Chowder: In addition to its traditionally clear broth, quahogs (hard clams) and bacon set this chowder spin-off apart.

Keep reading for more types of chowder.

If You're Craving Girl Scout Cookies, Try These Instead

FitSugar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:13:50 PST

It's Girl Scout Cookie time! Noshing on these fund-raising treats seems like an American pastime, but it can be challenging to keep a snack session of these seasonal sweets in check. If you can enjoy your cookies in a reasonable manner, then good for you! But if you're looking for a way to scratch that sugary itch without killing your healthy eating agenda, here are some healthier alternatives.

Do-Si-Dos
Two-cookie serving: 120 calories, five grams of fat, seven grams of sugar

Quick Fix: The Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie is a perfect substitute since it's so filling - I usually only eat half of a bar at a time. One bar contains 220 calories, seven grams of protein, and four grams of fiber. Made out of dried dates, one bar equals one half serving of fruit. There are 18 grams of sugar in this bar, but the sugar content is not added; it naturally occurs in the dates. The other two ingredients in this bar are peanuts and salt.

DIY Fix: Make your own tasty peanut butter treat! Blend a little peanut butter, apple sauce, and raisins for a sweet, satisfying, and nutritious homemade spread. Two tablespoons of this peanut butter raisin spread offers almost five grams of protein and two grams of fiber.

Don't see your fave cookie? Keep on reading!