5 Delicious Dairy-free Swaps

By Claire Georgiou, Reboot Naturopath, B.HSc ND

Dairy-free options are growing in popularity, and according to some studies, there may be good reasons to opt-out. Dairy is a common food allergen that can cause a slew of health complaints, including diarrhea, indigestion, bloating, stomach pain, gas, eczema, hives, sinusitis, rhinitis, increased incidence of respiratory illnesses and more.

Some people choose to avoid dairy completely while others may choose to reduce their consumption and enjoy delicious dairy-free alternatives. Once upon a time, soy was the main staple for your dairy-free selection, but now there’s an array of easily accessible nut, coconut, rice and seed- based options that run the gamut of milks, yogurts, ice creams and cheeses!

If you’re considering reducing your dairy consumption, consider these options that can easily be made at home

Cheese

There is now a plethora of great choices to make when it comes to cheese alternatives. There are coconut and other based cheeses you can buy from some supermarkets and health stores that will grate, slice and melt just like cheese. You can also easily make your own at home with nuts and seeds!

Here are some Reboot alternatives:

Milk

Homemade dairy-free milk is easy to make but you can also buy milk alternatives in most supermarkets. Different types to purchase or to make include almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, hazelnut milk, cashew milk, hemp seed milk, coconut milk or rice milk. Here we have a list of easy milks to make at home.

Yogurt

Dairy-free yogurt options are popping up more and more. You can make or purchase coconut, organic soy, chia seeds or almond milk yogurt, these are a great substitute with the added bonus of good bacteria.

Kefir

Kefir is normally thought of as dairy drink but you can make many dairy alternatives with kefir grains using water, coconut water, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, as well as other liquids including juice and ginger beer.

Coconut Water Kefir

Ice Cream

Many yummy dairy-free ice creams have hit the market that are made with cashew, coconut and almond milk along with frozen blended fruit. Here are some easy recipes to make homemade dairy-free ice creams and whips.

At Reboot we offer so many delicious dairy-free ‘creamy and cheesy’ dishes for you to try and enjoy. Here are some of the best:

Main Meals and Snacks

Dairy-free Desserts

Still hungry? Here’s a list of dairy alternatives that provide plenty of calcium!