I've Tried Every Dairy-Free Alternative on the Market, and These Products Taste the Best
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I was vegan in college for a spell but then added dairy back into my diet when I was out of college and during my pregnancies. When my daughter was 4 and my son was 2, I stumbled upon the documentary Vegucated. It takes the stance that being vegan is better for the planet and kinder to animals, and after seeing some heartbreaking video footage, I felt compelled to eat more compassionately and ditch dairy on the spot (I had already been a vegetarian since I was 12).
Because I don't eat dairy, I have explored the wonderful and often disgusting world of dairy-free foods — it floors me that some of these foul-tasting options are even allowed on store shelves! I will spare you the nasty details and get right to what you want to know: what dairy-free products actually taste good?
After almost five years of being dairy-free (and experiencing all the amazing health benefits), these are the vegan alternatives I love and always keep stocked in my fridge. If you're trying to eat more plant-based or you know milk and cheese make you bloated, you won't miss the dairy with these products.
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Best Milk
Ripple Unsweetened Original plant-based milk is actually soy-free and made with pea protein — it's so creamy and delicious. A 70-calorie one-cup serving offers eight grams of protein and 45 percent of your daily calcium, and it has zero carbs. The only bad thing is that it doesn't offer vitamin B12.
Runners-up:
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Best Yogurt
I recently discovered this Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk yogurt, and I'm hooked. It's thick and creamy, and it tastes slightly sweet even though it's unsweetened. It's also soy-free, which I prefer because I eat so much tofu and tempeh; it's good to mix up my protein sources. A one-cup serving offers seven grams of protein.
Runners-up:
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Best Mozzarella Shreds
Finding the perfect dairy-free shredded mozzarella became my life goal. I mean, it's a necessity for homemade pizza, lasagna, and paninis. Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Shreds is by far the best. It melts and tastes the most like mozzarella.
Runners-up:
- Daiya Cutting Board Collection Shreds, Mozzarella Style
- Miyoko's Creamery Fresh VeganMozz
- Violife Mozzarella Shreds
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Best Parmesan
To add a little pizzazz to pasta and pizza, this Follow Your Heart Parmesan is so good. It's shredded, so it melts, and the flavor is salty and delicious. I've tried other brands, but I like this the best.
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Best Sliced Cheese
For a little comfort food, grilled cheese hits the spot, and these Chao Creamy Original slices are amazing. They melt and taste like American cheese!
Runner-up:
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Best Cream Cheese
Once again, thank you, Trader Joe's, for offering an amazing vegan product. This Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative tastes the most like regular cream cheese. It has the perfect creamy texture and mild flavor — perfect for bagels and cream cheese frosting.
Runner-up:
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Best Flavored Cream Cheese
Not just for bagels, this Kite Hill Chive Almond Milk Cream Cheese is perfect for crackers or as a veggie dip. This is amazing, and nothing compares. If you've ever had Boursin, it's very similar.
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Best Butter
For toast, baking, and sautéing, you've got to have a good vegan butter. Miyoko's Creamery Cultured Vegan Butter looks, tastes, and melts the most like real butter. You can even find it at Trader Joe's!
Runners-up:
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Best Ice Cream
There are so many delicious dairy-free ice creams, it's really hard to choose a favorite. I love this Breyers Non-Dairy ice cream (the Vanilla Peanut Butter is delish!), but I love the ones listed below as well.
Runners up:
- Trader Joe's Soy Creamy
- Ben & Jerry's Coconut Seven Layer Bar
- NadaMoo (love the MMM . . . Maple Pecan flavor and the Lotta Mint Chip)
- So Delicious Cashew Milk Ice Cream
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Best Ranch
For ranch-lovers, this Daiya Homestyle Ranch is creamy, flavorful, and pretty easy to find.
Runner-up:
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Best Chocolate Chips
Trader Joe's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips are dairy-free! Just note that the Chunks are not.
Runners-up: